Attendance: 17

 

Guests: 3

                Joan Masson

                Betty Allison

                Rita Assaad

 

Oh, Canada – Frank Allison

 

Toast to the Queen, Canada, and Rotary. President Courtney

 

 

 

Speaker: Gerd Wengler.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a pleasure it is to have the opportunity to live vicariously through someone else’s life and adventures.  And, the tale of the adventure of Gerd and Dorothy’s trek across England didn’t disappoint.  We learned early that their trip had many ups and downs – of brutal Mount Everest proportions.  Many of us were getting leg cramps by just listening to how strenuous some of the climbs were.  Fortunately, Gerd and Dorothy became healthier over the three-week period, to the surprise and pleasure of everyone listening.  We wondered, how could these two eminent hikers possibly improve their game?

Gerd started us off by noting that the two couples from Germany who were to join them barely made it past the first day.  We were all curious about what had happened to them?  Had they fallen into a lake or got lost.  Keeping us in suspense until the end, Gerd said they were only planning to hike the weekend.  Whew.

We learned that there were many meanings to the word ‘Wainwright’; the name of a noted hiker, the name of the trail, and the name of a beer.  The Wainwright Trail went from the Irish Sea to the North Sea, taking our storyteller 18 days and over 192 miles.  Apparently, the ‘Wainwright Beer’ is the only liquid that can sustain you over this period.  Rotarians listening were relieved at hearing that Gerd had consumed a considerable quantity of the liquid.  Well done.   

Finding his best Bronte voice, Gerd regaled us in the vision of the majesty of the land, magnificent lakes with strange-sounding names, the wild animals, trees in full bloom, stone wall fences, and beautiful vistas.  Three national parks were traversed.  Gerd pointed out the many times they experienced strong wind, to the point that water tornadoes had formed in some of the lakes.

All of us were impressed with the B&B and Pub accommodations that he and Dorothy reserved.  Great English breakfasts and fine pub food got them started each day and helped them conclude the day in style.

Gerd also taught us about some of the history, or perhaps archaeology, they had seen along the way; stone circles 10,000 years old, Stonehenge-type structures, ancient forests, standing rocks, burial mounds, and ruins of old churches. 

To build up the suspense as Gerd reached the end of his talk, he said the trip through the Yorkshire Dales and North Moors was the most challenging.  He described bogs and quicksand soils so treacherous that they could serve as the backdrop for a J. R. R. Tolkien novel.  Apparently, the best way to stay alive is to have someone close to you lead the way, thus allowing you to be the hero for rescuing them from waist-deep muck.  We all agreed it was an ingenious plan.  Although we wondered, who led the way?

Over the last 30 kilometers, Gerd and Dorothy could see the North Sea.  We all let out a breath knowing that they had made the journey safely.  But, not so fast, said Gerd.  Perhaps Wainwright had consumed too much of his beer, but regardless, the last leg of the trial directed hikers across four lanes of live highway traffic, across a road known as the A19.   We’ll never know of the skill and bravery required to complete this part of the trip.  But we were glad they survived.

Gerd said that tradition dictates that walkers start the route at the Irish Sea by getting one's feet wet, collecting a pebble, and throwing it in the North Sea.  We were all cheering on Gerd with the completion of this last bit of ohmage to the trail and the feat of endurance.  Unfortunately, Gerd missed the North Sea when throwing the stone, and it landed among a pile of rocks. 

Thanking the speaker – Barry Smith said that Gerd’s presentation skills have markedly improved over 25+ years.