"They were doing the same walk as us! The Ramblers association versus The Ghurkas. No comparison!"
I am 64 years old. I like walking and putting my hand to a touch of D.I.Y.I wanted to tell a story about my rambling days. I chose this because it was the only story I could tell in two minutes! Inside Lives was very interesting because I have never used a computer before. A very welcoming experience.
It was early one Spring morning in the Lake District, at the foot of Helvellyn, over 3000 feet high.I was with a group from the Stoke/Newcastle Ramblers Association. We had just got ready in boots and waterproofs, because it was a murky, cloudy day. We were going to walk the notorious Striding Edge on to the summit. Half a dozen army land rover troop carriers parked alongside us on the Glenridding car park. Out of the back jumped what looked like school children or army cadets. They were only about five foot tall. But when they put their hats on, we recognised them as the formidable Ghurka Regiment. They were doing the same walk as us! The Ramblers association versus The Ghurkas. No comparison! We were used to walking the Peak district. They were used to walking The Himalayas! We got chatting to them and we started the walk at a gentle pace. As the foothills got steeper, I started to have problems walking and talking at the same time! But there was no change in the Ghurkas' fluent English speaking. I realised these were mountain men and they couldnt wait around for the likes of us. They started to jog up towards Striding Edge path, three quarters of a mile long, over 2000 feet high, and like the back of a dragon. Many people have been blown off with the slightest wind. The Ghurkas ran across! They treated Striding Edge like a parade ground. We continued our ramble at the same pace. We couldn't compete with that!
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