Morning, And still the total keeps growing... I'm gobsmacked.
Blustery in NE Waleshire but brightening up. The wind this week is making 10 minutes difference between my outward and home cycle commute - faster going home fortunately . But it's getting even stronger tomorrow, might be time to wimp out to the car...
I just wanted to acknowledge and thank the other contributors to my charity effort in the last 24 hours - you know who you are.
I've now received and properly added in my offline contributions, and I must say my total is looking really quite healthy . As is the overall number for the Company (linked lower down my page), especially considering that the headline figures don't include the gift aid elements.
And I've begun to think about ideas for a similar format event for next year, when I expect we'll be supporting Friendship Clinic Nepal once again... I can feel a few recce trips coming on - probably better done this summer than next winter!
Why does this sort of announcement leave me feeling disappointed? And is it just me?
I think the reason is mostly in the headline, "New Peak District Route To Open", with the use of 'New' and 'To Open'. Both of these imply we're about to have something that wasn't there before, or at least wasn't accessible. "Great", I think, "increased access, somewhere different to explore..."
... er, no, actually. Read on a little - "...using existing bridleways, lanes, the Pennine Bridleway and the Trans-Pennine Trail."
So this 'new' route being 'opened' is simply the packaging up of 'old' routes, along with some glossy marketing and some shiny new signage. Not a single yard of extra path or trail has been brought into existence. There's nowhere new that you can go after the 'opening' on June 3rd, on foot or bike or horse, that you can't already go (and have been able to go for years). In fact I'm pretty sure I've already ridden or walked every inch of it. This "challenging new route" has always been available to people - it's just that until now you needed to look at a map and string it together for yourself.
Maybe I'm being a bit too critical? I can appreciate that there are some benefits, possibly for many people, to packaged-up routes. Not everyone is confident enough or inclined to research and devise their own trips. Isn't it a good thing if it encourages more peole to get active and get outdoors? And in turn maybe increased participation makes it easier to win funding for other projects - path repair, conservation, fighting development etc.?
Perhaps I'm just reacting to the terminology and would appreciate a little less hype when people trumpet the launch of 'a new route'.
Talkback: New Peak District Route To Open Why does this sort of announcement leave me feeling disappointed? And is it just me?
I think the reason is mostly in the headline, "New Pe... By Matt C
Talkback: Just In - Lowe Alpine Alpine Attack 34:45 Lowe Alpine do make some really well-specced medium capacity packs, and this could well be another. I've somehow acquired 4 in the last few ... By Matt C
6
1504
21/06/12 22:33
by Martin D 25
Talkback: Innov_ex Innovation Prize Gets Bikey! Cleat Feet "which allows racers to use efficient clipless pedals with conventional shoes." - I don't really get it...
I always thought the ... By Matt C
Matt C
. But it's getting even stronger tomorrow, might be time to wimp out to the car...
