Forth & Tay Disabled Ramblers - Hooked on Freedom

Diary for 2010

June

Cramond to Granton

. Early days of the ramble and our members are full of expectation
. Early days of the ramble and our members are full of expectation
It was a welcome change to be able to drive comfortably four abreast and chat with each other.
It was a welcome change to be able to drive comfortably four abreast and chat with each other.
The return journey and Cramond promenade has definitely lived up to our expectations.
The return journey and Cramond promenade has definitely lived up to our expectations.
Alex looks over the Forth towards Tom Farmer's private pile.
Alex looks over the Forth towards Tom Farmer's private pile. Cheers

It was a beautiful sunny morning when we arrived at Cramond car park in preparation for our latest outing. It's always a pleasant experience when we ramble along footpaths and through dense woodland, but Cramond promenade made a very welcome change from that. The promenade is as wide as a main road and hugs the foreshore along the southern edge of the river Forth. At most points we could move comfortably five abreast giving our members the chance to chat and exchange thoughts on the glorious views as we progressed eastward towards Granton.
With the exception of one puncture which Bruce eventually managed to fix the day was problem free. We were treated to clear views across the river to Kinghorn in Fife and seawards towards the huge island in the mouth of the river, which we were told belongs to Tom Farmer, one of Scotland's richest entrepreneurs. Beyond that we could clearly see the Bass rock off North Berwick. At one stage some of our more adventurous members considered the idea of taking the causeway across to Cramond Island. Fortunately the incoming tide prevented them from even trying which was probably a blessing in disguise.
We raised a lot of interest amongst the other users of the promenade, many of whom were surprised to see so many smiling people on scooters and several of them stopped us to ask who we were. When we reached the Granton end of the promenade we all sat together for an enjoyable packed lunch and a chat before retracing our outward journey back to the car park.
Every day out with the Forth and Tay Disabled Ramblers is a pleasure and the Cramond to Granton promenade was definitely up to standard.


Holl to Harperleas - Fife Outdoor Access Festival

Harperleas audit
Harperleas audit
Hamish and Angus with Joe
Hamish and Angus with Joe

FTDR is running a ramble for disabled people as part of the Fife Outdoor Access Festival on 7 August 2010. Volunteers Jim, Joe, Jan, Bee and Helena plus spaniels Hamish and Angus were out at the site yesterday to carry out a safety and access audit. The sun blazed down on what must be one of the hottest days of the year but, thankfully, there was a cool breeze blowing. Helena 's little scooter managed the route with only minimal assistance on the slope near the start, which has been eroded over the winter months. Hamish and Angus kept cool in the reservoir - it's definitely a dog's life! If we are blessed with similar weather for the festival it is not to be missed!


Caledonian Challenge 2010

Registration at the Nevis Centre
Registration at the Nevis Centre
Manning the road crossing at Lochaber High
Manning the road crossing at Lochaber High

Eight brave (or crazy) volunteers travelled to Fort William to act as marshals at the Tennent Caledonian Challenge, a 54 mile 24 hour sponsored event on the West Highland Way . On Friday evening they registered over 900 walkers then met them at Checkpoint 1 at Lochaber High School on Saturday morning as they logged in en route to Strathfillan, where the walk now finishes. Our thanks to all who gave up their weekend and raised £1200 for the club.


Curtis Motors Disability Awareness Day.

Several committee volunteers manned an information stand at the '11th Annual Curtis Motors Disability Awareness Day'. There were representatives from a number of other local and national disability charities.


Angus Glens Walking Festival.

History lesson
History lesson
Looking for red squirrels
Looking for red squirrels

Seven members of the committee took part in the Angus Glens Walking Festival ramble around Crombie Country Park near Dundee . Two rangers led the walk and gave a very interesting talk on the history of the area and the flora and fauna in the park. The ramble will appear in the programme for 2011.


Sailability, Lochore Meadows.

With help from the hoist
With help from the hoist
Ready to board
Ready to board
Out on the loch
Out on the loch

Five members of FTDR responded to an invitation to go sailing on Loch Ore with Sailability Scotland. The event was organised by Merrick Yates and Neil Perry An increasing number of FTDR members are taking part in leisure opportunities for disabled people including gliding and curling.
Following the sailing visit, committee member, Leslie Barr, put a few lines together to the tune 'I am sailing' and he offers his profuse apologies to Rod Stewart especially for the second verse. The ditty also includes his experiences of gliding, curling and of course rambling.

We went sailing, five went sailing
Our first time 'cross Loch Ore
We were sailing on calm waters
O for wind, a little more.

We went gliding we were flying
Like a bird across the sky
We were gliding passing high clouds
To be so high, to be free.

We went sailing, we went sailing
On Loch Ore , it was a dream
We went gliding o'er Loch Leven
Its waters, rough and serene.

We went curling, we went curling
On the ice at Kinross
We went curling in our wheelchairs
'Throwing' stones with great cause.

And above all else!

We go rambling, we go rambling
Round Loch Leven and Loch Ore
In the hills and through the glens
We look forward, 'let's explore!'

Thanks to Leslie for his poetic efforts and we look forward to other members following suit.


Mary Leishman Foundation

FTDR has been awarded £540 from the Mary Leishman Foundation to cover the cost of appearing at the Scottish Mobility Roadshow at Ingliston in September.


Balbirnie Park, Markinch.

Rhododendrons in bloom
Rhododendrons in bloom
Beautiful
Beautiful
Jim and Joyce
Jim and Joyce

FTDR members were out in force at Balbirnie Park , Markinch for the first of two June rambles. Volunteer Jim Wyllie led the group around a circuitous route in the park that took in the stone circle and the viewpoint before reaching the picnic tables by the river. The park is well-known for its rhododendron bushes, which were in full bloom. Members voted it one of the best ever rambles.



May

Forth & Clyde Canal - Auchinstarry Marina

Leaving the marina
Leaving the marina
Multi use
Multi use
Ladies who lunch - a few of our volunteers
Ladies who lunch - a few of our volunteers
Davie's boat
Davie's boat

Forth & Tay'S latest outing was to the Forth & Clyde Canal starting at Auchinstarry Marina. Most unusually the bus arrived an hour early - well done 'Harry the Bus' - giving members the perfect excuse to drop in to the Boathouse Restaurant for a welcome coffee and a bacon roll before the start.
An icy blast blew along the canal as we crossed the road bridge to the towpath. However, once in the shelter of the trees the temperature rose.
Numerous cyclists of all ages and abilities passed along the way. Fishermen lined the canal side all along the route. Davie (from the social enterprise 'Unity Barges') accompanied us on his boat, Mytho. He kept everyone entertained feeding the swans and taking photos. Two horses passed behind on the road bridge at Craigmarloch. The canal and the towpath is truly multi use.
Stopping first at Kelvinhead picnic area for a quick cup of coffee and a snack the group then turned back towards Auchinstarry. Three deer were spotted in the fields on the return journey. The ramble finished with a lovely meal in the Boathouse Restaurant where the staff made us very welcome.



April

Monikie Country Park

Admiring the bird life
Admiring the bird life
First breakdown of the season
First breakdown of the season
Lunch time
Lunch time
Stepping it out
Stepping it out

Forth and Tay Disabled Ramblers began the new season in a baptism of hailstones at Monikie Country Park. The park is midway between Monifieth and Arbroath. Fortunately the hail was short lived and gave way to dry but bitterly cold weather. There was a wonderful turn out of 49 people - 23 on scooters and 26 on foot plus twa' dugs. There were two new members including a young one of 22 years and a new volunteer - another youngster by our standards!
The main feature of the country park is the two reservoirs which at one time supplied the local population with 3 million gallons of fresh water a day. The combined shore lines of the lochs, at around 2 miles long, are mainly on grass surface. The elevation provided a wonderful panorama looking across to Tentsmuir Forrest in Fife and the nearby Angus Hills. Spring was in the air with green shoots on the trees and shrubs with some beautiful early wildflowers. The bird life on the ponds included the flight of the heron while the woodland revealed a mother red squirrel with her baby. One of the ramblers said that she was 'positively euphoric!' and that is an excellent start to the season. After the cold which at times bordered on freezing, a welcome coffee and cake was much appreciated at the nearby Dobbie's garden centre.



Gliding

Gliding
Gliding
Gliding
Gliding

It's official. Maria Duncan is MAD. She decided that for Christmas from her family she would like money towards something special - so she chose to have her first flight in a Glider plus 3 months trial membership of the local gliding club - and all for £50
She waited all spring with baited breath until the weather was a bit more settled, then 4 days after her 62nd birthday she finally took to the air - all thanks to SGU Walking on Air - Gliding for the Disabled based at Portmoak. Walking on Air is a charitable organisation with a specially adapted glider and lots of fantastic volunteers who love to fly and like to share the experience with others.
On the day, Leslie, a fellow disabled rambler, curler, gliding enthusiast and adrenalin junkie went along to take photographs. With her son boosting her moral and a friend trying to make her see sense she eventually took to the air. It was FANTASTIC and she is booked to go again next week!
You may have heard that she was doing it as a sponsored event with all money raised going to Forth and Tay Disabled Ramblers. The total has yet to be counted so there is still time to give a donation should anyone wish to do so. Sincere thanks to anyone who has already donated.



St Ninian's Charity Shop and Community Cafe.

Helena receiving the cheque
Helena receiving the cheque

FTDR has just received a generous cheque for £750 from the recent disbursement of profits by the St Ninian's Charity Shop and Community Cafe Trust. The newly refurbished cafe was officially opened on the same day that the grants were made to eighteen local organisations.



March

Local People: Local Paths

Local People Local Paths
Local People Local Paths

Paths for All, in partnership with FEVA (Forum for Environmental Volunteering Activity), Forestry Commission Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage held a national networking conference for people involved with community paths on Wednesday 24 March at SNH's Battleby Conference Centre.

The event consisted of workshops, presentations and networking opportunities on fundraising, planning and project management, promotion, innovative approaches to improving access and working in partnership.

Jan, Helena and Maria attended the event and manned a stand highlighting the activities of Forth & Tay Disabled Ramblers.



International Women's Week

Volunteers at FTDR's table
Volunteers at FTDR's table
Chinese dancers
Chinese dancers
Swing yer pardner!
Swing yer pardner!

During International Women's Week an event was held in Elmwood College , Cupar as part of the celebration of diversity of women in East Fife . Several members of the Management Committee manned a stall in the Marketplace to raise awareness of FTDR's activities. Throughout the day there were displays of Chinese dancing, belly dancing, and Tai Ji. There were also workshops in craft and cookery activities.



Forth and Tay Disabled Ramblers on Ice

For the first time, two of our ramblers recently took part in the Scottish Wheelchair Curling Championships in Aberdeen. Maria Duncan and Leslie Barr are members of the Kinross Wheelchair Curling Club which was formed in 2001. They were part of a team of five which weathered very heavy snow before arriving in Aberdeen in time for the event which featured 10 teams from Moray in the north to Hamilton in the south. The winning team was 'Team GB' which within a few days left for the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Games. Although it had been a few years since a Kinross team had participated in the Scottish championships the members gave a very good account of themselves. The photograph of Maria and Leslie clearly shows how much they enjo
yed the experience of being part of a Championship where the camaraderie was quite extraordinary.

Maria and Leslie
Maria and Leslie

Two weeks after their visit to Aberdeen, they were on their way to the internationally acclaimed Greenacres Rink near Howwood in Renfrewshire. They were part of a team of six curlers competing in the exciting 'Friendship Cup' for pairs and triples events. Leslie said 'participating in this sport at such a level was just wonderful. We have much to learn and we have the appetite to build on those experiences. Maria and I, along with the other team members are looking forward to improved wheelchair curling performances based on regular coaching.'
'Come and Try' sessions will take place in early autumn at Kinross and advance notice will be given of the starting dates. This is open to all who have serious mobility problems. The picture of June Greig (left), Elspeth Harrison (in the wheelchair) and Maria Duncan (right) was taken at such a session and shows much concentration and a desire to learn. Come and join the club.

June Greig, Elspeth Harrison and Maria Duncan
June Greig, Elspeth Harrison and Maria Duncan



Rambles - Previous Years

2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009