The Ramblers (formerly Ramblers’ Association) has its 80th birthday this year, and is still going strong, with 114,000 long-distance walkers in chapters all over Britain. In its history, it has served as much more than a social connection for people who like to walk the country; it has also been the defender and extender of historic rights-of-way and an advocate for preservation of open spaces. From the Guardian (UK), MORE
Linden Row Inn: History, and a Good Night’s Sleep
Marilyn Jones stays at a Richmond inn with a long history and an Edgar Allan Poe connection
I’m familiar with the Ramblers, having once spent a few days walking with a member of the local Oxfordshire group and why there are pictures of me here. But I learned something new when I clicked on this link from the 80th anniversary article posted, that I’m “collecting” the Thames Path and the Kennet & Avon Canal. I hadn’t known there was a term for what I was doing, silly me. There’s a word, I’m sure, for everything and I’m thrilled to now know what I’ve been up to. I guess the good news is we don’t need to know the name for a thing to enjoy it! And I hope to enjoy finishing both collections by the end of this year.
I guess collecting a walk is sort of like bagging a peak.
Good for the Ramblers. They’ve certainly put the name to better use than American Motors did with its car series.
I am not a mountain climber but know folks who are. The analogy is the target, the planning, the goal, as much as getting it done.
Peaking a mountain is often not done all at once. If one takes the example of Mt. Everest, it is often at least a 2 month process. Flying into Kathmandu, arranging supplies, heading to the Khumbu, making one’s way to the mountain, settling in at base camp, doing initial ascents on the mountain to acclimatize, etc. etc. And most important of all is getting down the mountain to tell about it.
Or, we could forget the bloated attempts, like the 1963 model you posted, to look like everyone else, and quietly remember the “little Nash Rambler” that not only invented the modern compact, but also beat out the Cadillac in the famous song (this YouTube version also has some great Rambler pics…)
I’ll dispute the analogy that collecting a walk is anything like bagging a peak. The latter, if I’m not mistaken, is done in one go, whereas collecting is done over time. I think that makes it sort of the opposite, although one could argue the similarity of putting one foot in front of the other. I’m sure some wandering Brit will happen by and correct one or both of us. Mac?
I’d consider the analogy a sound one if the climbers of Everest went home between sections of the climb, then returned to where they left off a month or a year later for the next section. And beyond the timing, as you say, for climbers the point is largely getting to the top, “conquering”, and I suppose the journey as part of it. But for most “ramblers”, walkers, the point is actually putting one foot in front of the other along the path and when or if they finish it is largely beside the point. At least for this walker.