Introduction

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Let’s be blunt, this section is much the same as “On Tour”, the only vague differences being a few changes in personnel and an absence of bicycles.

For the avid follower of bobspace, the remainder is therefore depressingly familiar, but regardless, I shall provide a bit of background.

This is a detail I hope to add, but for now, I cannot recall how "it was decided" that we should celebrate MsW's birthday by taking a weekend out to enjoy, or indeed ignore entirely, the cultural highlights of a historic European city.

Nonetheless, it was and Amsterdam was settled upon, and from my point of view at least, the excitement of anticipation was matched by the experience.

This lead to another trip, Madrid and subsequently Prague.

But following Prague, the expense, both in terms of time and money, of travelling to the continent for a long weekend was considered by the team to be excessive.

A cold analysis, but time together was the commodity we wished to conserve, and besides, they don't serve proper beer abroad.

Time to switch our allegiance to the UK countryside and from hotel to holiday let - the "Boy's Walking Weekend" was born!

However, irony was to have its own sweet revenge.

At our first attempt, Lower Argoed, the foot-and-mouth outbreak saw all walking in the countryside banned, and thus our current Odyssey was delayed until 2002 and Almeley.

The pattern has not changed since.

A simple listing of all the weekends with a few memory-jogging notes to fill in for the current lack of content.

Much more is to come and if you have any photos etc. to share, please drop me a line.