CTOG QUIZ - YOUR CHANCE TO BE NAMED AND FAMED!

Why not have a go at the following quiz - send your answers in to the CTOG team and if you score 10/10 we will post your name on our wall of fame!!  

CLUE - All the answers are related to places along the North Downs Way which will be passed or visited by the CTOG team on their long walk.  This is just for fun and you can enter as many times as you like!

Please email your answers to ctog14@gmail.com – we will endeavour to check your answers as soon as possible and post your name on our site if you score the perfect10! 

Q1
Which duckpond in the centre of a village roundabout is the only area of water in England designated as a listed building?

Q2
Which 17^th Century manor house is now the official residence of the foreign secretary?

Q3
From which quarry was sandstone extracted for use in the construction of important buildings such as Windsor Castle, Westminster Abbey and old London Bridge?

Q4
On what popular hill did Jane Austin’s “Emma” place a picnic?

Q5
Which town was immortalised by Charles Dickens as Cloisterham in several of his novels?

Q6
Where was Henry VIII when he learnt that Ann Boleyn’s execution had been carried out in 1536?  This village also claims to have a disease-resistant pinot-noir grape descended from vines brought by the Romans?

Q7
Which vineyard is the largest in England, its 265 acres being three times the size of any other in the United Kingdom?

Q8
Which plaque was installed in 2000 to mark both the Millenium and the crossing of the Greenwich Meridian by both the North Downs Way and the Vanguard Way?

Q9
Which town is dominated by the spire of the parish church of St Martin – one of the tallest spires in England at 210 feet (64 metres)?

Q10
Which motorway is less than 27 miles long and was completed in 1965?

GET AHEAD WITH A HAT!

You've got to take your hats off to the CtoG team! Or in the case of Rod, you've got to put your hat on. On strict orders from the doctor, Rod has to wear a hat whenever he is outside for any length of time. This is not because the doctor thinks he needs to be more suave and sophisticated, although that might be the case, but because he has the sort of skin that is very fair and easily burned. He has already had a number ​of pre-cancerous growths removed from his forehead, either by freezing them off, or cutting them out (by medical staff, not with a bag of frozenpeas or a Stanley knife). 

So the walk will present another challenge. Hats make you hot. Sweatbands are inside hats for a reason. Sun cream and sweatbands don't go well together. But in spite of the challenges, Rod is determined to throw his hat into the ring, not literally of course, and take up the challenge of wearing a different hat every day. This will be monitored carefully and given a lot of 'hat-tention' to ensure there is no repetition, duplication or cheating.

Follow this riveting 'hat-venture' daily on our blog from 20th September - and see if Rod's 'hat-tempt' is successful.'

But if you can't wait until then, we also invite you to sponsor Rod to wear any hat of your choosing - just supply the hat and for a £10 donation we will post a picture of Rod wearing it!  The funnier the better.....

GUILDFORD STREET ANGELS

For all those of you out there who are wondering who Guildford Street Angels are and why we have chosen to walk for them.....

Street Angels began with a bang on 17^th October 2008. 40+ eager souls ventured onto the streets of Guildford for their first Friday evening taste of the night-life of our town. They were excited and nervous as they ventured forth from their base at the YMCA. Within twenty minutes they heard over the radio something from one of the local clubs along the lines of ‘We’ve got a problem, but it’s okay, Street Angels are in attendance’.  As the Chief Constable of Surrey was listening in at that moment, our stock rose considerably within the ranks of the Police Force. 

And so it has been ever since – every weekend on Friday and Saturday, a team of willing volunteers are on the streets of Guildford in their blue uniforms dispensing lollipops, flip-flops, water, space blankets, tissues, plasters, wet wipes and anything else that they can offer to help someone in need of care and attention. Most importantly, Street Angels give time to people that other agencies cannot give. They provide a listening ear, a shoulder to lean on and even a piggy back on occasion! They bring a calming presence and in fact, during the first year of operation, Police statistics showed that public place violence decreased by 39% when Street Angels were out in the town, as opposed to 3% for the rest of the week.

Over nearly six years volunteers have come and gone, but we maintain numbers at a steady 85 on average, and the impact they make has not waned. They are now a permanent fixture of the night-time economy of Guildford, respected and appreciated by the clubs, pubs, Police and paramedics, but most importantly by the regular visitors out and about in Guildford each week having a good time. 

MEET THE TEAM - GRAHAM

GRAHAM PALMER

AGE

     Bus Pass minus 9 years

OCCUPATION 

     Accountant and (unofficial) Chief Banking Officer for GTCC

MOTIVATION         

     At 56, my head tells me I should be able to do this.....I want to find out if my body agrees!

MOST MEMORABLE WALK(S)           

     The Kjerag mountains in Norway - stunning 

     And then stepping out on to the infamous Kjeragbolten - still can't believe I did that!

     http://blogs.howstuffworks.com/the-coolest-stuff-on-the-planet/afraid-of-heights-kjeragbolten-will-make-your-knees-buckle/

FAVOURITE WALK                               

     Probably anywhere in Snowdonia but particularly the Glydderau mountain range in the 

     Ogwen Valley.  Had a "Wow" moment the first time I stopped to take in the views from

     the top.  Have been back many times since and still go "Wow".

FAVOURITE WALK SEASON                

     Has to be winter and particularly when the snow is down.  Crampons, ice axes and only

     serious climbers/walkers around - fantastic!

WALKING ESSENTIAL                          

     A good companion, but if walking in the hills, also take a Bothy.  It could save your life....

     it did mine!

FAVOURITE TRAIL FOOD                     

     Anything that doesn't freeze solid in winter.  Hot cross buns are good.

BIGGEST CHALLENGE                          

     Successfully overcame my first run-in with cancer after surgery and chemotherapy

     treatment back in the 90's, thanks to great doctors and a positive mental attitude. 

     Currently challenged again but still remaining positive.

PET HATES  

     Cally moaning about the empty wine rack!

PROBLEM AREAS                                            

     Chafing.....very uncomfortable!  Lip balm is good in an emergency although you probably

     wouldn't want to put it on your lips afterwards!!

MEET THE TEAM - ROD

  

ROD BOREHAM

AGE

     65 years and 3 months at the beginning of the walk, 95 years at the end

OCCUPATION 

     Guildford Town Centre Chaplain aka ‘the cheeky chaplain’

MOTIVATION         

     To raise money for Street Angels and to keep me employed

MOST MEMORABLE WALK(S)           

     House to car; aeroplane to flight terminal; taxi to Rules Restaurant in the West End of 

     London

FAVOURITE WALK                               

     Any walk that ends at a nice pub

FAVOURITE WALK SEASON                

     Autumn because I love the colours and the temperature

WALKING ESSENTIAL                          

     A clean pair of underpants and sun cream

FAVOURITE TRAIL FOOD                     

     Honey, peanut butter and banana sandwich

BIGGEST CHALLENGE                          

     Life

PET HATES  

     Cats

PROBLEM AREAS                                            

     Arthritic joints – most of them

MEET THE TEAM - CALLY

CALLY CHARMAN

AGE

     46

OCCUPATION 

     Bookkeeper/Accountant and Treasurer/Trustee of GTCC (Guildford Street Angels)

MOTIVATION         

     To raise money for Street Angels and regain lost fitness 

MOST MEMORABLE WALK(S)           

     Wild trekking on Stewart Island - NZ

     Patscherkofel, Tyrol - Austria

     The Kjeragbolten - Norway 

     And perhaps the most memorable of all.....Glyderau - Snowdonia, Wales

     http://summit-inspiration.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/snowdonia-mountain-rescue-glyderau.html

FAVOURITE WALK                               

     Ben A'an, Trossachs - Scotland

     Fantastic rewarding mountain views normally only achieved after much more effort!

FAVOURITE WALK SEASON                

     Winter - adventures with crampons and ice axes followed by hearty pub grub in front of a

     roaring open fire!

WALKING ESSENTIAL                          

     Graham!  He keeps me smiling :)

     Plus decent boots - a girl can never have enough of those!

FAVOURITE TRAIL FOOD                     

     Chocolate raisins, jaffa cakes and jelly babies (all of which amazingly take on a zero

     calorie count when out on the trail!)

BIGGEST CHALLENGE                          

     Miraculously learning to walk again after a major skiing accident in 2001

PET HATES  

     Getting my walking boots dirty, an empty wine rack and mis-use of the apostrophe!

PROBLEM AREAS                                            

     Ongoing batttle with chronic fatigue (ME), blisters and black toenails!

MEET THE TEAM - MIKE

MIKE GERCKE

AGE
     Let's say if I was a car I might be described as high mileage but "good value" for a nice
     little runner

OCCUPATION 

     Accountant and GTCC Trustee - people get fooled I am good with numbers

MOTIVATION         

     Seemed like a good idea in a foolish moment!

MOST MEMORABLE WALK(S)           

     Dales Way, Cotswold Way, Ridgeway, Two Moors Way

FAVOURITE WALK                               

     Dales Way

FAVOURITE WALK SEASON                

     Autumn - bright days and often dry

WALKING ESSENTIAL                          

     Good boots and comfortable socks - barefoot is not advisable

FAVOURITE TRAIL FOOD                     

     A hearty breakfast and then energy bars - often

BIGGEST CHALLENGE

     Previous long distance walks but I was somewhat younger then!

     The challenge is magnified now.... 

PET HATES  

     Fellow walkers who snore!

PROBLEM AREAS                                            

     Knees getting past it - so might need to be carried on the late afternoon downhills and 
     uphills