T-shirts are available for the Spine of England II walking tour. Please click here for details and how to order. Orders must be received by Monday 7th May for pickup on the tour. Email info@jj-rr.org if you have any questions.
JJ writes: “My friends in the Holmfirth area have booked Hepworth Village Hall on Wednesday evening 23rd May, for a send-off do for the walkers. It’s a small hall and tickets are limited. We are holding a set of tickets for the regular walkers. If you are coming on the walking tour and arriving on the Wednesday then please email info@jj-rr.org to confirm and arrange to pay for your ticket(s). Tickets are £10 each to include a pie and peas supper and of course lots of music. There will be a cash bar.”
This May, JJ returns to his native Yorkshire and walks from the Peak District to The Dales, singing songs from his albums ‘Rising Road’ and ‘Never Stop Moving’ with the superb Reluctant Ramblers band playing and walking with him. There will be hard-yards during the day and lots of songs and humour each evening.
Click here to see outlines of the walks in 2018
– from Thursday 24th May to (Bank Holiday) Monday 28th May
JJ says: ” putting my twin passions of singing and walking together was always going to be a risk but it has defied the doubters and gone way beyond my expectations. There is a real spirit of shared achievement during the day that informs and spills over into the evenings. Come and join us at any time; for a short walk, a lunchtime pint or for the gig in the evening. You will be welcome. JJ”
Rowan is arranging two one day voice workshops on two weekends before the May walks. They will be limited to 25 places per workshop.
In the north of England — Saturday 5th May at The Woolpack Music and Arts Studios, Otley. The addresss is 14 Bondgate, Otley, LS21 3AB
In the south — Saturday 12th May at Warmington Village Hall ( just off the M40 at the same junction as for Cropredy). The address is Church Hill, Warmington, Banbury, OX17 1BX
These are open to anyone whether coming on the walks or not. As part of the workshop, Rowan will teach one song to be performed during the walking tour. For further information and to book on these workshops, please email Rowan at rowangodelmusic@gmail.com
I will be back in Yorkshire next week for a beer and maps session with Boff and Colin and checking out some of the excellent live venues we have planned for the Spine of England II Ramblers Tour in May. We hope to get some walking in as well and hopefully Boff can join us having recovered from his bizarre tobogganing accident [anything for attention]. This has been a dismal winter weather-wise here on the border and the fields are saturated from the snow-melt and incessant rain. That extra few minutes of daylight is beginning to lift the gloom and we will be out in the Shropshire hills tomorrow whatever the weather. I once wrote that walking in wild landscape was my drug, my gym and my church and the need for ‘a fix’ is at its strongest this time of year. However you get it ..keep well and see you out there. JJ
Join John and the Reluctant Ramblers for 5 days of walking and 4 gigs in May 2018.
The dates are Thursday 24th May through Monday 28th May
(the second May bank holiday weekend)
John writes: “This is something I have wanted to do for some time. As well as walking some of the iconic landscape of my childhood, we get to play some superb live-music venues and carry our own brand of music and humour, often inspired by the walking, into peoples’ lives. The walks are inclusive and so is the spirit of our music. Hope to meet you there. JJ”
Click here for more information including the gig venues and ticket links. Note that walking routes will be announced nearer the time.
The raw stats of miles walked, metres climbed or calories expended cannot ever do justice to the shared experience of walking in all weathers with a great bunch of people like The Ramblers. As Boff says, “Reluctant” is hardly the right word these days; but in a way it reflects that feeling of not taking ourselves too seriously, whatever we do and … some of this was hard. It is The Lakes; inspiring and daunting and changing each time you look up from watching your step.
My thanks to you all for being on the walks and at the gigs and for some great FB feedback and my special thanks to Colin, Tom, Fran and Graham and Vanya for invaluable support – and there were times when I needed it! … And of course to a great band: Rowan, Lindsey, Al and Tim and guest Nick Passmore for making the songs and tunes come alive. JJ
The walkers at the very start – Thursday at the Castlerigg stone circle:
and at Skiddaw House on the Saturday walk:
The band on Saturday:
JJ writes:
“Just back from 2 days of rehearsing with the RR band, blowing off the cobwebs of songs from Rising Road and Never Stop Moving and hearing the new songs Rowan and Lindsey will sing. Finished off with a ceilidh tune session and a curry. Perfect.
Looking forward to playing in that nice little Village hall in Threlkeld with Blencathra looming above us.”
John Jones and the Reluctant Ramblers 