One of the joys of rambling with the Ramblers has until recently, been enjoying the company of Alan and Maureen Binns.  Alan passed away last Sunday night. Their presence on local activities, especially paddles, but in my case more so on trips away, has added enjoyment to those trips. Together, on their non-electric tandem bike or in their 2-seater kayak, or sitting around at happy hour led to many happy memories. Reconnoitering a trip route always included a ‘tandem factor’. The tandem had come into use many years ago. Their life was busy outside the Ramblers. Having retired from teaching where they taught kids of current members, they then symbolised the Ramblers criteria of working ‘part-time or less’ by running a pottery business. The unpacking after a market weekend often affected their ability to attend Monday activities. Together in retirement they graced many cruise ships, especially displaying their ballroom dancing talents. Alan became a latter-aged top notch table-tennis player certainly causing Phil Prentice anxiety. The kayak, it seems, was where he was always happy to be. If not practicing Eskimo rollovers in his backyard pool, he would demonstrate the technique to Ramblers out on the Lake. In addition to looking out for sharks from the aerial shark patrol Alan would be closer to them in his kayak from which he regularly fished after having launched just across the road from home.  As we will all miss Alan, the paddlers may do more so, as they won’t be hearing him recite Australian verse while paddling across the lake.
Maureen, we are thinking of you.

John