Over the years we have walked in Delamere Forest, built dens in Delamere Forest and visited Santa in Delamere Forest.
We have gone ape, walked friends’ dogs and picnicked by the lake.
And now, we have been ‘off-road’, self-balanced on two-wheeled electric vehicles known as Segways.
When I say balanced, that is another story, but suffice to say it was all my fault.
We pitch up for our Go Ape Forest Segway in good time and are met by our leader Gareth Battisson-Howard. He advises us to put on our helmets and then takes us to the training ground for our first balancing act.
We are not new to the Segway experience, having paid quite a few dollars to go round and round a patch of land near Lake Taupo in New Zealand in 2010. We loved it then and are looking forward to our forest adventure, which promises to be much more picturesque.
We start slowly and sedately, getting used to using our weight to go faster or slow down and stop.
My teenage daughters Alex and Olivia are dab hands of course and husband Alasdair and I aren’t doing too badly so Gareth decides we can turn up the speed.
We are advised to take our Segway’s off ‘turtle’ mode and hit the accelerator. We are now going at about eight miles an hour as we traverse the forest, avoiding the puddles and admiring the views. Apparently wet areas are out of bounds as the Segway may veer out of control but we ‘off-road’ enough to feel adventurous.
And then, on the widest stretch of gravelled road, heading back to base, I lose control.
There is no excuse but my concentration goes and I am heading straight for Olivia. I shout (rather than stop!), crash into her Segway and send her and me toppling to the ground.
Bruised but unharmed, I embarrassingly apologise to all concerned and sheepishly step back on board.
The session lasts just an hour but you get to see some lovely parts of the forest and it is not quite as sedentary as you think. That balancing act sure tones up the thighs.
Factfile
The Segway is a two-wheeled, self-balancing, battery-powered electric vehicle invented by Dean Kamen. The name Segway is a homophone of the word segue, meaning smooth transition.
Riders must be aged 10 years or above and weigh over 7 stone (44kg), to make sure the segway gyroscopes keep their balance.
Child riders who are under 16 must be supervised by an adult rider over 18.
Cost: £30 per rider for one hour.
To book: Visit
