The GURC book of statutes is long and varied. But chiefest amongst it are…
The Zeroeth Law
“A ramble is a ramble. Not a run, hike, yomp, jog, pace, nor an opportunity to visit Halfords”
The Zeroeth Law is so called because one would expect it to be blindingly obvious from the name Gentleman Urban Ramblers Club. But it is central to the GURC ethos; a ramble is a chance to enjoy one’s surroundings, explore, ruminate and (as my esteemed colleague has pointed out) pedeconference. Whilst fast walking, popping into local hostelries and costermongers for travelling provisions and refreshment, and cursing when one loses one’s way may, on occasion, be necessary, it is a cardinal sin to lose sight of the pleasure of the Urban Ramble.
The First Law
“An urban rambler never leaves a man behind”
There is no I in Fidelity.
The Second Law
“You have to take the rough with the smooth”
On an urban ramble, one may pass, in the matter of a few minutes from the unexpurgated crapulence of Bromley-by-Bow scrap metal merchants, to the tranquil monument to man’s triumph over the seas which is Limehouse cut. Around the next corner could be an oasis of beauty or a den of thieves. An urban rambler appreciates the ebb and flow of the city.
Just wanted to add an alternate formulation of the Zeroeth Law which I think can be considered equaly valid as it has come from the lips of our great founding father Martin:
“A ramble is a ramble. Not a run, jog, stride, marathon, or even purposeful strut. A promenade comes quite close too.”