– We have never had as many trips or as many participants on a trip before as we had last year, says Tor Suhrke, head of Bamble Turlag.
In 2023, Bamble Turlag organized 119 trips, in which 3,600 people participated. There are two new records for Bamble Turlag. Suhrke says that there is most speed in the activities with the youngest and the oldest.
– We organized an egg hunt for the youngest last year, when there was a record number of participants in such an event. And every Monday we organize trips for the oldest with an average attendance of 68, he says.
Bamble Turlag was founded in 2010 and currently has 652 members. The tour team is associated with DNT Telemark, as one of 56 member associations in the Norwegian Tourist Association. The hiking team’s purpose is to work for a simple, versatile and nature-friendly outdoor life and to safeguard the natural and cultural basis of outdoor life.
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Good for public health
Suhrke believes the increase in the number of participants comes from two things.
– It is good exercise for the elderly, while also allowing them to be social. When you are no longer at work, you often lose social contact, whereas here you meet many nice people. Another thing is that it is generally good for public health, he says.
When Bamble Turlag was established in 2010, their main task was to establish the 60 kilometer coastal path through the municipality of Bamble. The coastal path starts at Fossing and ends at Stathelle. However, in recent years there has been work on clearing and marking several places in the municipality. The hiking team is now responsible for approximately 120 kilometers of trails in the municipality.
– There are many hiking opportunities here, and not just along the coast. We focus more on trips in the local area, which do not need as much planning, he says.
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Working to repeat success
Last year, Geddy Aniksdal and Lars Vik went on four walks on the coastal path in Bamble. The event was a collaboration between Grenland Friteater, Bamble Turlag, Bamble Historielag, Langesundsfjorden Kystlag, Sparebankstiftelsen Skagerrak, Vestfold and Telemark county council, Bamble municipality and volunteer zealots.
They hope to be able to repeat the success this year, but according to Suhrke, it may be difficult.
– Last year we got help from Bamble municipality, but we won’t get that this year. We are currently working on funding but can’t say for sure if anything will happen yet. But if something happens, we will arrange this the first week school starts again in August, concludes Suhrke.
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