LOWDOWN Summer 2016 page 25
✏ BROADSTONE CAR PARK WALK☆ Ashdown Forest:
21st February 2016
We gathered for this walk expecting slightly drier conditions than we actually
encountered. So much for weather forecasts!
he car park and pathways were very muddy, but luckily, most walkers were suitably well
shod for adventure ahead.
The attendance figures were a bit low, but with the arrival of a couple of new members, plus Huguette and John who had come over from their main home in Belgium, we managed a respectable total of twenty-eight excited hounds. We were without dear Jean (who was recovering from a recent knee replacement operation) and a few stalwart members, but expectations for an interesting walk were high.
All hounds appeared excited to be out once more with their fellow pack members, and rather enjoyed crashing around the wet, slippery terrain. There would be quite a few damp and smelly hounds making the return trip home.
Though the hounds were sure-footed, we bipeds rather gingerly negotiated the wide, rutted, pathway down to a small stream. Here, several of the hounds took advantage of having a paddle in what must have been very cold water. Unbeknown to those of us at the front of the group, Jayne and Chris Cooper’s Boo decided to break away from the pack and though spotted, could not be prevented from disappearing into the dense undergrowth.
Unaware of this episode, most of the group continued through the wood and then began the climb out of the gentle valley. It was only when we had almost reached the car park that many of us became aware of Boo's swift disappearance - a rebel without a pause.
As we stood around speculating about how best to find him, a couple walked by a reported and seeing a Basset Hound near a farm at the edge of the venue. Russell telephoned Chris and passed on this intelligence. As little more could be done to assist, we returned to the cars. Here we waited for further news. Damon kindly drove around to the farm to see if he could get a sighting from there.
Anyway, presuming there was a big enough search party in action, some of us sought lunchtime refreshment by heading off to The Roebuck public house. It was gratifying to eventually get a message from Chris confirming the safe recovery of Boo.
On his Facebook page Chris later thanked those who had helped with the search and wrote, ‘I could say that he is deeply ashamed and full of remorse for his actions, but I would be lying, frankly he could not give a toss.’
Quite, but a good walk anyway.
Photos by Huguette Vanden Weghe
We gathered for this walk expecting slightly drier conditions than we actually
encountered. So much for weather forecasts!
he car park and pathways were very muddy, but luckily, most walkers were suitably well
shod for adventure ahead.
The attendance figures were a bit low, but with the arrival of a couple of new members, plus Huguette and John who had come over from their main home in Belgium, we managed a respectable total of twenty-eight excited hounds. We were without dear Jean (who was recovering from a recent knee replacement operation) and a few stalwart members, but expectations for an interesting walk were high.
All hounds appeared excited to be out once more with their fellow pack members, and rather enjoyed crashing around the wet, slippery terrain. There would be quite a few damp and smelly hounds making the return trip home.
Though the hounds were sure-footed, we bipeds rather gingerly negotiated the wide, rutted, pathway down to a small stream. Here, several of the hounds took advantage of having a paddle in what must have been very cold water. Unbeknown to those of us at the front of the group, Jayne and Chris Cooper’s Boo decided to break away from the pack and though spotted, could not be prevented from disappearing into the dense undergrowth.
Unaware of this episode, most of the group continued through the wood and then began the climb out of the gentle valley. It was only when we had almost reached the car park that many of us became aware of Boo's swift disappearance - a rebel without a pause.
As we stood around speculating about how best to find him, a couple walked by a reported and seeing a Basset Hound near a farm at the edge of the venue. Russell telephoned Chris and passed on this intelligence. As little more could be done to assist, we returned to the cars. Here we waited for further news. Damon kindly drove around to the farm to see if he could get a sighting from there.
Anyway, presuming there was a big enough search party in action, some of us sought lunchtime refreshment by heading off to The Roebuck public house. It was gratifying to eventually get a message from Chris confirming the safe recovery of Boo.
On his Facebook page Chris later thanked those who had helped with the search and wrote, ‘I could say that he is deeply ashamed and full of remorse for his actions, but I would be lying, frankly he could not give a toss.’
Quite, but a good walk anyway.
Photos by Huguette Vanden Weghe
