LOWDOWN Summer 2017 page 11
✏ WALK MILLBROOK EAST CAR PARK (THE DUMPS) ☆ Ashdown Forest:
11th December 2016 ☆
Following a week later from what I heard was a very enjoyable Christmas lunch, this walk was the last event in the Club’s 2016 calendar and was a final opportunity to meet with members and hounds before the festivities properly begin.
The weather forecast for this day was bad - very bad - with warnings of severe gales and heavy downpours for the South-East.
We expected this might dissuade many from attending. However, we should have realised just how hardy our members and hounds are and the turn-out was far better than we expected. By way of reward, the weather was far better than predicted and we enjoyed a beautiful winter sun which quickly cleared the morning fog.
Our Hon Secretary, Frankie, handed out warm mince pies to those gathered; and the festive mood was further enhanced by Nico and Pablo wearing reindeer antlers and bright red dog coats. They tolerated this embarrassing indignity with admirable fortitude.
When the party was fully gathered we headed through the wooden gate and onto the Forest proper - the hounds eager to be freed from their leads and charged around.
This walk took its normal route, leading us slowly down a wide track and towards a muddy stream which we crossed by a wooden plank bridge.
In a relatively short distance, our group became separated - I understand that Chevvy broke ranks from the main party and had to be chased back. Frankie returned him to Brian and Jill, who were not attempting the whole walk.
Of course, the stream was an immediate magnet for those hounds wishing get as muddy and wet as possible. The slippery slopes on either side of the bridge were no obstacle for our sure-footed group and, sadly, there were no slapstick incidents to photograph for your mild
amusement when shown in these pages.
At the top of the rise, above the stream, we took the fairly flat pathway to the left which allowed us to re-group.
This heavily rutted route illustrated just how much rain had recently fallen.
For some reason at this venue our return route to the car park always seems to slightly vary. We can all see where we need to get to, but get confused by the network of pathways. Even so, we made it back and it was a delight to be out with friends and hounds on such a wonderful morning.
Following a week later from what I heard was a very enjoyable Christmas lunch, this walk was the last event in the Club’s 2016 calendar and was a final opportunity to meet with members and hounds before the festivities properly begin.
The weather forecast for this day was bad - very bad - with warnings of severe gales and heavy downpours for the South-East.
We expected this might dissuade many from attending. However, we should have realised just how hardy our members and hounds are and the turn-out was far better than we expected. By way of reward, the weather was far better than predicted and we enjoyed a beautiful winter sun which quickly cleared the morning fog.
Our Hon Secretary, Frankie, handed out warm mince pies to those gathered; and the festive mood was further enhanced by Nico and Pablo wearing reindeer antlers and bright red dog coats. They tolerated this embarrassing indignity with admirable fortitude.
When the party was fully gathered we headed through the wooden gate and onto the Forest proper - the hounds eager to be freed from their leads and charged around.
This walk took its normal route, leading us slowly down a wide track and towards a muddy stream which we crossed by a wooden plank bridge.
In a relatively short distance, our group became separated - I understand that Chevvy broke ranks from the main party and had to be chased back. Frankie returned him to Brian and Jill, who were not attempting the whole walk.
Of course, the stream was an immediate magnet for those hounds wishing get as muddy and wet as possible. The slippery slopes on either side of the bridge were no obstacle for our sure-footed group and, sadly, there were no slapstick incidents to photograph for your mild
amusement when shown in these pages.
At the top of the rise, above the stream, we took the fairly flat pathway to the left which allowed us to re-group.
This heavily rutted route illustrated just how much rain had recently fallen.
For some reason at this venue our return route to the car park always seems to slightly vary. We can all see where we need to get to, but get confused by the network of pathways. Even so, we made it back and it was a delight to be out with friends and hounds on such a wonderful morning.