Twenty super hounds gathered with their owners at this popular Ashdown Forest venue. It was very good that a lovely couple - Cecile and Andrew with their hound, Hampton turned up wanting to join our walk and become members, after seeing our website - well done, Derek!

A group photograph was taken, with Jill and Brian taking centre stage. They had just celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary. Trudy represented all members of the branch and presented the happy couple with a card and a box of chocolates.

Many congratulations, from us all!

A high-spirited Barney Cooper (who also seems to operate under the alias, Max) took advantage of all this going on and chased after a Collie so as to get his toy, but order was quickly restored.

After these formalities, the business proper began and we set off on our usual route. The hounds charged down the hillside to the stream and to their surprise came upon some impressive, monumental, black cattle.

Barney was fearless and got as close as six feet to one insouciant beast.

He then jumped back twelve feet and barked, heroically.

Triumphant, he then looked around for another target and spotted ‘new boy’, Hampton Jones. Just for fun, he ran up and gave him a right ear full I blame his parents.

Poor Hampton must have wondered what he had done to court such attention.

Then on to the whole point of the exercise as far as the hounds are concerned, The Muddy Stream!

In they all went, up to their chests in gooey mud. All the red and whites instantly turning tri-coloured. What fun, and an absolute joy to watch.

After this, it was a long slow climb up the bank and back into the lovely sunshine. The long looping path back to the cars allowed the muddy creatures to dry off nicely and a further chance to meet a few more bovine friends.

A really great walk.

And well done, Hampton! Hope you enjoyed this baptism by mud.