LOWDOWN Winter 2009 page 33
BRANCH WALKS REPORT by Jean Miller Walks Organiser
MILLBROOK EAST, ‘THE DUMPS’ ASHDOWN FOREST
15th November 2009
Down here on the coast, we had experienced two days of dramatic gales - so it didn’t bode well on the morning of our ‘meet’ when, in the rain, I loaded the two boys onto the truck for our journey to the walk. However, a few miles away from the forest, the rain stopped and the morning looked quite bright.
Twenty five hounds were brought to the walk, including a new, very enthusiastic, handsome red and white boy, Rupert Lewis. He seemed to instantly feel at home with the branch pack. Hampton Jones made his second walk, and it was also good to once again see the Booth clan en masse. In all, it was a very satisfying turnout.
In fact, all the hounds
were in high spirits and charged at top speed down the broad fairway
leading away from the car park.
As we approached the
small stream in the wood, the track became increasingly muddy. A slippery
bridge failed to provide the photo opportunity that I was hoping for - with all
hounds and walkers displaying an admirable sure-footedness - sadly, Jean, our Walks Co-ordinator
who normally obliges on such occasions was not in attendance!
We climbed up from the
wood and reached open ground. Jim McGough, who knows this neck of the
woods, found himself leading the walk. We skirted the edge of the wood
valley before, once again, crossing the stream using another bridge.
All this time, the
weather held and, at times, we even enjoyed sunny periods.
The hounds were
thoroughly mud-splattered and enjoying themselves. Sherpa Jim led
us all safely back to the car park, after a very enjoyable walk.
On the way home, the storm clouds
gathered once again and the rain reappeared. We had been very lucky to
escape all this.
Down here on the coast, we had experienced two days of dramatic gales - so it didn’t bode well on the morning of our ‘meet’ when, in the rain, I loaded the two boys onto the truck for our journey to the walk. However, a few miles away from the forest, the rain stopped and the morning looked quite bright.
Twenty five hounds were brought to the walk, including a new, very enthusiastic, handsome red and white boy, Rupert Lewis. He seemed to instantly feel at home with the branch pack. Hampton Jones made his second walk, and it was also good to once again see the Booth clan en masse. In all, it was a very satisfying turnout.
In fact, all the hounds
were in high spirits and charged at top speed down the broad fairway
leading away from the car park.
As we approached the
small stream in the wood, the track became increasingly muddy. A slippery
bridge failed to provide the photo opportunity that I was hoping for - with all
hounds and walkers displaying an admirable sure-footedness - sadly, Jean, our Walks Co-ordinator
who normally obliges on such occasions was not in attendance!
We climbed up from the
wood and reached open ground. Jim McGough, who knows this neck of the
woods, found himself leading the walk. We skirted the edge of the wood
valley before, once again, crossing the stream using another bridge.
All this time, the
weather held and, at times, we even enjoyed sunny periods.
The hounds were
thoroughly mud-splattered and enjoying themselves. Sherpa Jim led
us all safely back to the car park, after a very enjoyable walk.
On the way home, the storm clouds
gathered once again and the rain reappeared. We had been very lucky to
escape all this.
Down here on the coast, we had experienced two days of dramatic gales - so it didn’t bode well on the morning of our ‘meet’ when, in the rain, I loaded the two boys onto the truck for our journey to the walk. However, a few miles away from the forest, the rain stopped and the morning looked quite bright.
Twenty five hounds were brought to the walk, including a new, very enthusiastic, handsome red and white boy, Rupert Lewis. He seemed to instantly feel at home with the branch pack. Hampton Jones made his second walk, and it was also good to once again see the Booth clan en masse. In all, it was a very satisfying turnout.
In fact, all the hounds
were in high spirits and charged at top speed down the broad fairway
leading away from the car park.
As we approached the
small stream in the wood, the track became increasingly muddy. A slippery
bridge failed to provide the photo opportunity that I was hoping for - with all
hounds and walkers displaying an admirable sure-footedness - sadly, Jean, our Walks Co-ordinator
who normally obliges on such occasions was not in attendance!
We climbed up from the
wood and reached open ground. Jim McGough, who knows this neck of the
woods, found himself leading the walk. We skirted the edge of the wood
valley before, once again, crossing the stream using another bridge.
All this time, the
weather held and, at times, we even enjoyed sunny periods.
The hounds were
thoroughly mud-splattered and enjoying themselves. Sherpa Jim led
us all safely back to the car park, after a very enjoyable walk.
On the way home, the storm clouds
gathered once again and the rain reappeared. We had been very lucky to
escape all this.