LOWDOWN Winter 2012 page 24
BROADSTONE CAR PARK WALK ☆ Ashdown Forest
21st October 2012 ☆ Jean Miller ✍
Frankie, Tony and I (and our four dogs) arrived first for the walk. The weather was miserable to say the least, as there had been continual rain for some days - it was definitely ‘welly weather’.
Frankie and I had ours on already. Tony went to change his very light shoes and realised he had brought one of his boots and one of Frankie’s (several sizes smaller).
Frankie and I just burst out laughing at Tony trying his best to walk in one welly and one shoe. (Ed. I had another pair like this at home.)
The only solution would be if anyone else had a spare pair with them. Jill and Brian arrived and (what luck) Brian produced a spare pair of Wellingtons he happened to have in his car - leaving Tony very relieved.
We welcomed a new family, not the best conditions for their first Basset walk, but if they could cope with this they could cope with anything. We hope they enjoyed the experience, and assure them that we do have better days.
Much to our surprise we had a turn-out of twenty-five hounds, one honorary hound together with their owners - a real ‘pat on the back’ in those conditions.
It was very, very muddy, and there is a particularly difficult climb on one section of the walk.
Terry very kindly took Annie back with him, as we thought the going was a bit rough for the almost twelve year old.
Several of us who are not so good at these steep sections these days decided to turn round and go the easier way back. I understand that one member fell over (mentioning no names), and I was very glad that it wasn’t me this time.
A rather bedraggled group eventually arrived back at the car park where Sue gave Annie a much needed nail clipping session and general beauty treatment. This caused quite a bit of interest from the rest of the party.
Everyone departed after a couple of hours, very muddy with dogs and humans only fit for a bath, but all agreed it was very enjoyable morning. I think Owen mentioned on the way home he was going to take Sarah for a double whiskey to warm up - a very good idea!
(Ed. Well done to all those hardy members who braved these quite atrocious conditions. This was the same heroic spirit that drove Scott to the Antarctic, thrashed Pedro’s Armada, and painted two thirds of the globe pink. Mind you, I had a bit of a cold a few days after.)
Frankie, Tony and I (and our four dogs) arrived first for the walk. The weather was miserable to say the least, as there had been continual rain for some days - it was definitely ‘welly weather’.
Frankie and I had ours on already. Tony went to change his very light shoes and realised he had brought one of his boots and one of Frankie’s (several sizes smaller).
Frankie and I just burst out laughing at Tony trying his best to walk in one welly and one shoe. (Ed. I had another pair like this at home.)
The only solution would be if anyone else had a spare pair with them. Jill and Brian arrived and (what luck) Brian produced a spare pair of Wellingtons he happened to have in his car - leaving Tony very relieved.
We welcomed a new family, not the best conditions for their first Basset walk, but if they could cope with this they could cope with anything. We hope they enjoyed the experience, and assure them that we do have better days.
Much to our surprise we had a turn-out of twenty-five hounds, one honorary hound together with their owners - a real ‘pat on the back’ in those conditions.
It was very, very muddy, and there is a particularly difficult climb on one section of the walk.
Terry very kindly took Annie back with him, as we thought the going was a bit rough for the almost twelve year old.
Several of us who are not so good at these steep sections these days decided to turn round and go the easier way back. I understand that one member fell over (mentioning no names), and I was very glad that it wasn’t me this time.
A rather bedraggled group eventually arrived back at the car park where Sue gave Annie a much needed nail clipping session and general beauty treatment. This caused quite a bit of interest from the rest of the party.
Everyone departed after a couple of hours, very muddy with dogs and humans only fit for a bath, but all agreed it was very enjoyable morning. I think Owen mentioned on the way home he was going to take Sarah for a double whiskey to warm up - a very good idea!
(Ed. Well done to all those hardy members who braved these quite atrocious conditions. This was the same heroic spirit that drove Scott to the Antarctic, thrashed Pedro’s Armada, and painted two thirds of the globe pink. Mind you, I had a bit of a cold a few days after.)