The Long Way Round

THE ATTEMPT ON THE GREEN MAN SAT 11^TH JUNE 2011

 

Karl and John outside the Deer Park

John Carr and I were first introduced to the Green Man through Chris Bloor during our hashing nights with the Bristol Grey Hounds. John has always been a keen walker and outdoor person and has recently completed several long walks with Karl as well as recently qualifying as an instructor for the ‘World Challenge’. John was clearly keen to attempt the Green Man and was keen to get others interested. My thoughts were that I had completed some previous events, the longest being 35 miles on the Malvern’s but, you do forget, time flies and that would have been some 30years ago!! I wasn’t sure about 45.

Anyway, John was keen and Karl and I were up for it. John, who is a great organiser, decided on the date, Saturday 11^th June. We were not going to run it but aim to complete it by walking it within the 24 hrs. So, John’s plan:  Bring a packed lunch, plenty of water/drinks, try and keep to the schedule he had worked out, walk at the pace of the slowest, take more short breaks as opposed to a few longer ones, bring a change of shoes and socks, we will try and get a few friends to join us at certain points, we will start at 03.30. and ENJOY yourself. This seemed an OK plan to me. My thoughts were that no matter where we were on the route, if there was a problem, a lift home was no more than a phone call away.

At 02.40. I was up, light breakfast and round to Karl’s to pick up the lift. Karl appeared on time and then off to John’s house. As said before, John is very organised, so you can imagine our surprise to find John’s house in complete darkness. We were unable to raise anyone even after ringing on the bell and banging on the door. Did we have the right day?? A quick phone call revealed John had overslept, (thank goodness it wasn’t one of us!! We would have been in trouble!) It was interesting to see John struggling down the garden path trying to put on boots, rucksack and coat all at the same time! The first part of the plan, slightly behind schedule!

Off to Ashton Court. At that time in the morning we could not get through the gate and so climbed the wall. A quick photo before we entered the deer park, only two in the frame though, not easy to find a passer by at that time to oblige with the camera. We were on our way, a few minutes late!! Heading down-hill past the house and on to the Dovecote, first stop Dundry. At this point, John’s mobile phone alarm went off, no wonder he overslept he had not catered for British Summer Time! The first part of the walk was very familiar, although I was pleased that John was doing all the navigating and map reading, it made life for Karl and I very easy, something I appreciated greatly at various stages of the walk. At that time of the day it was quite cool and the dew was thick on the long grass in many fields and this meant everything from the waist down was sodden. As we arrived on Dundry it was getting lighter and the sun was well on its way up and there were some wonderful views back towards Bristol and Ashton Court, our starting point. No time to waste, we were into our stride and after a quick snack and a drink, we were back on our way.

We all seemed very happy and glad the first section was under our belt. We made good time on the next section and it was nice to see the huge viaduct which signaled that we were not far from our next stop, Pensford. Over the bridge at Pensford, a quick stop on the bench for John to change his ‘wet’ boots for a pair of trainers, for him to unleash his walking poles and to grab a quick drink and snack. Also, that familiar question, “How many miles have we done?” This question soon turned into “How many left?!!”

Next stop Keynsham. This was a lovely part of the route. Nice countryside, some nice views and at this point all of us were feeling comfortable and upbeat. Pleasant conversation and well on schedule. At Keynsham, we stopped by the Lock Keeper and it was my turn to discard the boots and put on trainers, it was a pleasant change. All of us at this point also discarded some of our attire as it was turning into a lovely warm day. We had a quick recharge of our batteries, snacks and drinks, before commencing the next stage.

Along the river and heading for the Warmley cycle path. When we got to the cycle path we stopped at the Station Café and both John and Karl settled for a coffee and bacon and egg roll. I went for my packed lunch. At this point I was not sure if sitting down was a good option, rather worried about stiffening up. A little longer break this time, although walking on the cycle track, though rather boring and dangerous due to ‘speeding bikes’ it was easy going and we were making good time.

It was good to leave the cycle track and get back onto some country paths, now heading for the White Horse at Winterbourne. During this stage, I felt we all seemed to be quieter. There seemed to be a determination to get on with it and for myself I was starting to feel tired and theWhitehorsecould not come quick enough. The ‘Half-way House’ on the Kendleshire golf course was a welcome quick stop for refreshments and we were clearly seen as not being ‘Golfers’ and were kindly reminded several times where the  footpath was. We finally made the White Horseand as we walked round into the car park, it was great to see two friends, John.H and Paul with two goldenLabradors. They were going to join us for the next part of the walk. They were enthusiastic and keen to know everything about our day so far. What had it been like? Did you get started on time? How are you feeling? Any problems etc etc…. Not sure if we had enough energy to answer all the questions, but it was great to have fresh faces, even the four legged ones! It was also good to lighten our loads as we dispensed of many items we did not need, empty lunchboxes, bottles, boots, coats and extra layers of clothing into John H’s car. After our break, it was off again, with a fresh, rejuvenated feeling.

The next stage started well with our new quests and with the return of conversation it took our minds off the distance left and the aches and strains that were starting to develop. It was good to get through Bradley Stoke, across the M5 and back into the countryside. Even with friends joining you, you do slip back into that quiet determination to ‘Keep Going’. Karl was feeling tired and took over John’s walking poles and was supported by Paul who walked with him at the back. At this stage we were all starting to slow. I had to stop and taking off my trainer revealed a very bad blister. No worries, John Carr had the duct tape, and with a little bit of first aid, we were back on track and moving. John.H and Paul, plus the four legged friends left us by Clifton Rugby Club and after a quick group photo, we were back on our own and heading for Blaise.

 

 Karl had phoned his wife, and had arranged to have his trainers brought along to Blaise. As we walked into the Blaise Estate by the house, Karl’s wife was waiting. I think Karl had a welcome change of footwear and after a few snacks supplied by Karl’s wife, we were off on the home straight. At this point, we all felt this was familiar country and even though feeling very tired and behind schedule, what ever happened, we would be able to finish. We fell into our familiar formation of John leading followed by me and then Karl.

As we ascended the foot path byMariners Driveup to theDowns, we were all wondering why on earth we had not started from our own houses, we could be on our way home now. We all live within ¾mile of where we were. If only!! Across theDownsand heading for the conservatory. Although tired and sore, spirits started to lift, as they do when the end is insight. Karl must have had a second wind and took the lead at a steady stride. Across the bridge and on to the finish with a great sense of achievement, accomplishment, satisfaction and most of all at this point, relief that it was all over. JOB WELL DONE! We were fortunate enough to find a passer by who did oblige with the camera to get three tired but very happy people in the frame. 17hrs 20mins.

Job done!

JOHN CARR            KEVIN RAFTER          KARL SUCHY

Two New Woodwoses

We are still awaiting reports from the two latest Woodwoses, Woodwose XVI Antony “Turtle” Clark and Woodwose XVII John Reynolds.

TACH member, Turtle, completed the Green Man Challenge on Saturday 6th March in 10 hours 31 minutes. Fundraiser, John, finished in 10 hours 4 minutes on Mothering Sunday 14th March.

Turtle’s support team  (wife Jan and twin daughters, Susie and Katie, Joe and Claire Scaife and Chris and Libby Bloor) was a bit thinner on the ground than it would have been if he hadn’t had to delay his attempt to the Grizzly weekend.

John’s support team of Mendip Hashers (names among the details to follow) have pointed out that they have in effect completed the challenge as a relay team and wonder whether this deserves recognition. I should think it does, but how? Some clarification is called for.

Making a Hash of it

The day after a severe race is a good time to go out on a short undemanding run to loosen up and check that everything is in working order, so, on Monday I decided to go on a Hash with Bristol Greyhounds. There was a time when I went out with the Greyhounds every week, but, lately, for a number of reasons, I have hardly been out at all.

I suppose I ought to explain hashing. It is basically an old fahioned paper-chase or a game of hare and hounds, where one person – ‘the hare’ – sets a trail – it is usually laid in flour rather than paper nowadays to avoid littering the countryside – and the pack follows the trail. The modern form of the ‘sport’ was popularised by ex-pats in Malaya and spread from there, with the additon of some bizarre rituals that probably originated in Oxbridge or some such place.

This particular Hash was from the White Horse in Pilning, which has been cut off from the village by the diversin of the M4 over the second Severn Crossing. For some reason I like this pub, which was another reason for going there.

After the usual rituals, we set off along the cycle path alongside the motorway, but we were soon exploring a more interesting path along the grass alongside The Pill, which here has the appearance of a large drainage ditch or ‘rhine’ as such ditches are called in Sonerset and Gloucestershire.

At the next bridge, we crossed over into a series of fields full of eminently runnable grass. There was a bit of a hiccup, when we emerged onto a road and had to run alongside the major road between Avonmouth and the M48, but we were soon back on the grass, and I was congratulating the hare in my mind for finding some paths i had not run on before – always a bit of a bonus.

Then we emerged on a minor road in Northwick village, which has a church tower and a graveyard, but no church.

To be fair, we had been warned that the next section was problematic – but there are some principles (there are no rules) in hashing – and these seem to have been thrown out of the window.

Firstly, it is the job of the hare to lay a trail. Secondly, it is his job to make sure that no-one gets into difficulties following it.

In this case, the hare had been frightened by a field full of heifers and had not laid a trail through the following fields. To compound the error, he sloped off back to the pub on a shortcut along the road, leaving the pack in a situation that he thought was dangerous. It wasn’t – but that is hardly the point.

The situation was not helped by the pack calling ‘on’ when there was no flour. The net result was that a new hasher had to deal with an angry farmer. Luckily, this was the only mishap, and everyone got back to the pub, where most people snsibly got stuck into the scrumpy.