2nd November – Tinkley Bottom
Deep in the heart of the Teign Valley Forrest once again kindly invited us to his abode. We duly assembled on the unusually dry grass of Forrest’s field, already floodlit and with a huge bonfire an (almost) safe distance away. Only Beefy/Piswell, and Georgy/Piltdown had remembered the full brief (for most of us it was challenging enough to remember to bring a bowl and spoon) and presented us with their guys. Although Cold Tits had also done a sterling effort of stuffing a lot of straw down her clothes. Whilst Forrest had been busing stirring his roadkill stew Man Pig had laid the trail with help from Woodlend and Tongue n Groove. “Nothing you haven’t seen before, and it’s short so you can get back for the fire and stew”. Off we set up the hill towards Trusham. Then we carried on up the hill. Then we carried on up it a bit more. Finally we crested the summit. The shorts branched off right and the longs carried on past the Cridford Inn. We got a bit stumped at the check for a while before I found the trail which double backed on itself past the church and soon enough we were back at the long/short split where Man Pig was there to make sure we didn’t just run straight back down the hill to Tinkly B. Down, down, down we went into the nature reserve at Ruggadon. This was definitely one of those trails where you’re either going up or you’re going down. Past the lime kiln and onto Farley Hill road. Surely we’d be turning right here, otherwise we’ll end up in Chudleigh! My hunch was correct and we had a glorious downhill finish back to Forrest’s. With dry feet!
The fire pit was already burning to keep the early returnees warm, and once enough people had got back the bonfire was lit with the guys on top. Forrest had laid out a veritable beer festival; there must have been at least 6 different types of beer, and a choice of roadkill or hedge clipping stew.
The down downs were awarded to; Jungle Bunny for navigational carelessness on the way to the trail, Warm Front for attempting to drop Forrest’s neighbour in it for offering to pay for the beer with a rabbit, then a double down for host Forrest and hare Man Pig.
Once these were all dispatched it was time for the fireworks, taken care of by some “responsible adults”. A very pretty display it was too, although one got a little too close for comfort; skimming the heads of the assembled audience and exploding on Beeflicker’s car bonnet. Although apparently he’d also tried to drive it into Forrest’s pond earlier in the evening so maybe they were just trying to dry it out for him.
What a fab evening, thank you so much Forrest for hosting us once again. Warmfront x
On on to next week; Beeflicker’s trail from Newton Abbot.
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