2011 Meet

[Bunnylump]

Right.

LAT and I spent yesterday sorting out, checking and writing clues for our treasure hunt. We are really pleased with it.

It will begin at College Lake Wildlife Reserve, which is in BULBOURNE near Tring. It is easy to find - you take the B488 off the A41 (Signposted TRING). Follow this road straight, until you see the GRAND JUNCTION ARMS on your left. Drive over the canal bridge, and College Lake is on your left. There is a car park there (they ask for a "donation" of £2 for the car park), and a visitor centre where you can wait if you are a bit early.

We will pick up anyone who is coming by train from Tring Station, but obviously we need to know which train you are on. I will send my mobile number to anyone who has told me they are coming.

The trail will include a short walk (1 and 3/4 miles) round the wildlife reserve, with clues en route. We will then have a car trail which takes in some of the local places of interest, and a pub lunch. The pub serves a range of food, either hot or cold and should suit most tastes. http://www.bridgewater-arms-berkhamsted.co.uk/ We anticipate that the trail would finish late afternoon, and can deliver anyone back to Tring Station by 6 30 pm at the latest.

If anyone particularly wants to bring their own lunch, this, of course, is fine, and there are plenty of places en route where you can sit and eat outside if you would prefer.

At the moment, with the numbers of people who have confirmed they will come, we will probably have two "teams" and two cars doing the route.

We would like to encourage people to bring their digital cameras (if they have one) because there will be a supplementary competition for best (or most amusing) photographs under a certain theme. I will bring my laptop (assuming it's still working!!) so please also bring your leads to download the photos, so we can all have a good laugh at the end. I can then also share them (with your permission) on the forum at a later date.

For those of you who are sadly unable to attend, and time willing, I will try to set up a little map trail puzzle so you can see where we all ended up.

You will need:
A waterproof coat (yes, we will still be going if it's raining - we may re-jig the order if it looks like it will be drier in the afternoon, but will still meet at College Lake).
Shoes you can walk in which don't matter if they get a bit muddy. So no stilettos, Scurra!
Camera and lead (if you have one)
Enough money for lunch (if you are having any).

We will supply pens, trails, directions, waterproof folders and hopefully some cake in the afternoon.

Any questions?

[giraffe]

Yes miss! I have a question. Shall I bring a cake?

[Scurra]

Miss, miss, she didn't put her hand up first.

[giraffe]

Miss Miss giraffes don't have hands! and he's off-topic

[MBH]

Now, Now children - play nice

The pub serves a range of food, either hot or cold and should suit most tastes.

Blast - I just made the mistake of looking at the menu and now I'm starving

[Bunnylump]

Well, you'll just have to come down and try it then...

I did actually delete the part in my post which originally said
"There is a visitor centre and a toilet"...

But I will, of course, be expecting you to all form an orderly crocodile, and wait to be supervised over any roads. Don't forget your permission slips, and do be aware that you will only be allowed into the gift shop supervised, in twos.

You can bring a cake if you want to, Giraffe, but I'm (time willing) planning to make one, and LAT might also make some crispy cakes too. So don't worry too much, otherwise we'll all have to eat multiple cakes. Having said that, that sounds pretty good...

[LAT]

But I will, of course, be expecting you to all form an orderly crocodile, and wait to be supervised over any roads. Don't forget your permission slips, and do be aware that you will only be allowed into the gift shop supervised, in twos.

That did make me giggle

we'll all have to eat multiple cakes. Having said that, that sounds pretty good...

Could someone explain the problem in that to me?

[Laura]

no.

[Bunnylump]

OK, so by my count, I now have 10 of us coming to the meet on 6th Aug. If anyone is still interested in coming, you would be very welcome.

I will put up a simple map trail puzzle here on the morning of the meet which features some of the places we will be visiting for those of you who can't come but would like a little flavour of where we are going. Unfortunately, the map I have is too big a file to attach, so I am hoping Scurra will be able to do something with that for me. Obviously, people who are coming on the meet should not peek prior to the meet because it will spoil some of the locations!!

[Bunnylump]

Oh, one little thing to add to your kit list. A small pair of scissors or a penknife (one for each team) might be useful. I could probably muster something up if necessary though.

...No, you're not WHITTLING anything, don't worry. I made my son and his girlfriend try out the College Lake questions. My son was all keen to add bits where you had to wade in the water and find things. You'll be pleased to hear I haven't listened to him. And I still haven't incorporated the crisp jigsaw either. I don't think LAT would like to put her name to something he's contributed to somehow...

I just hope we have another day like today -weather wise!

[supersleuth]

Am getting really envious. Just sorry I can't be there but will be at a wedding in Morecambe. Shame, as I'd love to do a crisp jigsaw

[LAT]

I have a mini swiss army knife which I've never used. I can bring that for my team. ( I even found it late last night!)

[MBH]

Note: LAT is an ex-member of the Mini-Swiss Army... may be usefull in the future after following false trails and finding ourselves stuck.

[Scurra]

may be usefull in the future after following false trails and finding ourselves stuck.

Only if we get stuck inside a horse's hoof though.

[LAT]

I like the thought that I may be useful in the future. Could you tell my children that please?

[Bunnylump]

Supersleuth - I am so sorry we couldn't all arrange something which everyone could get to. I will miss you! Maybe next time?

[Wulfruna]

The pub serves a range of food, either hot or cold and should suit most tastes.

Blast - I just made the mistake of looking at the menu and now I'm starving

I see what you mean - I've just had a look and that is really some menu It'll be a puzzle in itself deciding how to make a choice

[Bunnylump]

Quick reminder that sensible shoes are essential. It's rained buckets here today so the path will be a bit muddy and might be a little bit slippery in places.

Also, don't forget your camera!! This will be part of the activity - we need at least one per team if at all possible. Also, please remember the cord thing which lets you download your pictures if you can* - I'm going to TRY to bring a laptop to download them so we can see them properly at the end. And as long as they don't feature unflattering photos of me from behind then I will post some on the forum on the Sunday if I can. That way you non-attendees can all be quite sure that you did the right thing in avoiding us for the day...

*Scurra - this will almost certainly be a job for you. You know how technically inept I am...

[giraffe]

I don't have walking shoes, so you'll get me as I come I'm afraid. Fortunately I don't have stillettos either, so I'll be wearing my comfy sandals. I wonder where the camera got to, I'll have to check the battery.

[Bunnylump]

I'm sure comfy sandals will do fine. Just as long as you don't mind them getting a tiny bit muddy.