(continued) Up
the motorway four junctions to split the 1.30 and start bearings on A, then our troubles began, as I got a parallel, reverse direction bearing on the start bearing, which indicated any number of possible woods! We came off the line a bit, and the next bearing indicated a group of woods to the East of Axford. We chose a likely looking wood, but driving towards it we were stopped by the police to advise us to watch out for horses, as there was some sort of horse event nearby. Rounding a corner slowly, we spotted a parked car with a 70 cm whip on the back, so we hopped out to find that the car had a 2m/70cm rig on the passenger seat and a box of wire and goodies in the back - this must be the operator's car. A shout "that's my car!" however dispelled that theory, as Raynet were helping out with the horse event, and he said he was nothing to do with the ARDF! We
decided to turn round and investigate another track leading to a small wood, but that seemed private, and just didn't feel right, so we turned round again, and went once more past the policeman. Just past where the Raynet people were up came the signal, so I dived into a convenient field to take a bearing. Quite strong this time, and indicating Preston Oak Hills as a possibility. There was a bridle way into the wood, on the other side of the road to the other end of the track that we had recently driven down. We were not sure that the station was in this wood, but it was a risk worth taking. After a while we came to a junction of footpaths, when suddenly, our Champion Aerial Spotter, specially on loan for the day from Essex University, said "there's the aerial". We then scattered round the area searching the undergrowth, and the team found an earth stake by a huge oak tree. When the signal came on, it pulled me towards the earth stake, but running away from it, the signal started to turn to one side, so I followed the set, telling the team that the set indicated this way. When the signal went off, I said to the team that it was still this way, so we split up to continue the search, but only a short while later Peter was hopping up and down "Dad, Dad, this way", showed me a large holly bush, where a warm welcome was received from John. |
