BBQ, orienteering, river boat trip, sightseeing and compliments!

Refreshments even before we got going

As mentioned in the last post we were due for a hashing barbecue up river, where the hills are steep and the countryside spectacular. Roy came just for the food and drink and finally got talked into doing the fire lighting and cooking. Initially we all had a drink and then got going. There was a hell of a lot of climb, but some amazing views, so it was great. I was pretty knackered by the end, but it was definitely worth going. I finally decided that I'll hare a hash run in the autumn and get a hash name, in spite of the reasonably unpleasant experience that entails.

The Hash group

The river bend with the views

Roy testing a sausage

We  came straight into town after the hash as we were expecting Pete to arrive on Wednesday. Just before his arrival we finally managed to get a mutually convenient date with Laci and Koxi for a get together, which was spent eating, drinking and chatting. It is so nice to catch up with old friends and it was also nice to know that they were coming to the orienteering event we are also going to at the weekend.

Pete photographing on board the boat

Pete arrived bang on time and the following day we went on a river boat trip, the one that was not entirely successful with Chris, Jo and Carmella, due to the early timetables not including docking at Roman Shore. This time we managed to take lots of lovely photos from the boat in the sparkling sunshine, have a beer and some chips at the far end and then caught the boat back home.

Pete and Roy (wearing my cap as he forgot his own) amongst the public on board

The next day we visited the Hospital in the Rock, which I have seen already, but didn't mind seeing again.  I found it due to geocaching and was sure that the boys would enjoy it.  Unfortunately you were not allowed to take photographs inside, but I managed to sneak a picture of the map of the complex.

Hospital map

The hospital was created for WW2 from the already existing natural caves under the Castle District by building corridors connecting them.  After the war it became a government nuclear bunker, but now you can visit it and they furnished it to look like it did during the war.  Fascinating bit of history, one that nobody knew about until 7 or 8 years ago.

Certificate, medal and trophy

Over the weekend we went orienteering and most unexpectedly I won W65. Several aspects of the event conspired to make up for my otherwise dodgy physical state, not least my main rival picking up the wrong map on Day 1 and then getting herself disqualified on Day 3 by mispunching in the maze.  This latter device had tripped many people up, as it is not easy to calm right down after running the course in order to identify the fiendishly difficult way of getting round a maze to 5 or 6 controls.  I always do them very slowly, and haven't yet been disqualified due to rushing or being inattantive and making a mistake or missing a control out. The terrain was very technical, which I like, and the sudden heatwave made everybody slow anyway.

Day 1 course

While I was running round on Sunday, Roy and Pete went to the nearby big town for a spot of sightseeing.  Apparently, they were clever enough to find appr. 80% of the sights worth seeing without having a map and/or a guidebook.  Clever, aren't they?

Today they went out together and left me behind. I must admit, three days of running in that heat had taken it out of me, so I was very pleased to have a bit of downtime. I have my book to read, my missed TV programs to watch (I have already caught up with the Montreal Grand Prix, which was pretty exciting for once!), catch up with my e-mails, FB and write this blog. There is one additional thing that has happened to me this week, which needs mentioning.  I am not one courting compliments and, I must admit, don't get them too often anyway.  I very occasionally get a back handed one from Roy, but that's about it usually.  Well, this week I had two paid to me, which was positively unusual. When I went to fetch some artisan cheese from the sister of the friend who makes it, she was terribly apologetic when she realised that I was about 30-40 years older than she thought from my voice on the phone.  Ahhhh! Isn't that nice? As Pete commented when I told him this: "Getting old is compulsory, growing up isn't!" The other - this time traditionally back handed - compliment came from Roy.  Who else? We were discussing how many orienteers have looked after themselves and look svelte, trim and much younger than their years, even in their 60's and 70's, while others let themselves go even in their younger years.  And I actually was listed amongst those that look good in spite of their advanced years (note the backhand!).

Tonight and on Thursday Pete and I are going to concerts, then we are off into the country. Let's hope the weather lets up, otherwise I am hiding indoors for the duration.