Had a great chat with a guy at the pub last night who was a 'beater' for grouse shoots - he gets paid 40 pounds to wander around the moors scaring grouse out of the heather. Apparently the price to shoot a grouse here this season is 100 pounds - that's a lot of money for a bird - plus a cartridge costs you around 1 pound. This is not a sport of the common folks!
Anyway off we set this morning through the village and up past the ? house. The guy who owns it is a guy from the US who owns the worldwide patent for the softdrink gun dispensers in pubs.
Up and up through the forest with great views back over the village, then up and up further along a roman road to the top of the moors - absolutely beautiful - weather clear and warm and the steps not too steep - perfect! There were several quite steep sections, but the views were worth it, and somehow they didn't seem so tough today - I think the legs are finally getting accustomed to this hilly country.
Lots of grouse around (and shooters in the distance - it's the middle of the grouse season apparently).
A bit of rain at the top, but not enough to be too difficult, then a nice walk through a pine and oak forest till we make it back the main road. Pete, Mandy, Narelle & Pheebs stopped along with way for a cuppa at a tea house, and Joe & I continued on. We got to one point where it wasn't obvious which way to go, so Joe waited there for the others while I wandered on, knowing that it wouldn't take Joe long to catch me up. Anyway on and on I walked and no sign of Joe (or anyone else) so I was starting to think that I'd managed to miss a turn, when another guy wanders along so I attach myself to him (safety in numbers!) till Joe finally catches up. Apparently Pete's pulled a muscle in his leg and is taking it slow and Narelle and Mandy have taken the high route. Of course phone reception up here is not so good, so keeping in contact is not easy. Finally met up with Pete and Pheebs who had already rung the hotel to arrange our pick-up.
David from the hotel collected us and brought us back to Wainstones Hotel (& will take us back to where we stopped tomorrow morning) - a frustrated F1 driver i think... I'm sure the speed limit was about 80 miles an hour less than he drove!
Now in the bar with Scott and Gary (QLD), Kevin (Traralgan), Joe, Pheebs and Pete (with ice on his leg). Waiting for Narelle and Mandy for dinner - they walked the high route to the waintsones so are bit behind us.
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| Pheebs and the 'Silver Fox' Scott |
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| Gary and Kevin |
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