Cache us if you can

We rose early today to get the household sorted out (dogs fed and walked, guinea-pig put out to graze) before we loaded two dogs in the car and set off in the drizzly fog to Castle Mort, where we met with the Mort family and visiting Small God. Happily the weather cleared the closer we got to the Castle and the morning became positively balmy. The dogs got somewhat over-excited at this change in routine but didn’t disgrace themselves (or us!) too much. There are worse problems than enthusiasm.

Pleasantries over, a plan of assault was made and we set off on the Alchemy Quest. After a short but enjoyable drive through an area we had never seen before, rubber-necking at all the pretty houses whilst trying not to lose track of our guide, the first cache was located without too much trouble, but with much hilarity at our incompetence on slopes. This was where having an enthusiastic dog on a lead was a positive advantage – on the ascent, anyway. The boys got to try out their new extending leads, and overall not too many people became entwined in their intricate manoevering. In fact none of the six caches we completed were unfairly tricky, and nobody proved to be ‘cacher-supremo’; no one person located more than two. We make a great team! A group of bikers having a party on one route was a little disconcerting, as was the herd of cows who were far too interested in Harry and Piglet for our (or the dogs’) liking. In fact all the cows we went past relished this change in their routine and scampered over to meet us. Yes, cows can scamper – trust me.

Sadly we failed to complete the Alchemy Quest in a single day, so Stu doesn’t have to locate a gluten-free hat to eat, which means we return on the morrow …