Some time ago we had planned a group run for this Sunday but then were forced to rearrange it to Saturday as some could not make it. Lucky we did, the weather was wonderful on Saturday and horrendous on Sunday.
I left home to walk to our rendezvous point which talks about 15 minutes away, so I use that as my warmup. At 5 minutes in I pass an old couple’s house who everybody affectionately calls Barbara and Tom after the characters in the TV program “The Good Life” as their entire garden is devoted to growing all manner of veg. As I approached, I could see about half-a-dozen big motor bikes outside and as I got closer could see Barbara looking rather concerned towards some leather and denim clad guys kicking hell out of a shed. I called out “Morning Barbara, everything alright?” hoping that I didn’t end up next on their list. She turned to me and replied “Oh, hello, morning, yes everything is fine, Rick and his friends are just helping us with the shed.”. From what I could see, the help the shed was receiving was not doing it any favors. My guess was that they were demolishing it, but if that were the case, surely, they would have taken the roof off first!
Barbara seemed OK and presumably knew whichever one ‘Rick’ was, so I carried on with my warmup.
Perfect timing as we all arrived within a couple of minutes of each other. A few more minutes of chat with a bit more walk and then we set off. I always find running on the road in my trail shoes a bit strange at first. I feel much taller even though the soles can only be slightly thicker. Within ten minutes we get to the footpath across the field. The ground is still surprisingly hard even where the puddles have been.
As we got to the first group of trees (too few to even call it a small wood!) we normally go straight on, but someone suggested going right down the track to see where it leads. She had seen other runners and dog walkers using it so it must lead somewhere. Decision made and a right turn made and away we go. Although it looked flat from where we started, the ground sloped down which did mean at some point we will be coming back up, hopefully not too steeply. We followed the path which led around a wooded area and then we came to a fork, one way went into the woods, the other followed a hedgerow for as far as we could see. Left into the wood looked the better option so in we went.
We followed the well-trodden path and could hear dogs barking not far ahead. The barking got louder, and we could see a group of 20 or so people with a variety of dogs. When we were spotted, a woman with a very loud and commanding voice (tinted with a fair amount of panic) started shouting “RUNNERS, RUNNERS, RUNNERS”. There was then what can only be described as complete chaos, people frantically calling names, dogs being reeled in from long leads, tangled leads and loose dogs running around enjoying this new game. We just slowed to a walk and watched the entertainment. There were several shouts of “THANK YOU” from the crowd and then the odd person being dragged around by their dog. We walked towards the dog walkers, and I had to laugh as each dog has a little waistcoat with “Dog in Training” written on it. I can only assume they are at their equivalent to W1R1 in C25K. We all got a few sniffs as we went passed (mainly from the dogs) and walked a bit further on before resuming our run.
We followed the track round meeting a few other dog walkers on the route but were mostly ignored by the dogs but greeted with a nod or “Morning” from the owner. There was a small car park which appeared to be at the end of a narrow lane but no idea when that led to. Out of the woods and back on a track in a field. We have now found the up section!! It was not steep but quite long and could feel my legs tiring a bit by the time we reached the top. We were now only 100m from the trees we originally branched off at.
We continued with a familiar route and finally slowed to a walk. There is a nice green area close to where we met so did a few stretches there before we said our goodbyes.
I walked back towards home and as I got to Barbara and Toms house, the old shed had gone. There was what looked like a new unassembled shed standing up against their wall. Next to it was Barbara hugging one of the bikers. I waved as I passed but Barbara called me and said she had something for me. Quite often I am given some vegetable or another, I usually need to Google it to either identify it or work out how to cook and eat it. She hurried over to the gate to make sure I did not go passed.
She seemed very emotional and proceeded to tell me that Rick (who she then called over) had insisted he came round to fix her shed (which I had seen had a tarpaulin over the roof for a couple of weeks.). He has actually bought them a new shed and is going to put it up. Rick came over, he is a big guy who does not look like he has had a date with a razor or scissors for quite a few years. He had removed his leather jacket and now just had a black T Shirt and I could not help noticing that his arms almost purple with tattoos. He held out his hand to shake mine as Barbara introduced us. My hand looked like a dolls hand in his. Barbara sang Ricks praises and from the few words he said he was very polite and well spoken, not the image I had formed in my head.
Something was shouted from one of Ricks friends and he went back, we said our goodbyes and I stated to walk home. I rounded the corner and Mrs. C was in her front garden (Mrs. C is our local self-appointed neighborhood watch coordinator and street guardian). As I got closer Mrs. C lifted her head but looked passed me with a terrified look on her face. I turned to see Rick running (a very loose description) up behind me carrying a cabbage. “You forgot this.” Rick said passing me the cabbage. He then fished around in his pocket and handed me a business card and asked if ever I thought that Barbara and Tom needed anything, could I ring the number on it and leave a message for him as they will not ask themselves. He then thanked me, turned, and walked back.
Mrs. C was beside herself with curiosity and rushed to her gate as I got close. “Who was that?” she asked. “It’s a Hells Angel called Rick, he just gave me his number, . . . . . . and a cabbage”. I smiled and walked home before she could ask any more. I will give her the full story when I see he next, but until then she can be kept in suspense, cruel I know. I am just as curious as to who Rick is to them as they gave no clue, but he seems to think a lot of them.
Our run worked out to be just over 15K albeit with a couple of short stops.
Sunday morning walk.
My last run before Saturday’s event...
Bank Holiday walk instead of run ( warning -long ramble) 
