Get a Life (or a Map)!

Seven teams eventually made it to the start due to massive traffic problems from the M4 down to Marlow and as a result four competitors heard Ray Goodearl's signal, which, once again, suffered with slight sky wave.

I, like some other teams, plotted a bearing of 82 degrees which went towards the Slough area. As most teams plotted their bearings on the West London map there were sounds of despair as Mr. Collett found that he had not got said map, and, as I had already given my spare to Mark Coventry, the only way was to plot some kind of bearing onto a road atlas!

Two teams took a chance and headed towards High Wycombe and up the M40 whilst the rest attempted to gain distance up the M4 (which was clear towards London). Together with Mr Y and Mr X, an attempt to get towards Uxbridge gave us a bearing of 50 which passed near to the town. Unknown to us, these bearings were quite a long way out and the 8:15 transmission proved that Ray was possibly in some woods nearer Ruislip. Peter Lisle and Steve Stone managed to get to Beaconsfield for the 8pm signal which gave them the edge to where Ray's site was.

The 8:30 pm signal was strong and, after driving around the woods near Ickenham, I came across the intrepid Mr. X and Mr. Y who, like me, thought Ray was hiding in the Bayhurst Wood country park and indeed when the 8.40 signal came on we were proved right. Finally, we reached the bottom of the park where we came across three other teams also searching for Ray. With the next signal on, a quick dash and the signal took us directly into Ray's hide only to find that Peter, Steve (always a bridesmaid) and Mark had beaten us. Drat!

With six teams now in, our thoughts went out to Atlas man who, thank goodness, heard Ray giving some slight guidance to where he was situated. Andy, with set out of the window, managed to get to the Tx before shutdown.

Our thanks to Ray for an enjoyable dry DF event.

Brian Bristow