Since the lorry had let me down, again, there was no way I could make it to the South Pembrokeshire Hunt opening meet at Creselly house in Pembrokeshire. I had spent most of Friday getting Frank ready. This included, bath, full clip and tack cleaning. Added to this I ensured my jacket and boots were clean, stock ironed, hip flask filled. As the day progressed I realised that although the lorry was ready it would be impossible to pick it up and it was another case of all dressed up but no where to go. Saturday turned out to be a beautiful November day so I decided to ride to Oxwich beach as the tide would be out aroundmidday. This meant avoiding crossing paths with the local hunt as Cefyn Bryn was location of a Banwen Miners meet. These are usually fairly quiet affairs and I’d much rather find my own way across the Bryn, including racing along soft turf gallop tracks which curiously the hunt seem to be unaware of as they stick to the hard and gnarly stony main thoroughfare that traverses across the top of the Bryn. I’ve no wish to run Frank’s trotters across such tough terrain full of stony potholes. It’s poor hunting country for all sorts of reasons…local foxes have nothing to fear as hounds are banned from much of the land that surrounds the Bryn and it turns out to be no more than a fairly uneventful pootle across the top of Gowers backbone taking in some rather wonderful views….it seemed to be a day for Red Admiral butterflies too as i saw three as I rode across the bryn.

Dropping down to penny hitch past Penmaen estate it was clear that other wildlife might be in more danger from the local shoot. As I approached the crossroads I could see through the trees what looked to be a helicopter… indeed it was a sleek and shiny supersonic type of helicopter. As I passed quite close I mused on the convenience of having such a vehicle to get about…. roads are so busy and congested these days and I imagined some rich towny from Engerland sweeping across land and cities for a days shooting on Gower. Turns out it’s the mode of transport of local shopkeeper. Nice one Cyril.

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