Black Powder

I decided not to go to Cumbria for a Bee auction. I knew I would spend too much money. Instead I decided to do something a little closer to home. Whilst doing some research I came across the website to The British Association of Shooting and Conservation [BASC] Click HERE for the website. They were holding their gamekeepers fair not very far from home. H decide she would come along too. We also decided to go in Degsy. It would be just the right company for him in the car park. We could tell we were getting close because every vehicle was a 4x4. It had rained most of the previous day so the car park, which was just a huge field on a hillside, was a becoming cut up and a bit sticky as hundreds of cars rolled in. No bother for Degsy. We strolled up the entrance, presented our discounted tickets, and made our way to a snack bar for a bacon butty and a brew. The sun was out but the wind was a but fresh when it blew.

Sustained we set off down the first avenue of trade stands. Despite the number of cars we had seen in the car park it did not feel over pressed in the avenue between the stalls. There was the usual stalls of country wear, every conceivable gadget for fishing, shooting, riding, dogs, ferrets, raising stock, managing land and many other niche products. There are whole other worlds out there and we were getting an insight to it. We met some one we knew at the leather suppliers stall. H got to pet a whole Beagle pack. We watched a few of the arena displays only to realise that these were the people we were having a good chat to about there horses or dogs. On the third pass by the Honda quad display I could not resist taking up the offer of a spin. The chap was very pleased to have someone to talk to about bikes. I had a spin on three of the quads. They have lots of low down torque and even have four wheel drive and power steering.

we had a good look round the food marquee. There was lots to see, small and taste. Inevitably we bought some goodies. I had a chat with a beekeepers and compared notes with hime a the winter and swarming mangement technique. I was surprised to find to was starting the use the shook swarm method which I have always used.

I had a coo over the shot gun suppliers. There was 12 gauge, 20 gauge and 410 shot guns, under and over, side by side, semi-automatics, old, new, bespoke and all manner of airguns. I would like to be able to shoot on a regular basis. There is a club in Swad which I should look into. There was very interesting display which took in a number of interests in one go. The people did Deer stalking in Scotland and supported the guns using horses. They had a highland breed of type called a "Garron". He was quite big for a pony and very stocky with stout legs. He looked like he could go all day without stopping. The Garron was used to carry the stag carcass back from the hillside. For that job they have a special saddle which I had to have a good look at. We had a good look at the special dog breeds. The Beagle pack was good. Forty hounds controlled by a couple of whipper ins. There was a pack of Bloodhounds. They were less controllable but still well whipped in. Lastly the Otterhounds. Apparently they are quite rare and not surprising as they are big and active animals.

There were a couple of bird of prey groups. H was very taken with the Owls. She was particularly taken with the Little Owl. The Eagle owls were very impressive as they sat impassively on their perches. One display was by a historical firearms group. They explained the history of firearms which took in the guns themselves but also the development of the ammunition. The chap dressed as a 18th century redcoat rifleman did a very good display of shooting a reloading a musket. The standard infantry of the day were considered good if they got off three rounds in a minutes. This chap just got of four rounds and three reloads in the minutes. It was impressive display of dexterity and drill. We gave all the trade stands and craft stalls a good coat of looking at. We bought some Cromer dressed crab and a flagon of cider both as gifts for our hosts that we would be dining with later that same evening. I even got a pair of new shoes at a bargain price. We were about done so made our way back to Degsy. Whilst we loaded Degsy I looked around to see where the noise of the shooting was coming from. There had been a steady stream of shotgun reports as a background to the day. We walked over to see what was going on. There was a group firing black powder rifles and you could have a go. A had a couple of shots of a flintlock muskets. They were firing a clay pigeons which I thought was a bot optimistic. I missed the first clay and hit the second. The chaps were enthusiasts and were having s great time. The stand next door was much more serious. There were the BASC themselves. I parted with a bit of cash and had a lesson of clay pigeon shooting. The chap was were knowledgeable and patient with me. After a few misses and corrections I started hitting the clays on a regular basis. The best thing was that a got the choose a gun to use. The chaps went straight for a 12 gauge under and over. I selected a 20 gauge semi-automatic. It was lovely to shoot.

The wind was really cold up on the hill and that finished H off. I was feeling it too so we strolled back over to Degsy, fired him up and trundled home across the flood plain of the River Trent. We dropped in on the Bees, as we had to go right past them. It was very cold at the apiary. I was able to have a peek in the hive and all seems well. I dropped off the hive parts that I have had in Degsy for the past week. I took an inventory of the apiary, packed up Degsy and went home. I had a sit down and a brew before getting ready to go out for dinner. I climbed in to bed just after 1pm and was instantly a sleep. That was a very full and rewarding day.