By: Blonde Two
You may remember that a couple of days a go I told you the rules of our recent NightNavOff competition. I am hoping that you have memorised them in preparation for joining in with our next NightNavOff but, should you have failed to do so, here is a little reminder that Rule 7 was, “No secret weapons.”
You may not have ever noticed this life-fact but some secret weapons are so secret that even the people who need to use them don’t know they are there. Let me explain. Team Blonde (remember that there were three of us) turned up for the challenge with just watches (distance), feet (shorter distance), compasses (direction) and maps (lumps and bumps). I mentioned that we set off on our route with two Dartmoor Rescue adjudicators but I haven’t really told you about Caleb.
At least Two of Team Blonde had met Caleb before but not really to chat to. He is a good-looking chap and knows his way around Dartmoor well. I am sure that he can tell a story or too! Here is a picture of him posing for the camera.
Being Blonde (us, not Caleb), it took us a little while into the NightNavOff challenge to even realise that we had a secret weapon with us. Caleb had already walked the route once that day and obviously had a very good memory because, whenever we spotted his eyes glimmering ahead of us in the dark, they were in the direction that we should have been heading. Not only that but Caleb made darn sure that we were working as a team because every time one of us was a bit distant from the other two, he did his very best to gather us together again.
I think by the end of the exercise, our secret weapon was getting a bit impatient with our human navigation skills. He demonstrated this by making himself and the route home more and more obvious. Although we did use our (slow but sure) human skills, I eventually got into the habit of checking that Caleb agreed with our decisions.
There is now an annexe to Rule 7.
Rule 7a – Secret weapons with glowing eyes and four legs are permissible.
Caleb looks all knowing.
I’ve stayed away for a day or two, finding myself breathless simply from reading your posts. I would have been terribly disappointed if you hadn’t won the challenge but still, nevertheless, feel short-changed. Given the enormous amount of energy you’ve dissipated recently I’m surprised you haven’t also managed to persuade President Assad to take up residence in Monaco while bringing peace and a sense of fructification to Southern Sudan. Perhaps you have and the world is awaiting the announcement. Being awarded a joint Dame-hood in the Birthday Honours will put an end to your adventures since your anonymity will be blown (no habibs, handkerchiefs or hoodies allowed at the ceremony) but that won’t matter since a career of appearing on chat-shows on both sides of the Pond will be opening up, ending thirty years later when the Ragtops combine to designate you National Treasures. Your boots will be auctioned at Sotheby’s, ostensibly for charity but the sum raised will pay off the National Debt and your remains will be entombed in Westminster Abbey under the gilded epitaph: Their exploits added to the gaiety of nations.
But before all that two questions:
(a) Can dog hair be bleached? You can guess the colour I have in mind.
(b) How much would a lifetime’s supply of mascara weigh? Or was it eye-shadow?
We will NEVER sell our boots!
You’d jolly well better not bleach Caleb’s hair either! I love him. He’s GORGEOUS! He reminds me of my beautiful Shanty, who always knew the way back to the car. Even in fog and teeming rain.
Cheat!
And you were over-time!
Bah 😉
Over-time but very accurate 🙂
Loop yay I have one if those, although mine tends to specialize in seeking mud and water rather than navigational points. Actually, he is pretty good at seeking out geocaches too, so maybe ok on a navigational exercise!
Well as one canine per team seems to be the norm, maybe he can come next time!