ROCKWOOD HARRIERS HUNT and the BADSWORTH & BRAMHAM MOOR HUNT

ROCKWOOD HARRIERS HUNT –

For once a lovely day with some sunshine as I am getting fed up with the dire dismal dull stuff.  As I write the same evening though, it has returned to a wild gale and a promise of rain .

The Meet of the Rockwood Harriers was in a farm field some distance from a pub called the Monkey Inn.  I mention the Monkey Inn as the landlord has a quirky sense of humour and artistic inclination.  I have seen him referred to as eccentric.  He said I didn’t need to pay the £1 to park in his car park as I was taking photos.  So here are some outside the pub and I believe the inside is also filled with his ‘art’.  For the uninitiated, like me, it requires a bit of explanation as apart from his vehicles I initially thought it was a product of fly tipping. 

This creation below started life as a Ford Fiesta.  How it got into this state I don't know, but it is certainly eye catching and I am sure the landlord, if he ever drives it, has a more suitable leather outfit than his shorts and sweat shirt.  I think he comes out to frighten non-patrons away at which he is very good.  But we had an interesting chat. 

His last non-patron is beating a hasty retreat.

This is his art and it has meaning I am told - but the explanation is far too long for here and eludes me right now.  In tonight's gale I suspect some of his conceptual art will have rearranged itself somewhere else.

This beats Tracy Emin's 'Unmade bed' any day!

Maybe one day I will venture inside to see what sort of quirky stuff resides there.  Perhaps I'll get in free too!  It could be interesting -
Inside the Monkey
and
Life in the pub 

Having moved on to go to the field for the Meet I passed this wonderful old stone farmhouse.

Sunshine and a lovely sky etc.

The 'Field' is gathering.

From what I have seen of the Rockwood it is absolutely ideal for young people with ponies as they get supervision on an interesting controlled cross country ride within their capabilities in a social environment.

The sunshine, and better light, does make a welcome difference.

Camera phones

What is it?

Did you say something?

I suppose this protective gear is all important for young riders. 

"Right folks, this is how we are going to do it" - or words to that effect.

"Not a word of a lie it was twice as big as this! Honest!"

"I had it on my bit of band but it just slipped off!"

"Dunno how it did that!"

"Poor chap!  Shall I report him?"

(That was a little spoof - with apologies to the unwitting participants)
 

Well that was the end of my midweek trek round with the Rockwood Harriers.  Unfortunately for me they can move on and just disappear. 

Visitors from around the globe look at this site, presumably most of them by accident, but I sometimes wonder what they make of it.  Even troubled places like the Ukraine, find their way here regularly.  As for the name Karagan, it was one I used years ago on Liam's Hunting Directory forum for a bit of fun.  It isn't as original as I then thought but I took it from a Kazakhstan fox - vulpes vulpes karagan.

So the next day -

BADSWORTH & BRAMHAM MOOR HUNT.

The ‘Badsworth’ (for the sake of simplicity) met the day following my visit to the Rockwood.  The weather reverted to type being overcast and dull with a horrible sleety shower after the Meet.  Fortunately it stayed dry during the Meet on a sloping car park behind a pub.

The Badsworth on the way to the Meet

A Badsworth foxhound

'Kindred spirits' - Chatting with a visiting beagle.

The usual affection of hounds in general

To children in particular.

Nothing like a good beard to keep the neck warm

Port

Leaving the Meet

The last I saw of them.  How can chaps in bright red coats with big horses and a gang of mounted followers just vanish without a sound?

David Swanbury