Country File where the emphasis is on Cun……..try has over the years tried to introduce a few ‘new’ otudoor past times to the general public. A particular favourite was racing a mountain board behind a horse. Because we can all do that. I mean let me just go buy a horse, learn to ride it and there we have it a ‘new’ sport.
Now years ago I got asked politely by a policeman if we could stop pulling our mountain board behind the car at Black Rock sands where the BBC sends Top Gear to tear up the sand. The policeman was trying to explain that the rules of the road still apply, whilst I was explaining that as we were below the high tide mark, the land was actually property of the crown rather than the local council nad there fore the by-law wasn’t valid.
Just as the debate was getting interesting one of the wanna be presenter of Top gear shot past in their SR Nova, doing about 70 mph, so the policeman jumped back in his car before the situation about landownership and road law had finished. Now I would argue that a car and mountain board was way more fun than having to own a horse.
Now on todays Country File, which seems to be the dumping ground of Blue Peter and other childrens TV presenters, was Gill Scrambling, introduced like it was the latest thing. However Gill Climbing has been about for some time, and it is arguable that it has an environmental impact that the programme didn’t touch on, and also some of the more manage venues I have used I and every centre I work for insist on helmets and Bouancy aids, as some of the pools are deep.
Interestingly, several instructors and clients have been injured engaging in gorge or gill scrambling. Often having jumped into a pool that was deep when they last jumped in, but a storm has washed a log to below the surface. In jumps little johnny and snap goes his pelvis. Remember to look before you leap.
The most amusing ‘New’ outdoor sport was Nordic Walking, I’ll be honest it was just walking with two walking. Seem that a few rambler I have seen over the years have been engaged in Nordic Walking for years. I wonder whether they have anymore great ‘new’ sport up there sleeves, maybe Andy Kirkpatrick should get onto them with his Scram-packing, a cross between scrambling and fudge packing apparently.
Interestingly later that evening we got to see some proper Nordic Walking when Fogle, Cracknell and Coats finally got to Antartica for there race. Like ‘Come Hell or High Water’ on Ice, you’ll love this mini series if you liked there last adventure, as they prepare for and then race across to the South.
I do have to say that Ben Fogle cries like a baby way too many times in each programme, it makes me worry about his mental wherewithal. I mean he was like an emotional 14 year old girl who’s boyfriend had just screwed her best friend.
Anyway, the jury is out as to whether these Antarctic racers are better than Bear ‘Oh I broke my Collar Bone and the BMC insurance’ Grylls. I was interested to here that the flight from South Afrca to Antartica cost £250000 each way, I think Bear tried to charter it on his rescue!
Anyway for a Sunday night in the BBC did me proud Country File, Top Gear and On thin Ice back to back. At least it kept me from Lie to Me, House and Bones repeats on Satelite.