Geograph - photograph every grid square

SU9052 : Ricochet Hill

There is a tale behind this picture!

I arrived at Ash Ranges this afternoon (27 Sep) hoping to take some pictures of the danger area, only to find the red flags flying. Fortunately, at Dolleys Hill (see SU9152) the boundary of the danger area is well within the square, but at Normandy Hill (just to the west and clearly visible from Dolleys Hill) it only clips the corner of the square.

I decided that it would be a simple matter to walk along the outside of the boundary fence to the point where it passed into SU9052, but what I hadn't bargained for was the extremely boggy patch between the two hills. If you've never tried to cross a bog with a bike in one hand, a digital camera in the other, and leaky boots, it's an experience you may want to miss!

Eventually I abandoned the bike on a semi-dry island in the bog and got myself across to the far side, whereupon I took a decidedly disappointing picture. I then returned, collected my bike, and after consulting my map with greater attention, discovered another (dry) way of getting to Normandy Hill, from where I took the picture of Ricochet Hill.

I was then about to leave the ranges when I spotted a truck heading round the perimeter track and realised that they were removing the red flags. A quick change of plan resulted and I spent a fantastic afternoon riding all round the range tracks, getting another two (normally off-limits) squares in the process.