5 teams line up waiting for the first transmission on a cold wet evening.
So far, no sign of the slow Morse net that plagued us last year, maybe they have given up.
19:30 And the dulcet tones of Mike G2SP can be heard wafting across the ether, our display indicates East, and so we turn towards Dorket Head.
We almost immediately hit red traffic lights, and G7WFM draws up alongside. With a screeching of tyres we both surge forward. With the advantage of the 'clean' side of the 'track' we are soon ahead but the 'determined duo' in their 'Ferrari red' machine
hurtle past in a cloud of rubber smoke.
19:35 Bottom of Arnold Lane Gedling, decision time, it looks as though the fox is across the river so which crossing are
we going for. We get a reading in the Lowdham direction so it's full steam ahead for Gunthorpe.
19:40 Half way down the A6097 between Lowdham and Gunthorpe, readings getting stronger and straight-ahead.
19:44 Another decision do we turn left down the A46 to pick up the A52 or go straight ahead through Bingham.
19:45 Stuck in Bingham at the level crossing, just get to the main road as the transmission ends, "directly left".
OK we now have a triangulation. 'Crafty devils' we thought as we approached the area, 'using the power lines as cover'.
There were two places they could be, on the right of the road there was a big 'lorry park' with high hedges, and on the
left a normal lay-by with a lone car and a single occupant.
19:50 We pass the occupied car quite slowly, as the transmission seem to be breaking up. Mike makes some comment about
a faulty PTT and so we think the problem lies with the 'fox' transmission. With a roar and a hearty blast on the horn
G7WFM races by us just as we realise that the triangulation was a red herring.
19:55 Signals extremely intermittent. There is very little background noise and we suspect a failure with our system.
Foolishly we pull into a pub car park at Elton and start to mess with the system. We are now wasting time and use up a
good 5 minutes!
20:00 We can hear enough to struggle on, and the bearing is back to Whatton. So we head off there hoping the fault
doesn't get any worse!
20:05 We come across a genuine looking gypsy caravan with campfire by the side of the road, could he be hiding in here?
Well, the bearings go straight to the caravan!
It's time to get out the close-in sniffers and use our legs.
On closer inspection there is a road behind the caravan
hidden by a hedge, which of course is where the fox is.
20:08 Second place! Well not too bad considering we lost time messing with the equipment.
Well done to Adey and Simon (1st place), thanks to the other teams for turning out on a miserable evening and well
done to Martin and Mike for their 'foxy' foxing.
G0PSI and I are the fox next time, 16/05/02 but don't forget
it's a 'minimum miles' hunt so check in early!
19/4/01 | 17/5/01 | 21/6/01 | 19/7/01 | 16/8/01 | 20/9/01 | 18/10/01
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