25b. Aldermaston Soak – Some time ago Chris was to run a G-T cup event and as he was working in that area, chose to use a wood and lake area called Aldermaston Soak. The lake had a grey (glowing sewage) type look and smelled a bit as well, so having buried an earth stake for the far end of the aerial in the mud of the stream as it entered the lake, he retreated back into the conifer woods. It was just as well it was cool weather, and he had chosen to wear a thick padded jacket with hood, as the area bred vicious mosquitoes some about ¾" long. Pulling his hood tight and hiding his hands he settled down to await the tribes.

Most teams arriving on-site came over the stream by a substantial bridge some 200 yards upstream of the lake, but Brian Bristow , as usual, was taking the straight line to the TX. He came across the stream and decided to jump across (no-one in their right mind would step into the now glowing water). He chucked his set across and backed up for the ‘long’ jump. His feet landed on ‘solid’ muddy ground, and rather than roll forwards as per normal, his feet stuck in, and he fell back into the stream. By the time he (and many others) had found the earth stake, and followed the wire, he was not a happy bunny, as he was followed by a great cloud of insects all after his blood.