| Multi-DF
27/05/12 Start Eight Ash Green, 1.30 - 4.30. Operator Philip G0NXH The video is now available here! |
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| Rather than the
usual technicolour map Philip's site plan is used.
Names show who collected Txs at the end based on where people had
parked. This demonstrates how the cars were spread around the site as a
result of the driving phase with the Jokers pulling people to different
start points. It looks really obvious when you see it on a map with a yellow line but on the day with a power line near W and tracks going everywhere except where the set told you to go, it was not quite so straight-forward!  |
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Thanks to Colin and Rosie for bringing a new face along .. Dave. Normally beginners go direct to the ‘secret’ site by prior arrangement so that the Operator can offer tuition. However, on this occasion, Dave was coming with Colin and Rosie and had to start with us at Eight Ash Green. This is how it
worked: Rosie had volunteered to be Dave’s initial guide; so that she could do this without spoiling her own chances she was allocated Maxi A as her Joker. Philip (operator) had been contacted so that he knew that Rosie would be heading for Maxi A with Dave first. Philip would wait some distance from Maxi A so as not to give anything away but close enough to see Rosie and Dave hunting for it. When they had found Maxi A, Philip would step in to help Dave and release Rosie to hunt on her own. Everyone else (including Colin) drew a random
Joker. Like
all beginners Dave was given a wild Joker. At the start two Micros were put out so Dave could have 30 mins of practice at the start before the event began. |
 On arrival at the site Colin (who we now know had K as his Joker) went after that while Rosie went after A with Dave. |
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Obviously
Philip knew where the Micros were and took Dave
close enough to each to hear it. |
 Normally four Micros and the Maxi keeps a
beginner occupied for the
full three
hours but Dave was an experienced orienteer, working in electronics,
he
proved to be a very able pupil. By the end he was DFing Minis and managed to find
Mini H with no clues at all. |
 If
you want to see how Multi-DF can be used to get more
people into DF take a look at this http://www.forjac.co.uk/df/multit
x/trainsum.html the document is intended for our
operators but the
links down the side take you to the pages for the pupil.
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 This was a day for high fashion .. note the trendy titfer. |
 but Multi-DF can distract the fashion conscious ...... er Colin. |
 Speaking
of fashion nice glasses but ,,,,,,,,,
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 ...... exposed legs can lead to uncharacteristic behaviour....... |
 ...........
running about never achieves anything .... better
to follow Dave.
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 Ahhhh, piece has broken out, it must be all over. |
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Where
had Zero
to Hero man been
all afternoon? Can it really be true that Bewildered of Brightlingsea has finally cracked ............. it? Thought I was well ahead but young Timbo was way too close - especially in those shorts. A excellent effort from Dave on his first DF, finding 8 stations. Colin had problems at H, most likely the aerial got disturbed by a manic triffid hunter. |
| So the winner's speech .. " Unaccustomed as I am .... At the start a note from Operator Philip, advised us to take a map on site and invited us to a BBQ at his house after the event. This information and a bearing of 60 degrees had me heading for the Manningtree area. Flicking between 1930 & 1960 suddenly I could hear my Joker H loud and clear from the A12. Thinking I must be close I started to take bearings on H every 5 minutes but would it turn .... no! While I phaffed about Richard and Larby overtook. Eventually I stopped at the bottom right of the map shown opposite. At last I had gone by H and I sounded close too. Mistake 1 - after taking so many parallel bearings on H, I wasn't going to wait for another - oh the rashness of youth! I drove down Mary's lane but it ended up at farm house. Decided to knock at the door. "Excuse me I am involved in a silly game ... sort of orienteering , any chance of parking in your lane for a couple of hours please? Yes, result! However, my elation was short lived when Tx H fired up again weaker than before and back where I had come from. Fortunately Tx I coming on straight after H blew my ears off. Oh well at least I am near something. Found the Tx in a bin liner after one more transmission but where is the b*$^ triffid? A 3 metre radius circle can be a lot to search as you imagine others approaching to knick points .... at last...... and a 40. Now I must get to my Joker (have you noticed mistake 2?). Back up Mary's lane (red line). Thought it was in the hedge I could see off to the East.... but no. Out on to the road and eventually on the the correct path to H. At last ... another 40 points and it will be doubled! Where are all the other DFers? Checking for Micros I could hear W but even with its continuous signal could I DF it..... no! I eventually ended up standing under a power line ..... hmmm. Getting away from it a bit the signal turned but still pointed to the power line. Eventually W was found and another 40 points, so 160 already, this is looking good. A , J & L were all off to the NW and I guessed the other DFers must be over there. K was to the NE so I decided to see if I could pick that up before the pack got to it. Couldn't find a direct path and ended up on Castle Hill road. |
 After a long walk (it was way too hot to run) K and 32 points in the bag. J was next on my list but the track I was following stopped abruptly, bother, then my set made a puffing noise - I was standing within a few metres of A. Tickets posted but where is everybody????? A long meander picking up L, X and eventually J all for low points though, the pack has been here but vanished. OK have all parent stations but missing two Micros ...... bother .... listen really carefully on 1843 and 1901. Ah yes a very weak signal on 1843 a few metres of walking and it became a very strong signal - Z in the bag. |
 On
the way
back to Maxi A Larby appeared (my first site of a DFer at
3:35 pm).
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 Sporting
my own designer headgear I tried in vain to disguise the the smug
swagger in my walk as I passed Rosie.
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Back
at Maxi A Philip was dispensing water to the dehydrated of Essex. OK 50 mins left and only Y to find, but where had I missed it? I guessed it must be by H or I. Set off in in a clockwise direction along the purple line.  Down by H came across Ian but no slow bleeps from Y on 1843. Eventually got back to I and yes Y not far from it. Phew, job done but I won't be claiming the efficiency prize! |
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 A beautiful day was rounded off by Caroline's excellent cooking, drinks and music provided by Colin and Ray. All those present wished to express their thanks to Caroline and Philip for all their hard work and generosity. |