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We
started praying on Tuesday that the weather forecasters had got it
wrong. But no, so by Thursday I sent an email to those on line
suggesting they would need wellies and a raincoat. Most responded by
saying, “I’m not getting out of the car he/she is.”
I
was trying to warn them without giving away the finishing place, the
treasure, which was Diggerland Kent. Imagine the mud, rain, wind
and… Anyway I did my best.
11.33am the first car set off from Brands Hatch Thistle Hotel. Waved
off with the Union Jack professionally executed by Rod Birley Esq.
In the foreground a very smart brand new BARC SEC flag demonstrated
who was involved with the show, on reflection I should have got
Borough 19 to bring theirs too!
Rod
sent each car off at roughly 3 minute gaps and it wasn’t until the
last two cars were due to depart that I asked if he had noticed
whether they were turning right onto the A20 or left. Blank looks!
As long as they went right they were heading in the right direction.
At
about 12.45pm Andy Ratcliffe phoned and told me he had travelled 10
miles and hadn’t found a clue yet! It turned out that he had missed
the first right after the second left after the first clue. In
simple language, first right after going under the M20 bridge behind
Brands. Now we couldn’t put that in the clues and directions could
we, it would have been too easy, and anyway others managed to find
their way. Clot! I put him back on route and heard nothing more
until he reached the finish all smiles and happy that he was going
to get to go on all the diggers.
Team
Chezzebob were the first to arrive at the treasure in an astonishing
2 hours 48 minutes they were the 5th car to leave and
arrived 1st. Not bad for a blond! Quick time but not the
quickest that went to the Tonbridge Titans with a time of 2 hours 36
minutes, not that anyone was racing you understand.
At
10am in the morning Team Also Ran were still surfing the net; he
lives in Ely Cambridgeshire, why hadn’t he left? Scolded by Rod for
not being on the road Graham and his team finally turned up at
Brands with minutes to spare before their departure time.
 This gave
them little time to relax after their belt down the M11 and M25 to
the start, but off they went, Graham rocking and rolling to the
Rolling Stones “can’t get no satisfaction.” By the time they arrived
they hardly had any time to enjoy the facilities in the Diggerland
Park. But didn’t seem too bothered and no one looked as if they
wanted to kill each other, surprisingly! They were rewarded for
their troubles with a set of suitcases because not only did they
take a long time but they clocked up the longest distance, 43 miles
on an 18.9 mile course.
Jane
Anthony and the Booze Cruise III team cut their holiday short by a
day to attend the hunt. Jane looked shattered, but well up for the
adventure. However, they took the longest time, even longer than
Team Also Ran’s 4hours 10 minutes. The Booze Cruisers took a
staggering 4 hours 26 minutes and were awarded with a clock and a
watch.
It
was a miserable day, cold, wet, and windy. I am so sorry about that
because many of the hunters had not come prepared, hoping, I think,
for a nice warm place to be entertained, like last year’s vineyard
experience. Chin was most disappointed. He finished 6th
overall, which was pretty good out of 19 teams. But on arrival he
politely asked if he could go, as Diggerland wasn’t his scene.
The
clues and answers are as follows. We used our discrection on some
of the answers so if you see an answer here that you may not have
given exactly as shown, chances are we would have given you the
point or half a point.
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The
2006 Treasure Hunt Clues
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|
Start Point – Thistle
Hotel Brands Hatch |
Direction – Leave car in the car park and find next five clues on
foot |
|
34.
|
Name
the Earl of Darnby
John Stuart
|
|
Direction - Turn right on to A20, take
next right, continue past first turning on left. |
35.
|
He
frequented the leather bottle, who is he?
Charles
Dickens
|
|
1.
|
FF is
made where?
Italy
|
36.
|
His
friend runs the tuck shop
Mr Bumble
|
|
Direction – Take 2nd turning
on left after clue #1, then take next right |
37.
|
What
time is the final service at Luddesdown?
9.15pm |
|
2.
|
SF RW
and JM can be found where?
On a tree
stump
|
38.
|
This
was built in 1874 – full name please
Cobham Primary
School
|
|
3.
|
What
are Saxton & Cages a part of?
The Woodlands
Trust
|
Direction – left at the roundabout |
|
Direction – Continue over Xroads, go up
the hill, then turn right at T-junction |
39.
|
How
many Ferrantis are visible?
2 |
|
4.
|
What is
Tommy’s surname?
White
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40.
|
In
which year was the CAMS project set up?
1997 |
|
5.
|
The
nursery school opening times
9.15am to 12.15pm |
Direction – third exit at roundabout,
go over bridge |
|
Direction – Take 2nd turning
on left after clue #5 |
41.
|
Name
the symbols for zoning
Horse riding,
cycling, Dog Walking
|
|
6.
|
What is
for Private Members Only
Northdown
Country Riding Club
|
Direction – next turning left after clue #41 |
|
Direction – Go straight on over three
junctions after clue #6 |
42.
|
VET
SEAN
VENESTA
|
|
7.
|
Pilgrims what?
Corner
|
Direction – Left at T-junction |
|
8.
|
What
time is Evensong?
6.30pm |
43.
|
Taxus
baccata keeps you left, what’s its common name?
A Yew Tree
|
|
9.
|
Former
Disc Jockey’s name & telephone number
John Peal Ash
Green 872209
|
44.
|
For
bookings call…
01474 822373 |
|
10.
|
Who is
made of scrap?
Ridley Angel
|
Direction - Follow road round to the
right |
|
11.
|
Built
in 1810
Bowdler’s Well
|
45.
|
How
many clocks at the village hall?
4 (three inside, one on outside) |
|
Direction – Take next turn on right |
Direction – Turn right at Xroads |
|
12.
|
What
happens if you break the animal Act 1971?
Your dog could
be shot if found among sheep
|
46.
|
What
sits above the bulrushes?
A Dragon Fly
|
|
13.
|
Yaba
daba doo
Flintstones
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47.
|
Where
do the sons live?
Pipes Place
|
|
14.
|
How
many foot rests on DP425?
8 |
48.
|
Number
of yellow wheelchairs at Copperfield
3 |
|
Direction – straight on at Xroads |
Direction – Straight on at traffic
lights |
|
15.
|
Secure
with 6 bars and 6 what?
Padlocks
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49.
|
Master
protects what?
Higham Garage
|
|
16.
|
SW site
reference
101356 |
50.
|
What is
“Craggsy” up to these days?
Headmaster at
Gads Hill School
|
|
Direction – Turn left onto A227 |
51.
|
Restored by Impact
Higham Horse
Trough
|
|
17. |
Its
number DA13 36, what is it?
Letter box number
|
Direction – Straight on at both
roundabouts |
|
18.
|
Name
the principle MRCVS
Martin T Hobbs
|
52.
|
This
can be found at Km 15.4
Oil Pipline
|
|
19.
|
N E S W
SIRS
Navigation Ltd
|
Direction – Straight over double
traffic lights |
|
20.
|
This
was bought from SW Norton
Meopham
windmill
|
53.
|
Who
makes unreal stone?
Kent Balusters
|
|
21.
|
Name
the third doctor from the top
David Woodhead
|
Direction – Bear left at lights |
|
22.
|
What
does Kinder represent?
Pre-School Day
Nursery
|
54.
|
4.5
equals
15 ft |
|
23.
|
What is
Josh’s biggest cup size?
JJ
|
Direction – Straight on at lights into one-way system, move to right
lane.
Turn
right before overhead bridge. Move to left lane, turn left just past
Matalan. |
|
Direction – Take first right after clue
#24 |
55.
|
What
was stationed in Gibraltar?
Peewee -
Merchant Navy Salvage Tug
|
|
24.
|
Who was
established in 1851?
Walker Croft
Estate Agents
|
Direction – Right at roundabout (nearly
there) |
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25.
|
Give
the principle colour of the exchange mail box
Black
|
56.
|
Danelaw
provides what?
CATV cover
|
26.
|
Service
for…
MG Rover |
Direction – pull over at hoarding
before garage |
|
27.
|
You now
need to take a comfort break, and at the same time find out when the
pub was built
2nd year reign of Charles II |
57.
|
How
many steps up and over?
65 (33 + 32) |
|
28.
|
Which
bus company gets to The Chequers at 16.04 most Mondays
Manns Travel
|
58.
|
How
many parking spaces painted in overflow car park?
27 |
|
Direction – Use your feet Choo, Choo |
Direction – Left at roundabout |
|
29.
|
Peter
England’s job title
Sole Street
Station Manager
|
59.
|
After
14 days what happens to animals left here?
They are sold
|
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30.
|
How do
you get to 117B?
Over the foot
bridge
|
60.
|
Time of
last collection today
There isn’t
one
|
|
Direction - Now get back in the car,
continue on village road ignoring side junctions |
Direction – Over bridge take first
right, park and come in!
You’ve found
the treasure!
|
|
31.
|
This
could cost you £1000
Dumping
|
Bonus Questions: |
|
Direction – Turn right at T-junction |
Name
the rivers you see on route
Two (Thames & Medway) |
|
32.
|
£1.30
for what?
A child at
Owletts
|
How
many retail petrol stations do you pass?
4 – Esso x 2, Morrisions x 1, BP x1, |
|
33.
|
How
many chimney pots at Meadow Rooms?
8 |
The
name of this house suggests it is very cheap
Halfpenny at
Cobham
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