Welsh Rally & RBRs Part 1(just getting there!)

Some of my friends from work entered the 2007 Welsh Rally, so the plan was to join them and include a few RBR's en-route. Weatherwise the predictable happened, despite the recent heatwave all returned to "normal" for the weekend of the Welsh Rally, which in Wales equals WET, lots of WET especially on the Sunday journey home. Things didn't get off to a good start, Shaun's bike refused to restart at the 1st meeting point, much tinkering to no avail so he dropped out. hope his luck improves before his next adventure:- http://www.mongogolia.com/index1.htm
All this was unknown to me waiting at the second rendezvous point, 30 mins after time having tried to phone, I sent a text saying I was leaving for the first RBR stop (Herefordshire) and might see them there.

Motorhiking:- Whilst waiting here I got a text message from the others and decided it best we meet at the hotel. I went on to the next RBR stop(Shropshire) at the entrance to a single track road I met another entrant who stopped to tell me it was a good 3/4hr walk up and back down. "I'm here anyway, so best do it" auNTy V and me continued on along the hilly twisty narrowing hedge-lined lane. The landmark came into sight on a hilltop horizon, I parked auNTy in a field gateway the landmark in the distance behind. When I studied the photograph I'd taken, I thought "Is a speck on the horizon good enough for full points?" I had doubts, so went further along the lane parked auNTy at the start of the "footpath" in the nearest village according to the instructions and set off on a hike across the fields.
I thought there was plenty time, obviously this was not the case, I was aware of the rapidly setting sun, as I neared the woods I looked back over my shoulder, the sun about to disappear behind the hill on the other side of the valley. A steep climb and descent through dense pine woodland in the dark wearing biking attire didn't seem like a wise move, so I took the safe option to turn back and either: accept the risk of reduced points; or return another time putting this visit down to research. The others had made their way directly to the hotel and now it was me who was behind schedule, we eventually met up later in the evening to discuss and agree Saturday's routeplan for the Welsh rally.