I was in Camberley earlier this week staying at a local B&B. I do this normally once a week to alleviate the travel effort. When I stay over I keep it simple, I have either my bike or my running shoes (or both) in the boot and that's how I use the time. A session and then food, TV, book and sleep.
Last night I stayed in a different B&B to normal and while not that far from the normal place it gave me an opportunity to run somewhere different. So at about 7pm I headed out on a different route. Within a couple of miles I found some nice off road stuff by a river, it was a lovely evening and there were a lot of dog walkers on the trail. I followed the trail and had to do a couple of switch backs as there were dead ends or in a couple of cases roads that just led into housing estates.Following the river path I eventually popped out onto a main road with signs welcoming me to Hampshire. This was a first as I don't think I have ever run across a county border before. Heading up the road I started to head in the vague direction of Camberley. I ran past Sandhurst Park which was full of activity, there was a running club/group that looked like they had just finished their run and four or five football teams doing their training. Around the park and onto the road I could see Camberley closer than I was hoping. so I took a detour through an estate, having asked a dog walker for directions. At the end of the estate was a makeshift path into the woods.
I have run the woods in Camberley before with Bracknell Forest an excellent place to run off road. I thought that this was where I was.I followed a path through the woods, there was thick scrub to my right and then the backs of houses. On my left a 6ft fence topped with razor wire. This was the perimeter of Sandhurst. Following the trail down through the woods it started to narrow. I thought this would be ok as it was a trail. An actual trail not just me hacking through. As I progressed the path narrowed in from the right with the trees getting denser. I was being pushed closer and closer to the Sandhurst perimeter fence.
I pushed through the trees, a quick look and yes it was a drive way, a couple of parked cars and then open road! I forced my way through as discreetly as possible and as I emerged a car pulled onto the driveway. I held up my hands and smiled wandering over to the lady driver I explained quickly that I had gotten lost and that this was my only way out. The driver then said to me, "oh, that's OK, it's not my house. I've come to collect my friend."Then I stopped. In front of me solid trees with thick branches spread out. I wasn't going to turn back so now squashed up against the fence I pushed my way through the trees to find some more trail. I made may way at walking pace half expecting someone from Sandhurst to approach me at any moment asking me what I was doing. Eventually I ran out of trail, there was nowhere else to go. I had fence on one side and thick trees on the other. Looking through the trees there were the backs of houses. I pushed through and could see back gardens. I thought about hopping through but quickly ruled this out as did not think it right to intrude to that extent. Looking further down there was a gap that I could see a drive way through. That was it!
As I turned towards the house the owner was in the doorway. Arms crossed she had a face like thunder. I went through the same routine, hands up, broad smile and apologetic. I got nothing. She was clearly unhappy and couldn't see the funny side of the story. I said my piece and then just ran off.
I hope that she relaxed about it as she now has a story about a really sweaty man popping out of her hedge onto her driveway story that she can use. Either that or she fences her side of the pathway so it cannot happen again.
