Having carved a swath of madness and mayhem through the Eastern United States in previous years, the Bad Girls went global in 2002, taking their act across the pond to Great Britain. In true Bad Girl style, their mission had a diplomatic purpose as well as a recreational one. Their trip was planned to coincide with the Countryside March on September 22, 2002, which was a massive protest of the British government's proposed ban on hunting with hounds. The Bad Girls were some of many North American foxhunters who crossed the ocean to march with their Britsh brethren in an international show of solidarity and support for liberty and livelihood.
While the threat to liberty is certainly no laughing matter, and the Bad Girls were totally sincere in their passionate support for foxhunting, any Bad Girl mission is also full of happiness and hilarity. When they weren't marching, their days and nights were filled with foxhunting and other pursuits. The printable parts of their exploits are chronicled here, as supplied by the Bad Girls themselves and designated scribes.
BGT Leader Fluffy announces their departure
Dear Friends, Our group heads out today and tomorrow for London. Being children of the sixties and seventies, the need to protest is in our bones--so off we go to support possibly the last great cause of our generation and we KNOW how to do it!
In our group are three of the original Bad Girls from the BGT days, Liz Williams, Laura Hayward, and myself. Sami won't make this trip, but hopefully, we can help pave the way for many more hunting days in England for her in years to come. Dene Masengill, definitely Bad enough, will be with us, along with Louise Kelly and Cathleen Springer--all have everything it takes to represent foxhunting ladies well. A Bad Girls Tour would not be complete without some of our favorite men. As you all may remember, men must pass a simple test in order to accompany BGs on their adventures:
The fellows only have to get two out of three questions correct. This Season's winners are: Mack Braly, John Hawkinson, and Mark Mulhern. Together we all make up the GoneAway Tours "Save British Hunting Tour" (a subsidiary of the BGT).
So, we strike out with dinosaurs in our pockets, hope in our hearts ---to help change the world and to make it a better place for those we love and those who love hunting.
We will meet the Baroness, we will March, we will nobly represent you in the pubs, and best of all, we will gallop the Wiltshire countryside with Pat Bryant as our guide--in pursuit of Bold Reynard and our heart's great joy!
If we can get to a computer, we'll report back soon. Farewell!
Fluffy AKA Carla TVH DinoSource GoneAwayTours BGT MFH
PS. Plastic dinos are on sale at Dollar General--15 for $1. I bought 225 yesterday--not nearly enough, but it's a start...........
Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, who didst look upon the earth which thou hadst made and called it good: Of thy great mercy, strengthen and uphold the country folk of Great Britain, and their allies, as they march in defense of their heritage, their liberties, and their livelihoods. Protect them from all perils and dangers, both on the March and in their travels to and fro. Awaken understanding in the hearts of those called to the offices of government, and those who dwell in Britain's cities; grant them discernment, that they may perceive the errors and falsehoods of those who would hold the British countryside hostage to their own ideologies; and grant the supporters of those who march the courage to stand by their convictions. And this we ask in the Name of Him who went oft to the country, to teach, to preach, and to pray, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
May God prosper the right.
Ride, O Bad Girls, save the day, Until our foes are "gone away." When on Britain's sod you tread, Our opponents rightly dread Fiery spirits, proud and brave, Hunting heritage to save! Generations yet unborn Looking back, will bless the morn When the countryside arose, Marching proudly 'gainst our foes! Strength of right and strength of will Hearts and spirits gladly fill. Country people, join the throng! Country-hearted, raise the song! Soon the streets of London-town, Paved or cobbled, will resound To the sound of marching feet. Let the drummers sound the beat! Let the horns blow wild and free, For Livelihood and Liberty! Soon the watching world will know, Never, never will we go Quietly into the night: Rather, we will stand and fight -- Pround and free and strong and bold -- For the rights we held of old. Hearts and hands across the sea, Join to keep the country free! Men and women, side by side: Freedom cannot be denied! Livelihood and Liberty, From Dover to the Irish Sea! Country people, join the throng! Country-hearted, raise the song! Soon the streets of London-town, Paved or cobbled, will resound To the sound of marching feet. Let the drummers sound the beat! Let the horns blow wild and free, For Livelihood and Liberty!
Well now, I can only speak for myself--but I must say this BG is still on Wiltshire time and wondering why I'm not at the Greyhound Pub!!!!
What a blast we had. And I must also say, all the brave Bad Boys who accompanied us passed the "tests" with flying colors--even my Boyfriend, who hunted with the Tedworth on Pat's daughter's Arthur and wanted to bring him home.
It is now a blur of marching with flags flying, hunting with manes and tails flying, and drinking with DINOSAURS FLYING!!!
I have a picture of Mack at the Greyhound, well...all I can say is he had all the girls on their knees....(under a table) weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.....
I also have a picture of Mack riding the mechanical bull in London and of Liz Bryant doing the same in a sensuous long dress slit all the way to.....
I have two pictures of Mark sleeping (tee hee) and a great one of Cath seeking crop circles on horseback. There is Laura "lead-lining" Liz W. at one hunt (I'll let them explain). And I have Louise in the pub leading us all in song. In most of the pics of Pat, she looks very concerned!! Dene, I caught riding the wheelchair home through three airports--with her knee in Mack's brace--and no, she wasn't hurt--just her BG way of getting through customs quickly!!
The most incriminating shot of me is a "deer in the headlights" look while learning the rules of the Mendip Farmers Moonlight Steeplechase, which I survived. Though what I almost did not survive was the drive to London having drunk half a bottle of something in total relief of not dying in the steeplechase and then dying to tinkle until Mack graciously stopped the car for me to pee somewhere in the middle of 6 lane night time traffic near Heathrow! Mercy! Figured I might as well tell it my way before someone else tells it...
We viewed several foxes while hunting with the Tedworth and the AV. One memorable fox came within a few feet of our horses, with hounds in hot pursuit! WOW! We also got to visit the Mendip Farmers Kennels and spent some time with their huntsman and one of the Masters.
We got to be with lots of FOLers. We visited with Karl and Susanna (they live nearly in a grand church!) and Graham and K. Cam came to our party along with Tessa and Ann (Seaweed). We went to Avebury, Stonehenge, Glastonbury, every pub in Wiltshire and the Sainsbury (Superstore--many times in one night). We got lost, found, and lost again. We met the famous Baroness of foxhunting and also visited with Lady Soames. whew! A whirlwind. We also now probably own stock in the Wadswick Country Store--which is a tackshop within walking distance (oh my!) of our "Barn" home.
One experience I'm glad I had, though this might seem strange, is, at the last hunt with the Tedworth, we encountered antis. Now this is something I had never witnessed before--one person was spraying pepper spray while another blew a hunt horn "gone to ground". And another wandered about. The Tedworth hounds did not mind the horn of the anti but stayed with their huntsman, which was admirable. The foxhunters were very polite to the antis and did not give them anything they came for (headlines, mainly). Dene suggested the Americans could lose control of our horses and accidently trample them, and I must admit I considered it thinking--well--the worst they could do is deport us and we were leaving the next day anyway. But, instead, we followed the examples of our hosts--which handled the situation very well. This experience brought the adventure full circle for me. We went to London to support foxhunting and while on the March we met gracious people who thanked us warmly for being there. We experienced the antis, and again, the foxhunters showed class and grace. I came away feeling sorry for the antis--how sad their lives must be that they find joy in ruining the pleasure of others. My only hope is that as they mature they will look back on that time and at some point come to an understanding of what we were all about. Wishful thinking, but a hope all the same. (With Tom's prayer in my pocket...)
England, we'll be back! And, there is a rumor, some Brits may be coming to hunt with us this very season.
Special thanks to Pat's crew: Liz, Phil,Tim, Lynn, Dorothy, Stewart, Matthew,Martin, Angela, Phillip and Margaret (maker of the best sloe gin in the world!) aaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.....
Carla AKA Fluffy TVH DinoSource GoneAwayTours
Did I mention the totty pics????
Let me see if I can fill in (briefly) what Carla left out - the wonderful lurcher men who gave up their seats on the train for us.......the fox that Laura viewed in the middle of London, RIGHT under the London Eye on the Thames.......getting kicked out of Rules (oh, sorry, I forgot Carla wasn't there!)..........The Death Spiral..........John "Mr. Softy" whipping it out...............Laura handling Mark's hat "the wrong way"!.......Cathleen "Leap" Springer cheating during the International Mendip Farmer's Midnight Steeplechase............I guess the rest will just have to wait until "Bad Girls - The Motion Picture"
Liz Williams Snickersville Hounds