NON GCU-----The TREEI am a bit surprised that nobody guessed "the Tree of Knowledge" as in biblical fame.
But then again, it was only one tree, and hence not a part of a forrest.
Does it even exist? No one has seen it, nor is there a picture of it.
ANYWAY, that wasn't the answer to my quiz.
As a young wipper-snapper, I loved shows of the middle ages. The knights, the castles, the chivalry,
bows and arrows, the sword fights, Sir Lancelot, horses, Ivanhoe etc.
The best, was eagerly waiting for, then watching a series each week called Robin Hood, starring
Richard Greene. I watched the movie, The Legend of Robin Hood over and over.
Extrapolating at an early age, I must admit, I always wondered how the bad guys, the Normans,
could be SO STUPID, to ride through the forrest, not look up, and see AND have the Merrymen jump down
out of the trees, and knock the snot out of the Sherrif's men. Sure they were dressed in GREEN,
to blend in---but come on!!!
Years later, in my early twenties, I had to travel to England on business, to sign up charter flights
from England to match up to my own charters---back to back so to speak, so I could negotiate better terms
with the Charter Airlines---at the time, a novel idea.
I had to go to Glasgow Scotland.
I flew from Toronto to London Gatwick---an overnight flight. I had planned to stay there over the next day, and
continue on the next day. Seven & a half hour flight, 5 hour time differential, another 5 or so hours on a train.
Upon arrival though, I was not tired at all, and being young and full of "vim & vinigear", I decided to just
carry on and get there, by train, as soon as possible.
I was told that I was lucky, because there was only one Express Train a day to Scotland, called the
Highland Expresse, and that if I hurried tpo Euston Station, I could catch it in time.
I did. It is a long train trip, but if you missed the Express it was even a LOT longer, because of the many stops,
Always avoid "the "milk run"---good advice.
Off I went----however; I wasn't as strong as I thought, and I became very very tired.
By absolute chance and not pre-planned, I discovered from the conductor that there was ONE quick STOP
along the way, halfway------------NOTTINGHAM!!!! Wow, I thought, what a co-incidence---I actually had thought
Nottingham was just a fictional place.
And being super tired, I decided to take the chance, get off there, rest and do some sight seeing.
I stayed at a Bed & Breakfast place, The woodville. Great people!!! I stayed there a whole two weeks!!!
Very interesting. I found out for example that:
Nottingham Castle had existed---was a major fortification due to it's central location----BUT that
in later wars, it was captured, and destroyed so completely, and ALL of the stones dismantled, carried to
the sea, and thrown therein----that, believe it or not, NO ONE nowadays actually knew where exactly it actually
was built, nor just how big it was. Cromwell's men (I think) did a real thorough job of it.
There was a long wall built, in Medieval fashion with minerets and indents along the top for the
archers to shoot down at attackers while still being protected----even a bronze statue of Robin Hood
standing outside at the front with his bow fully drawn and ready to shoot.
I decided to go in and investigate. I was all excited-----what a disappointment! Inside, it was a
World War One Museum!!!
Saved!! A tour guide there told me, that if I wanted to experience Medieval history, there was, within
a very short walking distance, and still open and operating----the OLDEST known tavern in the
WHOLE WORLD that had been continuously in business!
Even better, it was built back in the times of The FIRST CRUSADE---a gathering place for brave Knights.
It is called "YE OLDE TRIP TO JERUSALEM"----had to go for a few pints---naturally.
Old it was, and kept that way---huge think door---but what a DUMP, and dirty. Yeah, I had a "few", dozen!
Now the really amazing thing about Nottingham (besides a great ice rink) was the FACT I found out,
much to my JOY---was that the population there was, NO KIDDING, and I'll be conservative here,
at least SEVEN GIRLS TO EVERY BOY!!!! What a place---what a Dream---utopia!!!
FAR better than the odds at SURF CITY---"two girls for every boy" of Jan & Dean Fame. The girls
even pay for the drinks!!!!
( I will tell U the reasons why, if U are interested---it makes perfect sense)
So now you know the real reason for my unexpected lengthy stay!
Oh YES----almost forgot----The Tree.
One drinking afternoon, there are a lot of PUBS to check out, a good looking acquaintance, said that
since she had the next two days off---since she had a sports car (not too many of the females did, see
it's not all about looks, but she was a knockout) and that since I was a Canadian, first time just off the
plane----she asked if I would like to go on a small excursion and see some of the country side,
and scenery. EXCELLENT----I "jumped" at the opportunity!!!
She asked me, if there was anything in particular that I wanted to see.
Alas, it all came back to me, in a flash.
I think she was expecting me to say Castles, famous pubs (like the Cat 'n Fiddle) etc.
Because when I said YES THERE WAS---------SHERWOOD FORREST!!!! She seemed taken back
a bit, puzzled----she smiled---smirked is a better word----but said sure, if that's what you really want to
see----NO PROBLEM.
Yep i was excited, AGAIN---finally!!!
Off we went. After driving a while, she pulled over to the side of the road and stopped the car.
Now it was my turn to be puzzled---because, although we were now in the countryside, I saw no real
reason for stopping where she did. Heck, there was NO pub in sight!!!
She told me to get out and follow her down a lazy path!!!
I asked, "Where were we going?"
BIG SMILE!
She said, "I'm taking you to Sherwood Forrest!"
Then I finally understood----the JOKE was on ME!!!
You see, Sherwood Forest was, way back when, once a large and mighty Forrest.
But long, long ago surely but slowly, all of the trees had been cut down for one reason or another.
ALL but ONE tree!!!! And yes it was famous!!
AND WOW was it ever a MASSIVE, MASSIVE OAK TREE. It blew me away, I do mean HUGE
You couldn't come even close to putting, or wrapping your arms around the trunk of the tree.
To try, i mean, your arms would basically be out at a 180 angle, hardly even bent, a bit.
The Tree had a famous name too-----it was affectionally called "MAJOR OAK", and everybody knew of it.
It was now easy for me to imaging how the Merrymen could hide in the trees and surprise the
Sherrif's knights.
Imagine a dense forest, filled with such trees! What an amazing sight it must of been back then!
It's too bad part of Sherwood Forest wasn't protected, way back when, and made into a National Park.
A great part of their heritage, lost forever---SAD---no foresight.
Now, the tree was still quite a tourist attraction, so obviously I wasn't the only foreigner who sought
it out. You could buy souvenirs, like post cards and the such.
Many romantics had come to the sight----apparently so many wanted and had tried to carve a heart
with their initials in it, that it was feared, and with good reason, that this beautiful tree would die
of these wounds.
So, the British authorities, to protect it, had built a large tall wrought iron fence around the tree.
Thus you couldn't even touch the tree, whatless climb it, which had been my intension.
Oh, almost forgot-----people would collect every leaf that fell from it for souvenirs to take back home.
You could even buy waxed and framed leaves on a plaque, with an accompanying history story!!!
Not cheap either---I did wonder, how many of these leaves were authentically from Major Oak?
Then again, I am a bit of a sceptic, and as you know, think too MUCH!!!
So, there you have it. I would certainly recommend an extended trip to Nottingham for ANY and ALL
young males. You should make it a required pilgrimage for youth, growing up. A right of priviledge,
if you will.
Forget Sherwood Forest and Major Oak, and Robin Hood!!!
IF you do, I CAN GUARANTEE that You'll NEVER forget BARN BREATH!!!
You may also NEVER RETURN----PARADISE FOUND!!! WUDDA thought such a place even existed?
I know it has nothing to do with GCU, or Gold---which by the way set an ALL TIME HIGH TODAY!!!
But I trust you enjoyed the story---it is true---and I made you laugh?
Barn Breath
P.S. Do you know why Robin Hood's Band of Men
were called The MERRYMEN?
The way I see it, you'd be always smiling too, if you "MAID MARION"!!!!
P.P.S.S I've forgotten just how OLD that tree was---a hundred years at least, to grow that LARGE!
I've never seen any tree in Canada that BIG, and beautiful.
So too was Susan, and for my buddy Scoutaz, the sports car was Canary Yellow with Black Interior.