NEWPORT, SOUTH WALES 2001
Ray and Neil were organisers. Also attending were Alan, Bob, Bryan, Trig, Gra, Jeff, Matt, Nick.C. Nick.T and Pete. Ray was manager at the Dolman Theatre and had a flat over the building. That was our digs for the Pike weekend. As there were no plays on at the time we had more or less full run of the place.
On the evening of arrival Ray opened the theatre bar privately for us. His thinking was we could empty the barrels over the time we were there and he would be able to begin the new theatre programme with every thing fresh. To a point he was right but his time scale was a little over optimistic. We'd cleared his beer before the evening was out. Fortunately there were other alcohols so we had a go at those and they did out see us. So all in all the Pikes were well satisfied that first evening and our teams had been formed. Ray had arranged with Bryan to go up and unlock his Ray's flat in advance of our return. He was to secret a piece of paper (unknown to Pikes) within his kit and we were going to have a single inspection of it. The piece of paper was left for all to see. A tax return type bill. We did not know but this was the beginning of a weekend and the piece of paper was the first clue. Eventually we settled to bed.
Each team had to appoint a scribe. They were Bob and Nick.T. The idea was that they would keep notes for their respective teams and detection purposes. We were taken on a bus ride to the large Roman town of Caerwent. We alighted opposite a pub displaying a large elborate three legged coloured mural on the side wall. is there a picture available? Pub and beer were foremost in Pike minds so the significance of external decoration was lost on them even though they all had their story with them. Teams had been set a related treasure hunt in the town. Initiative took us to the tourist office where visual and verbal research provided some answers to the clues. Teams bumped into each other at various points around the archeological site. It had been a large and important Roman settlement. The amphitheatre was in superb condition whilst the remainder of the excavations clearly demonstrated how massive the place was.
Each Pike had been pre-tasked to complete a story between two short texts. Start, "It was a dark and windy night," finish, "I never found the third leg," as their pre-Pike assignment. Each story was unique and very entertaining. We were though not prepared for what had been arranged for each of us. Each was given a slip of paper the contents of which should be kept secret from members of the other team but shared with his own. There was a different word or short phrase written on each slip with instructions to insert it somewhere within the story so that it appeared part of the original. This was a lone task. Dependent upon the story it was either easy or difficult to insert the word. In turns Pikes read their story to the assembly. The opposing team had to identify the alien word or phrase within. Points were at stake!! Pikes missed mega points as the last pre-assigned phase should have been changed to, "I discovered the third leg at Caerwent." Pikes are not renown for successfully hiding their emotions when delivering hidden secrets. So it was patently obvious in some dissertations but in others it was not. Lots of noise and laughter. At the height of Ray's flat sound was lost in the night air over Newport. please forward any other stories to me
A pre-task was to ensure that the organisers had mobile phone numbers for each Pike before attending the weekend. All of us had our phones set to silent and all of us got group and individual text messages any time anywhere during the weekend. The messages gave secret instructions. Somehow each Pike was directed privately to an object that at least one would recognise. There were individual as well as team points so secrecy was essential. One object, found by the owner, was secretly collected and hidden in his back pack. He joked with the organisers what he had done. Back at the digs he no longer had the object. He made no complaint about the theft as the organisers are always right and have to be obeyed. However trust is a transient concept when Piking. We were generally unaware that the objects were significant red herrings in team investigations. Only later did we discover what it was about. Back at the digs we were told to search the theatre where more objects were found. We were to gather on stage at a specific time and stand on the hydraulic platform. Once assembled the platform began to lower. When it stopped about three metres below all the under stage lights came on. Ray was prone having been murdered. There were several clues displayed so we began another search. Ha! A murder mystery was afoot!! Scribes were writing notes furiously.
In the evening we were off to a nearby pub for pre-dinner drinks. Genuinely, Bob realised he had left his camera in Ray's flat. Ray's body gave him the key and a departure time to be back. It was not a long walk. As he retrieved the camera Bob noticed Nick.T's notes inadvertently left in view. 
All's fair in Piking so he copied them before locking up and legging it back to the pub. His team were amused and very pleased with the wind fall. It was a pleasant evening and the walk to the restaurant was welcome. We had a great meal together but decided that taxi was the better bet back to the digs. Back at the digs teams were tasked with giving a press release on there investigation the following morning.
Nick.T was not best pleased to find his notes had been compromised. Didn't effect the performances though.
Team B were together deciding from Bob's notes and general discussion how their presentation was to progress. After a while they noticed that Trig was taking part and contributing. He was however in team A. Being a mole's fair in Piking. He departed at their polite invitation. The stage was the venue for each presentation. Each team had about five minutes to make their presentation to all the other Pikes seated in the auditorium.
From the digs we were transported to our next activity. The usual safety instruction was included in an explanation of how to ride a quad bike. Kitted out with overals and crash helmets it was a follow the leader run. Terrain was sloping and there were banks, ditches, hedges and woodland to traverse. Riding up and down was relatively easy. Our leader took us accross the slopes. All Pikes were leaning towards the up hill side and even more as the slopes became steeper. The banks, ditches, hedges and woodland each presented there own challenges. Steering in and out of trees and bouncing over tree roots was more difficult than we'd thought mainly because we were trying to keep up with the leader. It was easy to get knuckles barked through the hedges particularly if approaching the opening along the hedge line. Ditches and banks crossed at an angle required rapid lean changes and throttle back when at the crest of a bank or entry and exit from a ditch in order to prevent uncontrolable flight. Quite a lot of this was through muddy places. We were thankful for the overals.
Later to a pub for lunch. Text messages again so more objects were revealed. Eventually back at the digs we had a little free time which some of us used to delve into our evidence. It was becoming clear that each object was a clue to one of the Pikes at the weekend being the murderer but which one? Each team were again to present their evidence at a press release on stage. Our interpretations were dubiuos to say the least. Each team was sure that none of the Pikes were murderers as each had an alibi that they were with another Pike who would vouch they were with him at the time, if he was on their team. So the deed had been done by someone else. A ghostly mystery. Somehow we had to find something that linked to a man who was never there. That was, "Arthur Robbins!!"
With the foul deed solved and an arrest imminent we showered and dresses ready for our Pike Dinner. Our transport took us to a restaurant where we enjoyed great company, much riposte, good food, with plenty of wine and drink.
Later at the digs with bread, cheese and beer we partied until bed time. Following breakfast the next morning we held our Pike conference. Afterwards we said our goodbyes and made for our homes.