Travelog post for: Elephonse

As Pierre Bear has been having all the fun recently I decided it was my turn. Unfortunately  it rained heavily all day and so I took just a short drive, in Monsieur Alfonse, to Devizes, especially so you can learn all about The Moonrakers.

The picture shows a large pond called The Crammer. The Crammer is very famous in Wiltshire for the following reason . . .

Many many years ago some Wiltshire men were smuggling barrels of brandy and were nearly home when the sun rose and they needed to hide the brandy ready for moving on again at nightfall. They hid the barrels of brandy in The Crammer. That night,  by the light of the full moon and using their rakes they started to fish the barrels out of the pond. Unfortunately some customs men passed by, and seeing they were acting suspitiously asked them what they were doing.

Quick as a flash the men replied that they were trying to fish a cheese out of the pond. The customs men, seeing only the reflection of the moon went on their way, laughing at the 'Stupid Wiltshiremen'.

Once the customs men had gone the Wiltshiremen retrieved their barrels of brandy and made their way home. Therefore Wiltshiremen are known for being canny.

That is why any person who is born in Wiltshire and lives there all their life is called a 'Moonraker'.

Just like Steve!