Run	Date	Hare(s)	Description	MapRef	1:50000	1:25000	1:10000	More
1002	2023-02-12 11:00	Vixen and Kinky	Stansted Garden Centre Overflow CP	SU757099

T’was a cool 8 degrees, on a grey winters day. The drizzle came and went with little breeze as the troupe of 22 gathered in Stanstead over-flow car park.

Old Faithful welcomed us to run 1002 and also to Caroline for joining us. The canine presence impressed us with totalling 8, a recent record perhaps?

The hares, Kinky and Vixen explained the basics, for there were no roads where we were heading, only sheep and highland cattle. Like a wounded jack in the box we were off. Most headed north east, ha ha! for the one true way lay to the south. Having reached the wood edge, a hairpin turn took us north east on Park Lane track to Sindles Farm.
A check deviated us across the rough grazing and sheep straight as a Roman road. A fish hook caught the unwary, Olive Oil, The Ref, MJ, Slightly Disappointing and Popeye, sending us to the back of the pack.

Before long a check sent us West towards Stanstead house, followed by another sending us north north east on a path across pastures green. 2 deer decided to show us how running should be done as they bounded elegantly across the swathe. Vixens youngster attempted such an elegant gait for some distance, but shorter legs were no match. Having regrouped, with strength anew we set off and a check sent us east then another north west. Down past Lumley wood, across a small lane and then up past Long Copse though a field of really picturesque and docile highland cattle with their long horns looking completely at one with their lot. The route then took us south south west, past a fish hook and a westerly turn into a dell.
Slightly Disappointing, noted the, “no dogs” sign and doubled back to take the alternative route south. The dog free fraction and those with dogs headed south on parallel courses before joining up on the Stanstead drive in. We completed the encirclement of Stanstead house as we headed for the chariots.

In the post run circle, Old Faithful thanked the Kinky and Vixen for a lovely run that was and remarkably mud free for the time of year.
The Hash-it was awarded to, Olive Oil for comments such as “I thought that we were coming for a run” as she bounded past the troupe from a fish hook in the reverse direction.

Grog at the Cricketers in Westbourne was the final destination having completed the 4.4 mile run in a steady 80 minutes.

On-On,

Popeye

See: Spiderman's track ... AND ... photos by Old Faithful