Run	Date	Hare(s)	Description	MapRef	1:50000	1:25000	1:10000	More
1010	2023-06-04 11:00	Pancsi and Splasher	Elsted Village Hall	SU817196

T’was a warm 20°C but heating up rapidly, with a cloudless with a light breeze. The group of 20 of us together with 3 dogs, Aragorn, gathered around Elstead village signboard.

Bambi welcomed the group to run 1010 and handed over to the hares, Pansci and Splasher who apologised for a large fence being built along on the planned track, narrowing the path, and also for the growth of the undergrowth (code for stinging nettles). Remiss of us but having chatted to 3 new people, including Emily and Turkey Tail’s son, Ben, we should have explained the flour symbols which we proceeded to do in an ad hoc manner, en route (ha! 3 languages in one sentence!).

The route was very broadly speaking a southerly square with the corner cut off. After some confusion, we found the trail to the west on the road, then south up a drive, across a field to Downlands Farm.
On south to Redlands, where a fish hook caught The Ref. Olive Oil, Bambi and Kinky. A check sent Popeye and Ben off up a forest trail until called back for the true trail east around Elstead Hangar.
Another fish hook caught The Ref, Oilve Oil and Bambi again as well as Spiderman.
We then headed north a bit before continuing east then south, across a small spring stream from Rook Clift on its way to Marfield pond. There were 3 bee hives in the grounds of a very nice house.
The trail then turned north over a small wooden bridge up a stone track to Woolbedding Farm with some white faced black sheep, some really nice old houses and the remains of a church.
We travelled almost but not quite to the village of Treyford. Before continuing north on the lane then west north west before heading north on the wet water sprayed path as the farmer tried to help his crops to grow in the parched cracked soil. The path then headed west then north west through waist high grass before finding the On-Inn at the back of the Three Horseshoes pub with its splendid views of the south downs.

Back at Elstead village notice board there were refreshing down downs for:-

1. The Hares, Pansci and Splasher, by way of a, “thank you, for laying the trail”,
2. Olive Oil, Sonja and The Ref for failing to find the true path causing the farmer with his drought struck crops to helpfully redirect them.
3. Bambi for forgetting to officially welcome the new commers to the group.
4. Kinky for not having a down down & looking parched.
5. Splasher for giving the true trail away too rapidly at the checks.

The Hash-it was awarded to Old Faithfull for his, “Bill and Ben” hat.

After a quick change it was back to the lovely beer garden of the Three Horseshoes pub with its cool grass, blue skys and great view of the landscape.

The trail was about 3.3 miles long completed in 70 minutes, slower than normal due mostly I suspect, to the heat.

On-On,
Popeye

Spiderman's track AND Bambi's track ... AND ... photos by Bambi