Run	Date	Hare(s)	Description	MapRef	1:50000	1:25000	1:10000	More
1032	2024-04-14 11:00	Kinky & Old Faithful	Stansted Park Sth CP	SU753104

It was a beautiful day the day before, but hazy sun and 13°C as the 13 of us and Aragorn met in the Stanstead 5th carpark on Broad Walk. Having warmed up to 16°C by the end of the hash, it was one of those spring days that start cool but rapidly warm up. Kinky welcomed us to Hash number 1032 and regaled us with the wisdom that President Lincon was shot on this day in 1865 and the Titanic hit an iceberg on this day in 1912. Both incidents happened late in the day. President Lincon died the following day and the Titanic sank the following day. On that joyful note, he then handed over to the Hares, who were Old Faithful and himself, mentioning a fish hook and a regroup.

The trail started out along one of the Stanstead rides heading west. We then ducked into the forest before a check caught us all out and sent us back onto the ride. The bluebells were in full bloom with a superb fragrance. The bees were buzzing and the birds tweeting. There were laminated signs in the forest explaining why branches were left on the forest floor (for wild life), selected oaks, other trees and a Norwegian airman who crashed in 1942. One of the most informative forests I’ve seen. There were no mushrooms to report but the wild garlic, hawthorn shoots, nettle, bramble and ground elder shoots are all tasty this time of year.

An early fish hook caught The Ref, Hiawatha, Olive Oyl and Wayne. Whilst wending our way through the forest we saw 2 deer gently grazing. They looked up, then carried on grazing. Another 2 deer were spotted later on. Popeye spotted an Oil Beetle, with an oddly shaped blue/black body, about 25mm long. A recordable beetle apparently, the web says that it is, “a conspicuous, charismatic beetle that are so-called because they exude a yellowish oily substance from their leg joints when threatened”. Hiawatha photographed it and we left it to its sun bathing. I’m not sure that I have met a, “charismatic beetle” before.

We came across the regroup to the north west of the forest with twin bench seats carved out of a large tree trunk, skirted a fenced off enclosure and headed back towards the car park using part of the north west ride.

The trail was 3.6 miles, completed in a relaxed 77 minutes.

In the post run circle, down-downs were awarded to:-

1. The Hares for a jolly good run.
2. Hiawatha for not being at the front all the time. Excuses of sea swimming earlier that day and a half marathon race were overruled.
3. Popeye for complaining and Olive Oyl for reporting him! One of the most enjoyable quick drinks, I’ve had in ages.
4. Wayne and Bica, because they were thirsty!

The Hash-it was awarded to Old Faithfull for, “having no sole”, literally! The front half of his trainer sole was flapping independently of the rest.

On the 16th June, the Isle of Wight have invited us over for a joint hash, The Wheatsheaf at Brading, Sandown. This is in between our normal hashes.

We then departed headed for refreshments in the Cricketers, Westbourne.

As I toil over this report, Olive Oyl commented that it was, “a very good Hash”, I wholeheartedly concur.

On-On,
Popeye.

Runners' track ...Walkers' track ... AND ... photos by Oild Faithful