Run	Date	Hare(s)	Description	MapRef	1:50000	1:25000	1:10000	Aerial
675	2009-12-20	Can Man & Nematoad ... & afterwards at Nyton Spinney. Don't forget your Santa outfits	Eastergate Village Hall	SU950052

All things considered, a fair pack had by now assembled, there was a newbie by the name of Ian and The Ref showed his nose for the first time since his op bringing along a youngster by the name of Paul.

After a short introduction from our JMs, yes they do exist, we were warned and warned and warned by the hares that the trail was slippery, that some of it was in sawdust because of the snow and also that it was slippery, oh yes, they also warned us that it was slippery.

So we headed out south down St Georges Walk and within less than fifty yards it became apparent that the only safe way to continue would be to stand there and wait for summer.
Very wisely those in our midst who care about the integrity of their skeletons decided to go no further, the rest roped themselves together and continued.

A couple of easy checks took us out on the sports field where the sawdust took us around the boundary on nice crunchy snow and able to stretch our legs. Then a perilous traverse east along Barnham Road with newbie Ian out in front either showing an aptitude for staying upright or having a careless disregard for his own safety, followed by yours truly and Old Faithful.
As is they way with this pastime, we were sold a falsie and missed the true trail up the footpath north to Ryburn Farm and out on to Eastergate Lane where a regroup was called.
So far so good, no obvious casualties, however the air was blue with expletives as the pack attempted to make its way west from here along the sheet ice. It was so cold we saw a lawyer with his hands in his own pockets!.

An easy check at the end of the lane was soon sorted as Pancsi and OF took us south to the war memorial and then down Church Lane to the Wilkes Head where the FRBs were foiled by a falsie up the footpath towards the school.
Here the hares had shortened their original route which would have lead us who knows where ? in favour of a merciful return to hall after forty six minutes of slip sliding away.

There was a bit of a wait at the end as we realized that a whole bunch of people of the female persuasion were way behind, and also The Ref and Paul. They all turned up in the end however Paul was nursing a badly bruised leg.

We then all retreated to Nyton Spinney where Can Man had laid on a magnificent banquet for us in front of a blazing log fire.
After thanking the hares etc the JMs mentioned a few people (sorry I forget, I was gazing into the warm flames of the fire) but eventually awarded the Hash-It to Pancsi, for getting his chariot stuck.
We then proceeded to eat and drink Can Man out of house and home.

Bambi.

Ed:
I never realised this was out there