Initially Old Faithful said he had received lots of apologies for absence
and it looked as if there would be only a small pack. However, at the last
minute there were a few more arrivals to swell the ranks.
There was a welcome to two relative newbies Hard Dick and Veronica Ice Box
making 23 including the hares. Weather check....dry but cloudy.
After the usual preamble from Popeye and Olive Oyl, the hares took over
and pointed the pack in the general direction of the on out. Virtually
everyone crossed the road on to the other side. However, kindness being
her middle name, Panda pointed Pru and Tigger in the right direction which
was alongside the road for about 100 metres where the trail was located and
entered the forest. The girls led the charge but were soon overtaken by the rest.
At the first check, Bika took advantage of the loo even though we had only been
gone for a few minutes and there was some confusion as there were so many options,
but eventually the trail was found. This led to a main trail with a nice long
descent to the next check where it was a job to stop the two youngest members
(Liam and Ryan) from giving the game away as the day before they had checked
over the trail with their grandparents.
Olive Oyl went steaming ahead and having gone down; inevitably the trail went
up to a 4-way check. Bika and The Ref made the wrong choice but were soon on
their way back. I believe Old Faithful found the right trail which went up
once again....and he found the right trail at the next check but went well
wrong on the next.
We all turned left on to the main trail and after a short jog encountered
the next check which turned out to be a back check. Old Faithful got it wrong
again but Sinbad and The Ref implored me to call him back as they were feeling
sorry for him some Hashers have hearts!.
Once again we followed a main trail. After a longish grind uphill another
check was encountered and here Tigger, Pru and Thumper were goaded into running
uphill by Flash but only while the camera was running.
Everyone suspected there was a fish-hook looming so there was great reluctance
to take the lead. They were right and six of them (Bika, Jon, Kinky, Olive Oyl,
Old Faithful and Hard Dick) came back down to join the rear.
The next check had the pack going up to the gate adjoining Liberty Road and then
to turn around to come back again turning right on the correct trail.
The next fish hook caught four including Dr Blood. I really enjoyed the next
check as the trail went up hill to a 3-way split which caught loads out including
Kermit as all 3 trails were false and the true trail was back down the hill
again amidst lots of mumblings (were they expressing how much they enjoyed it?).
When we reached the next check it has to be mentioned for Hash History that
we lost Canman. apparently he checked out a trail, presumably over-ran a falsie
and got side-tracked collecting cob nuts. We realised our loss at the next re-group
at the North car park and although we hung around to see if he would appear,
we were not too concerned as there are abundant signs indicating the way
back to the South car park.
After the regroup, the pack located the out trail with a bit of assistance from
the hares the trail leading upwards once again. I recall The Ref boasting about
his good eyesight spotting a mostly obliterated falsie...but then again he is
a football referee!
The time was getting on and Flash indicated the shorter way back to the chariots
but suggested those who wished to continue the final bit to turn right to the
final check which was a hard half-mile slog up-hill to the rear of the childrens
play park.
Back at the chariots, concern was voiced at the absence of Canman and a search
and rescue party was organised with the exchange of cellphone numbers and Treefeller
at the command post. However, not long after setting out we got a message that he had
made his way safely back to the chariots.
All together we were back after 74 minutes of hashing in good hashing country.
I believe Thom would have got the Hash-it (had it been available) for using an
amazing burst of speed to cannon into Kermit.
Quite a few of the pack descended on the Red Lion in Southwick to quench their thirsts.
Bambi.
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