Ring ring on Treefeller's phone, Were going to be late from Dr Blood,
and we have two newbies and a dog in tow. So the JMs decided that we
had better wait for them in the pleasant sunshine and fresh north easterly
breeze.
Fifteen minutes of small talk and listening to Malibog later, ring ring,
we are really late, go ahead, we will catch you up, and that is what we
did. We did not rush out though, we slowly transitioned from a standstill
through a walk to a slow trot northwest parallel to Manor Lodge Rd.
Old Faithful was the only one actually running and he found two falsies
before the rest arrived at the first check. It took a little while before
the true trail was found continuing northwest through dense low overhanging
vegetation that gives this area its name. After the ducking, dodging and
weaving of prickly stingy bits we emerged on the track to Horsefoot Hill
and spied Olive Oyl standing at the top of the rise on the next check.
The pack had a good natter here while Bika, Old Faithful and Malibog explored
the possibilities, with the latter choosing the right way, west towards
Blendworth Common. We toured the edge of the common before turning east
through that bit that's always boggy, Snake Charmer proved to be the FRB
here hitting on the right trail and Splasher was suddenly close behind,
either he took a massive short cut or he found a hole in the space time
continuum and stepped through.
He was not so forward when we reached the muddy brown water of Upper Lake,
for a regroup and a photo.
Heading southeast from here, along The Avenue, we encountered some ripe
blackberries that slowed us before emerging from the trees and heading east
on Gipsies Plain. At last we were caught by Pink Flamingo, Dr Blood and
newcomers Geetika, Akshay and their canine companion.
After a pause for introductions, we continued east, with a fish hook to
relieve the boredom until we almost reached Staunton Way and realised that
the northwest track would quickly take us back to the chariots, and it was
nicely floured to boot.
We were just winding down from our usual fast sprint to a slower jog and
within sight of the chariots when we found a load of false trail marks in
all homeward directions. Is this legal ?. Oh yes, I forgot rule one, that
says There are no rules.
West then, and into Furzy Plain where Snake Charmer attracted a slithering
fast Slow Worm that had been sun bathing on the warm path.
Shortly we were making a broad U turn in the trees and heading home for real
this time after one hour and fifteen minutes of flat dry hashing.
At the circle the hares thanked themselves for a great hash, and we mentioned
the late arrivals and the two who ignored the fish hook (Splasher and ?).
Thom was awarded the seat with a hole on account of some act of disrespect
to the hares, after all you must keep rebellious teenagers in their place.
In no time at all the pack retired to The Staunton Arms where the prices are
reasonable and the service refreshingly swift.
On On! Bambi.
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