Run	Date	Hare(s)	Description	MapRef	1:50000	1:25000	1:10000	More
797	2014-09-14	Popeye and Olive Oyl	Havant Thicket	SU724101

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. .