If you had a penny for each time that we have run from Stoughton Forestry car park then
you would have enough to purchase a Premium BondTM (other lottery options
are available) and could now be a millionaire. A challenge, then, for our Hares on this overcast,
cold morning to devise a novel route for experienced Hashers with a long memory.
We circled up to hear the news that Hairbrush is in the care of the NHS suffering from peritonitis,
a lame excuse for not showing up. If you want to read more about his condition then see
appendix 1 to this document ... oops! sorry, the appendix has been removed.
Old Faithful then attempted to fill the "this day in history" spot, I can't remember much
of this, something about some guy called Pele reaching the Moon in Apollo 1000. The Hares warned
us to keep off the bike tracks and to look out for a tiny bit of mud here and there before we
sauntered out of the car park looking for flour.
A large contingent immediately headed north west on the tarmac, failed to notice the false trail
mark, and blundered on to the "On-In" mark, before being called back, not a good start then.
This gave the small number that did not follow the crowd a good start on the true trail north east
over the gravel track with Spiderman first to reaching the check at the next junction.
Plenty of dry ways to go from here, none of which was true, leaving us to continue north east
slipping, sliding, squelching and clagging on the hoof churned trail. Deliverance came when we
followed The Ref on the up hill path towards Blackbush House. A check about a quarter of the
way up left us in disarray, by now the old timers were convinced this would be a clockwise, right
handed trail, and were mentally unprepared to go off piste in a loop to the north. Add to this a
sketchy application of flour along with Vixen loosing the dog (now known as Deer Hunter) and you
will appreciate that it was necessary for a Hare to give a helping hand. Consequently, hashers
were rounded up to follow Dr Blood on a tramp through the bushes to the road north east towards
Chilgrove and the long ascent to the top of The Plantation.
A brief pause, while we waited for Vixen, Prancer and Deer Hunter to show up, allowing time for
smalltalk. From here, after all of us had tried the road to Blackbush Copse we were amazed to
find the true trail on the long, long, path to Bow Hill farm. It started off quite pleasantly with a
glorious view south to the coast and beyond, then a long slog, avoiding a morass of mud, cow
pats and eventually bemused ruminants with Pancsi spearheading our division of the herd.
There was a much needed regroup alongside the pond near the farm before heading south west
towards the chariots, at last!. Soon we were in the top end of Wildhams Wood, back on familiar
territory, with Two Ferrets becoming a little yellow spec in the distance as she raced on down
towards Wildham Barn, remembering the earlier discovery of the On-In, perhaps,
permaybe, not pointing any fingers.
In any event the direct route to the barn proved false, Ha Ha.
About half the pack sought out, and found a way through the undergrowth, with brambles
and nettles etc. while the rest just walked bast the false trail mark to find the On-In. All that
was left was a sprint up the road back to the car park after one hour and twentyeight minutes
of head scratching and muddy legged hashing.
At the circle, Two Ferrets passed round a card for Hairbrush into which we inscribed suitable
messages of encouragement. Old Faithful thanked the hares for an inventive route, then tried
to think of someone to receive the Hash-It, failed, giving it to Bambi just because.
On then to the Barley Mow where there was a huge queue of people waiting in the dining
room to load up their plates, and I mean load up, at the carvery, while we demurely pecked
at crisps and sipped ale in the garden, not noticing the cold.
On On ! Bambi.
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