Run	Date	Hare(s)	Description	MapRef	1:50000	1:25000	1:10000	More
901	2018-08-05 11:00	Dr Blood & Pink Flamingo	Charlton Sawmills	SU886127

Yet another blazing morning challenged us to attempt running on dessicated dusty downland slopes.

A solitary representative of his tribe, Prancer, babbled on and on about how in 910, while on a Fox Hunt, Dr Who? had prevented The Vikings from detonating an atomic bomb which would have prevented the WI from being formed in Charlton, at least I think that is what was said, I was not really concentrating.

To our amazement we were joined by Dr Blood's sprog Ollie, partner Susie and minnie Max who at just five months is our youngest Hasher.

In addition we were again joined by Maggie and Bill, back for more and fairly frequent visitors Nappy Rash and Splashback.

The Hares promised us three regroups, three fish hooks, three badger holes, and a loo before we set off into the ultraviolet haze.

Things started to go pear shaped right from the off as the pack over ran a falsie and went way up the path south east that eventually reaches Counter's Gate. The few who had not joined them got fed up awaiting a return and blasted off up North Lane getting way out in front. They, that is, Bambi, Flash, The Ref, and Snake Charmer discovered a sabotaged mess of flour that had once been a fish hook. There followed a conference on the question of what the marking was which was inconclusive, so they continued apace to the next Check.

To his credit, Prancer chose to climb the steps towards North Down and was relieved to find a trail that took us up and up through Maize and over dry dry grass to the deep shade of Wood Lea for a regroup.

Next a lovely shady jog North and down through ripening Blackberry over a narrow flinty trail to the top end of North Lane to discover a solitary Portaloo. Someone thought that it might be Dr Poo's Tarpis, however a brief glance inside revealed a smelly Thunderbox and ample supply of Bumfodder. Two Ferrets said that she would rather fresh air and a good bush, and I agree.

In good humour we now headed further North up the long long long climb on the wide Bridleway to the middle of Charlton Forest. The interesting Checks along the way did nothing to prevent mounting mutinous talk as the hour passed and the distance from the Chariots increased. A faction were seriously considering jumping ship to head directly in, when the trail went that way anyway, so the muttering abated somewhat as we headed South to the bluff above Burntoak Gate.

The FRBs waited here to sample the apples from the sunny side of a fruit laden tree, not sweet, not sour, refreshingly juicy.

Not that far to go now, we could have reused North Lane, however that would have been boring, what better than to use the challenging roots and rabbit burrows of the narrow inclined path around the edge of Levin Down.

Don't talk to Maggie about this path, for her it proved to be a Showstopper, with loss of traction leading to a dislocated shoulder and inevitable visit to A and E.

Three fragments of pack returned to the Sawmill, the FRBs after one hour and fifty minutes, a few lead by Spiderman who had used North Lane to return and then a long time later all those that had helped Maggie.

We were now well into the afternoon and some had moved on to other engagements, the remainder took sustenance at The Partridge in Singleton where the beer was cool, service quick, and there was time to digest the morning's events.

Later, Vixen spread the news that Maggie had popped out of intensive care in order to receive the Hash-It around her bandage strapped neck, ouch!.

On – On ! Bambi.