Run	Date	Hare(s)	Description	MapRef	1:50000	1:25000	1:10000	More
931	2019-09-29 11:00	Bambi & Old Faithful	Buriton Queen Elizabeth Country Park	SU733197

As the Beatles sang, "If the rain comes they run and hide their heads", and strangely the last Hash laid by these Hares was at the same venue and then again The Beatles, same song has "When the sun shines they slip in to the shade". This is just a long winded way of saying that again not many Hashers turned up, this time probably due to the rather inclement weather that was just the ticket for those that enjoy water sports.

We did not dally at the start, it was a case of get out of the chariots, put down the umbrellas and surrender to the elements. This is Bika's backyard, so he rushed off West up the SDW to discover both of the Falsies while the rest staggered up the slippery rooty path North along the park boundary.

Now, deep in the woods, the rain was not a steady downpour, periods of dryness were interspersed with sudden drenching deluges each time a gust of wind hit the still leaf laden branches above.

We arrived on the edge of the slope above the Old quarry to wait for Sinbad to catch up after having flashbacks to his first voyage. At the same time a small group of fearless bikers waited for us to get clear before they tried to commit suicide by plunging down the twisty track, spending most of the time in the air. Without the NHS, health insurance to cover injury would be unaffordable, although I doubt that this concern impinges on the adrenaline rush.

Entertainment over, we plodded onward and upward, South West crossing the lower forest track and using a surprisingly strong Ivy stem to climb the treacherous wet white chalk escarpment, Pancsi stood at the top to help some of the less capable.

Finally we reached the crown of the highest part of the park to a check at the open sky picnic area, where we enjoyed the driving horizontal rain. The pack took too much time to find the correct choice of the many ways to leave this exposed situation, so Old Faithful took pity and did some pointing.

It must be said that rather than getting miserable, the wetter the Hashers got, and the more false trails each found (there were plenty to go around) the more they seemed to smile, only sackcloth and ashes could have made it better.

South next in the gloomy humid calm of the dense wooded slope of War Down to Orienteering checkpoint nine. Understandably no one wanted to check down the steepest path, South East from here, except Mussolini , who soon had Hashers returning from hither, thither and yon to follow him down.

We picked our way down this tricky bare earth and flint screed slope amongst tall beeches creaking in the wind, to turn South West on a lush, contour following path, ducking under the occasional low branches of yew.

A fish hook here caught Two Ferrets, Pink Flamingo, and Pancsi before an impromptu regroup and a say "wet cheese" moment just above the covered picnic area.

Suddenly most of the pack realised where they were and ignored most of the false trails as we turned East to cross the SDW and drop down almost to New Barn Lane before heading North to emerge from the park.

Crossing the fallow meadows South of the car park we reached the On-In after one hour and twenty minutes of free stroke Hashing.

At the circle it was mentioned that Mussolini had crossed over two Falsies, Two Ferrets Fighting had pleaded innocence, "I didn't do nuffing", when not accused of anything and Bika had been seen getting intel from ramblers.

We gave the Hash-It to Pink Flamingo for driving right past the obvious car park entrance earlier in the morning.

We then charged down to The Village Inn to quaff ale and watch half a Grand Prix, luxuriating in the dryness of being indoors.

On – On ! Bambi

See: SM track ... AND ... photos