Run	Date	Hare(s)	Description	MapRef	1:50000	1:25000	1:10000	More
940	2020-02-02 11:00	Vixen Prancer ( JM standin) - GROUNDHOG DAY	Stoughton Village - Triangle	SU802114

"Able was I ere I saw Elba" is the palindromic phrase supposedly uttered by Napoleon, and yes, we all know where he kept his armies. Vixen and Prancer who, as well as Hareing, stood in for absent JMs reminded us that today’s date was also palindromic.

Then, as expected Prancer launched into a This day In History speech, which was something about Babe Ruth, the pilot of a Zeppelin, dropping four hundred ground hogs on the midlands during the first world war, I was not really listening as I was distracted by the just in time arrival of Bika and Aragorn.

Cheesy Chips had helped lay the trail however he was not present because gravity had got the better of him en-route, as a result he was too shaken and stirred to continue and had been taken home for a hosing down and lying down.

At long last we were able to start, a trail North West just past the Hare and Hounds was sniffed out so we were soon sprinting up the steep slope into Inholmes Wood where we were destined to remain for the rest of the morning.

At the leafless tree line we headed North East following Sonic who was doing an impression of The Bionic Woman, this lasted until she overheated, blew a gasket, and had to stop and start stripping.

Layer after layer came off, but just as there might have been flesh on display Dancer came along with pre-constabulary zeal and said "move along, nothing to see here".

Now the trail played fast and loose with the Eastern slopes, down, North, up, North until we reached the path that ascends from Wildham Barn and no one wanted to go downhill in that direction, anyway here there was a regroup and a snap opportunity.

Up again and North West towards Black Barn to the crest, before finding an obscure path South past a long abandoned watchtower over gorgeous soft thick moss, covered in beech litter and just as we were starting to hum with enjoyment we reached a fish hook that caught Two Ferrets, Old Faithful, Kinky, Bambi and Snake Charmer.

The spell broken we plodded on, and Snake Charmer started to gripe about needing a pub, and Old Faithful to moan about taking too many falsies, as the mud deepened so did the mood. Even the dogs ran off out of sight barking madly as they chased the scent of some deer.

Things came to a head when we headed North again down the steep rocky path towards Pitlands Farm, away from the chariots, all hope abandoned.

Salvation was at hand however, as the bold Kinky ignored a "Private Keep Out" sign and a purposely felled tree to follow a path South along Holmes Row, Sonic and Old Faithful followed and then the rest in dribs and drabs until we had one mass trespass.

Emerging on the heights above the church we could see home below but had to negotiate treacherous wet chalk on the descent to reach the On-In after one hour and twenty minutes of palindromic Hashing.

At the circle, after heaping praise on the Hares, we mulled over the many SCBs, and censured the hounds for eating and urinating on the flour (not the same flour of course).

In the end the Hash-It was presented to Mini Cheddar as somehow she had managed to keep so clean and un-muddy, although I think it had something to do with Pancsi's aching shoulders.

To the Hare and Hounds then, and to while away an hour of polite conversation over cool beverages on the front patio, under a bright sky on a mild winter’s day.

On – On ! Bambi

See: SM's track ... AND ... photos