Run	Date	Hare(s)	Description	MapRef	1:50000	1:25000	1:10000	More
946	2020-07-19 11:00	Popeye & Bika	Buriton Queen Elizabeth Country Park	SU733197

Conditions were exceedingly moist in the nether regions of Queen Elizabeth Country Park for a third attempt at corona hashing. The draconian measures that have been employed to limit the car parking space at Halls Hill did not deter our bubbles from floating in and settling where they were able, some having a hill climb as a warm up.

As we looked up at the misty clouds kissing the leafy boughs on the hillside above our effervescent hare Popeye told us how dry and flat lay the trail ahead, some, he said, was very very flat.

So we hit the trail, climbing the West bound carriageway of the SDW until with leaden legs and lungs on fire we were glad to reach a soggy check, still only half the way to the road crest.

More of that, or a level path along the contours to the East, which would you choose next?.

Good choice, swapping the exposed wide straight steep flint for a gloomy green slippery humid meander North, all alone for long while.

The pant pant pant of a fluffy Belle, tongue flopping over her chops signalled the imminent arrival of the others as we reached the heights above the old quarry.

East and down or West and up, that was the choice. No prizes for guessing that Snake Charmer opted to go down while Kinky went up, and up, and found good flour.

Sadly Kinky has not availed himself of his horn since lockdown, it affects you like that, so he was not able to give us a good blow, thus it was a while before we cottoned on and followed him.

After a gloomy battle uphill over gnarly roots we emerged into the brightness of the wide track half way up War Down. No one attempted to climb further and as soon as Bambi had found the falsie North we all enjoyed a long gentle downhill leg stretch South on white white chalk bounded by tall tall beech.

The SDW was in sight ahead, not for us though, no, it was hang a sharp hairpin right and another steep sapping attempt to mount War Down, would we go all the way this time?, well no, just another flirtation, as another about turn took us back into the green beech gloom and an exceedingly sparse trail that took us all the way down to Hangars way.

The hares took the opportunity to throw two fish hooks into the mix as we made our downward progress the first caught Snake Charmer, Dr Blood and Kinky, the second caught all of us.

So there we were at the cabin and barbecue on Hangars way, and anyone whose been here before, that is us, knows all the ways back to the chariots, all pretty easy, so no worries.

Little did we expect a short climb up Gravellhill Bottom with a full assault up Benhams Bushes. This was on the limit of what a hasher can take, clawing the slippery leaf litter for a root hold to start and almost kneeling against the slope further up ankle deep in crunchy dry twigs.

A breathless bright red faced bubble took a quick breather at the top before heading On-In down the SDW and then the path past Fagg's Farm, just one hour and five minutes of very flat hashing as promised.

An informal, distanced group formed under the sheltering branches of one of the newly created no parking areas. Subdued conversation in the drizzle covered the usual virus inspired topics to the merits of lemon flavoured cider, a Marmite drink, and how svelte Spiderman is becoming.

On On ! Bambi