Run	Date	Hare(s)	Description	MapRef	1:50000	1:25000	1:10000	More
954	2020-12-06 11:00	Prancer & Kinky	Stansted Park Sth CP	SU753104

After our enforced break there was pent up enthusiasm for this Hash, oversubscribed, regardless of the frigid conditions.

The Hares had promised a novel two tone, two route run, employing red and green marks, but overnight rain had assigned much of the pre-laid trail to oblivion.

A first visit from expert Hashers, Show Jumper and Stomping Donkey gave Kinky an excuse to explain our unusual trail marking system while the rest fidgeted about trying to keep warm and the dogs and some Hashers started to whine.

It was nice to see Treefeller, Soapbox and Canman wave as the first bubble, the one in this account, slither forth into Stansted Forest.

At first I put the speed at which we started out down to a desire to get warmed up as soon as possible, however I soon realised that our visitors were proceeding at a pace that greatly exceeded the alacrity of our regular bubblers.

As has been remarked upon before it is hard to describe where we ran in this forest, there are few lasting landmarks and no hills to climb, many of the junctions are what can be described as "deja vue junctions".

The large sweet chestnut coppice in the centre is regrowing quickly and will soon blend in, and that is where we headed at first, zig zagging north west from the car park with Snake Charmer making all the right choices and the rest hot on her heels.

Then we popped out on the north west south east ride, the one with the good view of Stansted House, but we did not take the time to appreciate the delightful setting, turning our backs on it and continuing apace to the north.

We got to within spitting distance (is that illegal these days?) of the impressive grove of yews at the northern limit of the woods before an off path clamber over old stumps and ankle deep soft needles took us west towards Staunton Way.

I might be wrong, I got the impression that our Hare was taking the odd short cut in order to keep up with us such was our pace even though we were checking all the false trails.

Heading south now, and starting to feel that the homeward turn had been made, who should we bump into but Bika, out running a solo Hash on the remnants of the red trail. Unsurprisingly Bika is an old aquantance of Stomping Donkey, he knows everyone, and luckily, since we had been faster than greased lightening, there was time for them to chew the fat for a while.

We could have just continued south to The Avenue and then east to the chariots less than one kay away, but no such luck, as the trail used nearly all of the matrix of paths between us and them.

At one point an unexpected falsie left our Hare perplexed, so we used the opportunity for a "say cheese" moment for the scrap book while he sorted himself out.

The last bit was a muddy stomp down The Avenue to reach the On-In after just fifty seven minutes of frantic Hashing.

We are not supposed to mingle so bits of bubble one floated off and some remained just to say hi and bye to bubble two who returned much later.

All in all a brilliant Hash, much appreciated for the sake of our sanity and fitness.

This time of the year I always wonder why such cold air always makes my lungs feel like they are on fire?

You might have noticed not seeing Panda and Flash for a while, usually this would be down to a cruise, but no cruises these days, no it's not the dreaded V either, it's because they have purchased a fixer upper bungalow on The IOW.

Yes they are moving there, gradually, starting at Christmas, and are spending all their time making it habitable at the moment. I bet that you thought they were in the Bahamas counting the fortune that they have made off with from the Hash Cash reserves.

On On ! Bambi

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