Run 735 - 17th April - Phantom

Venue: Halfway House, Pitney
Hare: Phantom
Hounds: Big Bird, Pink2lips, Why Bother
WAM, DitW, JB, Chris, Tenzing, Dormouse,
Liz, Brushoff, Grasshopper, Martini, Withy
& Dripped on.
In the Pub: Bankok, Ferret, Chris’s dad &
Clayton Jane.

An early start of 7pm didn’t seem to affect
the number of runners. We all amassed in the car park that was already filling
up with local “normal” non hashers ..... Phantom came round with a list of yummy
food for us to choose and order so it would be ready for us when we got back
from the run (Warm goats cheese with salad for me ...... yum, yum).
We were told “no livestock, no mud, no hills and the run would be long”. It very
quickly became clear that there were a few untruths in that statement! Off we
set down the road towards Pitney, then turned a female left (ie right) along a
very MUDDY track, across some fields and then UP A HILL. On we went a
merry band of hashers in daylight with no fog, so we didn’t have to worry about
loosing anyone (cluck, cluck mother hen WAM!) ....... or so we thought .....!! We
reached a check and Martini shot off at high speed towards the woods calling
on ... but the hare told us this was not the right way so Liz, JB, Dripped on and
Wam (the only ones to show any concern) rushed after Martini to bring him
back, which we did ... eventually. The rest of the hashers, showing no concern
had legged it in the right direction so we were, we thought miles behind by now.
Off we set again and Martini shot off again, not waiting for his rescuers, up a
bank, through the woods (pretty white anemones and purple violets much
admired) and then we popped out just where we had lost Martini the first time!!
It had been a sneaky little loop!
On we went still behind the rest of the pack, finally catching them at the re
group and still in time for some sweeties. Alas (some might say), no Martini or
Dormouse! Martini finally appeared and was admonished for being “naughty” and
staying with his rescuers and getting lost again, by the Grand Mistress but still
no Dormouse. He finally appeared thank goodness. We seem to be making a
habit of loosing people!
On on we went through more lovely country side, past pretty houses and quaint
little hamlets ....... and back to the pub for delicious food and a lovely
atmosphere (beams,log fire, candles, scrubbed oak tables etc etc).
Thank you Phantom for organising a great run and dinner afterwards too

Run 734 - Blue Ball Triscombe - Grasshopper

Hounds:  Baby Spice, JB, Brush Off, Liz, Tenzing, Big Bird, Chris, M’Bongo, Paul, Phantom & WAM

In the Pub:  Bangkok & Ferret

We gathered on another cold, damp, evening ready for the onslaught toward the top of the Quantocks but, the Hare promised, ‘no mud, no hills and a short run‘….hmmmmm! Not likely…..but we took him at his word and eagerly headed for the first check out of the car park and left then right along a narrow road heading east…another check which could have taken us left up a track to the top but no the Hare was true to his word and the trail headed straight on, on level ground, towards a private road where we had been instructed to please not call.  This must have been where we lost M’Bongo, he headed off in another direction losing the trail and the pack, he was not to be seen until ‘found’ towards the end of the run when he reported he had been running hither and thither following the hares howls in the distance through the mist.  

So here was the hill (!) and as we reached the top the mist shrouded the distant runners in a white cloak.  We adopted a new tactic…..‘fog buddies’ we felt a little guilty that one of the party had no buddy!

The regroup conversation discussed the merits of men in tights  …. and of course where could M’Bongo have got to….where was he last seen?  

We set off along the trail that took us through tree rooted tracks when Brush Off and Phantom slipped away taking another route.  The rest of the pack ran on and at some point realised that two of the party were missing so WAM & JB set off as the search party to recover them.  In the meantime a dim, fog muffled sound emanating from the top of the hill informed the two lone hounds that they were ‘On, On’, M’Bongo had managed to find the’ out trail’ and was calling the hounds back to base.  Finally the main pack caught up and made their way down through a treacherously steep and slippery section of wood back to the On Inn.  

We were welcomed at the Inn by Ferret & Bangkok after returning from their travels to the Himalayas.

Great run, thank you Grasshopper. 

Run 733 Candlelight Inn, Bishopswood - DitW

Hare: DITW

hounds:Paul C, Baby Spice, Innertube, Nappy Rash, Liz, Dormouse, Mark, Nick, Dripped on, Pink2lips, Whybother, WAM, Phamtom, JB, Big Bird.

We all gathered in the car park eager to get going as it was still freezing. There is a good turn out to include a couple from Chard hash..It seems that DITW had foiled their attempts to lay a hash in the same location that week for fear of hashes picking up the wrong trail, and we're all pretty good at that anyway. So no live stock and ON ON check it out.

Left out of the pub up the lane, right into a field all good so far...Then we started to climb and climb. The higher we climbed the colder the wind got, did I say it was freezing. A social hash soon turned into a high speed race, as all the checks were kicked and no one wanted to hang around. On we whizzed not much time to take in the surroundings, we did pause at a check with a very cute set of stone steps (the kind you’d expect in the Hobbit) as one of the possible routs, the shout came from above and up we all went.

Not long before we hit the regroup where we were treated to luxury sweets and chocolate eggs, the thoughtful hare had even included a pot of Cumin, Organic of course, for those with the more discerning pallet.

Then we went DOWN yey. The light was now fading a bit and some of us (me) didn’t have our torches so I may have missed some of the details due to being blind. The trail followed tree covered paths, went over moss covered bridges and past tumble down cottages...lovely. 

Back out on the lanes and we waited as hounds went off to find the trail. Some of us watched a little speck that was Dormouse disappear into the distance, just as we were thinking he might need to come back we heard the shout ON INN! Good run DITW.

Run 732 - Stogumber - Liz

Run Number: 732  27^th March 2013

Venue: The Church, Stogumber (TA4 2JT), O/D The White Horse ( opposite)

Hares: Liz ( Ably assisted by Dormouse). 

Hounds: Big Bird, Pink2lips, Why Bother WAM, DitW, JB, Chris, Paul and Tenzing.

Little snowflakes started falling out of the sky at about 6pm. Will it settle ? No, no it will be fine. Where is Stogumber? Is it hilly? Will it be slippery? All things to be taken into account by fearless hashers …Nine fearless hashers did pitch up at the church just as the snow was being to ‘pitch’ (Somerset term for settle apparently my source of local dialects tells me). Everyone managed to squeeze their cars in parking in the narrow lanes of Stogumber and then WAM thought she’s peer into a few local shop windows while waiting for others to adjust their clothing. She got a surprise when in one window a family was watching telly in their living room … not a shop window at all. The local shop did have amazing Easter themed display in the window, all thought it warranted a return day time visit.

All clothing (hats, gloves etc) adjusted and Liz gave thanks to Dormouse (sitting at home snug tonight but who will undoubtedly appear in the spring on lighter evenings) who had very brilliantly helped plan and lay the hash. Instructions for the night were given and we were off following the flour that was clearly visible. And no one wanted to hang around as it was pretty nippy. 

Yes it was a bit slippery and skiddy and both Tenzing and Big Bird took tumbles that were spectacular apparently. Luckily they are agile and fearless and continued onwards as none of us had a clue where we were. We ran through some fields, along some ancient tracks, down hills and up the other side of the valley, all imagining then wonderful views that could be seen in daylight. Past some amazing barn conversions all well lit, so WAM and others could again peer in!

The regroup in a little clearing with an ancient tree yielded frozen sweeties. This meant we had to be careful of our teeth as the wine gums appeared to have frozen. Lots of liquorice allsorts to share and enjoy. General discussion on the need to keep close together for the next bit off running as snow was covering the flour. Soon we came to crossroad and Why Bother saw the sign for Stogumber and took of with an anonymous hasher for the pub…. No flour that way though and the rest of us carefully hashed back following flour!

Many thanks Liz (was this your first solo hare appearance?) And to Dormouse too for a lovely snowy hash.