Run 757- WAM! The Dolphin Wellington

  

                        Run 757  Hare WAM.  Welly Sports Centre On Inn The Dolphin 

 Hounds, JB, Compo, Big bird, Phantom, PL2, Baby Spice, Gentleman’s Caller, Withy, Hansom, Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Grasshopper, Brush off, DITW, And in the pub Why Bother. 

All gathered in the Welly car park and gave a warm welcome to Compo and myself (visiting from TH3 the Dolphin is our local so we thought it only polite to join you). Instructions were given by the hare, something about closed paths alternative routes ,” two and on” etc., then off for a prompt start past the football pitch through the park  a quick tour of town and on to the first illegal act of the night. An 8 foot high fence across the path with big signs on it saying

              “Danger, Construction Site, Keep Out, Path Closed For Safety” 

                                                                       This as we all know means

  “Please Come In, Feel Free To Wander Around, Just Don`t Nick The Batteries Off Our JCB”.    

Having read a few of BTPHHH`s newsletters I now realize that an archaeological dig is not something any of you could bypass, so on for our second illegal act of the night “Look” said WAM “ There`s a big hole full of old things that Baldric and his mates are trying to save for future generations of hashers, lets run round the site and see if we can`t get nicked by the local rozzers”.”Dam” said Compo “No JCB`s ,and my camper really NEEDS a new battery”. So after sneaking around for a bit and looking at “Some very interesting old walls” we legged it off for our third illegal act of the night. But this one was different, proper spikes, barbed wire and trains to play with. The hash was now split those that got across before the 8.15 Plymouth to Paddington and those that had to hide in the bushes and wait until it had passed. Reunited we came to a check at the top of the hill that sent us off left into the dark dark woods to more checks across the bridge (too dark for Pooh sticks) and up to Nynehead for a very well observed sneaky fishhook. On thru a few fields to a regroup. Here PL2 raised the ugly question of the newsletter ,suddenly for the first time that night there was complete silence, not a word was spoken ,You could hear the Moon, occasionally when I see a maiden in distress my gob works before my brain and so I volunteered .WAM`s email address was suggested as a point of contact for said scribbling’s ,I however suggested that her phone number would be ample reward, this left WAM giggling and PL2 confused (she finally caught on)The On Inn was less incident filled than the first half, along the path of brambles past the Malthouses,to more fishhooks(not quite so well observed) across the road to Runnington ,round into the back of Welly on more footpaths and river banks and back to the car park .Quick change(at home)then to the Dolphin to find Why Bother with a pint complaining of injuries received.

      A very nicely set run, with just enough help from the hare to keep it all flowing.

                                                            Thank you WAM 

                                

Run 756: Roadkill Holywell Lake

Hare: RoadkillHounds: WAM, JB, Phantom, Big bird, Soc App, Martini, Tom Tom, 

A very small, elite group gathered on a dismal wet evening at the Holywell Lake.... we’ve been so lucky over the summer with warm, sunny evenings; dry underfoot and now a double whammy of wet feet and dark enough for head torches.  

Roadkill sent us off right and very quickly we were heading off over a style and onto a track.   This was encouraging to be off road so quickly as we all remember how roadkill got his name.....!!  On on we went through long wet grass and mud (perhaps running on a road isn’t so bad after all).   Being such a select group we mostly stuck together except Soc App who went dashing ahead. 

Up some hills and over lots of fields with a tiny bit of road in between we finally arrived at the regroup under a tree near Langford Budville.  Roadkill assured us that the view was spectacular but by this time it was pitch black and nothing to be seen.

After some lovely sweeties we set off through the woods.  Soc App rushing ahead again but taking the wrong path.  He headed off deeper into the woods whilst the rest of us took the correct route through the field ..... the distant sound of galloping hoofs made some of us a little nervous.   Eventually Soc App realised he was alone and found his way back to the group. 

More fields, one of which had a rather surprised looking bull in it.... luckily we had our JB our bull expert with us who assured us that this one was fairly harmless!!

Thank you for a really great run, enjoyed by all in spite of the wet feet and dark evening!

Run 755 - Kilve Dormouse

Hare: Dormouse

Hounds: WAM, Just Bull, DITW, Phantom, Bigbird, Ferret, Liz, Tenzing, Floater, Gentleman Paul, Roadkill & Chris.

Biker: Bangkok.

Eleven southern shandy drinkers & one Northern trooper, good and true, assembled at Kilve Village Hall car park awaiting the off, given on the stroke by Liz in the absence of Dormouse.

The dirty dozen headed out of the car park and took a right onto Pardlestone Lane in the search of flour, but wait, what’s this? It appears we have been sabotaged as the markings have been rubbed out by some immature, small minded tosser with a tiny Willy. As Ferret was already with us, we were quickly able to rule him out as a suspect.

Luckily for us, the lazy culprit couldn’t be bothered to rub out the entire hash so we were quickly underway again after picking up the trail which took us off the lane and through a field at the side of Crooked Acre Copse. Ferret led the way, closely followed by Chris and the rest of us trailing closely behind.

Then we took a sharp right, across fields and over the other side of Pardlestone Lane. After traversing more fields and passing some dwellings, we reached a check and hit a brick wall as nobody could find the way. Ferret was climbing a hill to the left while Chris searched a field on the right. The rest of us scouring the field we were in.

Eventually, an extremely large R inside a circle was discovered which Chris had ran past about a hundred times which he took much deserved stick for and was proclaimed to have the eyes of a bat. By this time Ferret was half way to Exeter and much shouting by the ones with the loudest voices(WAM, Just Bull, Phantom, DITW, Liz), you get the picture, brought him to the regroup.

We then headed through many fields and an old farmhouse, before reaching the A39 and playing Frogger across to Frog Street. Another sharp right led us through fields and eventually back across the A39 & back to the car park.

On Down followed at the Hood Arms where we were joined by Bangkok. After a well-earned, not so reassuringly expensive pint, we had not 1 but 2 hounds to name. Liz was aptly crowned “TomTom” due to being a 1 woman GPS & Chris was christened the very apt “Bat eyes” for the regroup incident.

One final note (and this isn’t a joke), as we drove out of the car park, the newly named TomTom turned to me and said “Turn left at the end of the road”

Many thanks to Dormouse for another enjoyable run around Kilve.

Run 754 - Bankok and Floater

Hares: Bankok and FloaterHounds: WAM, Phantom, Bigbird, Ferret, Grasshopper, Soc App, Martini, Liz, Tenzing, Chris & Pink2Lips.Biker: Why Bother.

Twelve Hashers, good and true, assembled at the car park awaiting the off, given on the stroke by Ferret in the absence of our Hares still battling manfully (& womenfully?) in the woods laying our trail.

Eleven of us followed the trail on foot parallel to the road, crossing it a short while later, while Why Bother in his fetching Bone Dome , went off on his bike, crossing our path once before meeting us at the regroup to partake of his share of the sweeties.

Meanwhile we went merrily on our way along footpaths going down through the woods, then right, then left, then whatever, Ferret invariably out in front calling the On on, occasionally other hashers finding the trail as it wound right, left, straight on, back up the hill, crossing the road, back down the hill, etc etc through the maze of paths of the Quantocks.

At one point as we crossed back over the road, we came face to face with our hares, but then left them behind as we started a long, long descent, happy in the knowledge that we were going to have to climb all the way back up again in a short while!

Just when we felt we couldn’t go down any further we reached the regroup, where miraculously Why Bother appeared, followed shortly after by our hares to enjoy the sweets.  Grasshopper recognised our regroup stop as the same one on the Boxing Day hash, Did he remember what sweets we had that day as well!

Now came the long haul back up to the start, however at a check a couple of hundred yards up the trail, Ferret and the fit carried on up the path without flour (other hashers please note: No Flour) with the result that the pack divided into two, just six of us hardy souls finding and continuing on the marked trail and the other five short cutting.

By now it was getting quite dark under the trees, so on went the lights as we followed the trail ever upwards, sometimes left, sometimes right, but always up, at long last coming out at the car park.

A discussion of On Down venues was discussed with the Carew Arms being preferred by the majority, where we all went to get a well earned drink.

Many thanks to Bangkok and Floater for another enjoyable run around the Quantocks.

Run 751 - Nutcombe Bottom Brush Off

Run No 751  7^thAugust 2013        Nutcombe Bottom        Hare: Brush Off

Pack: Dormouse, Justin, Grasshopper, Dripped On, Liz, Roadkill, Big Bird, Tenzing, Just Bull, Gentleman Caller, WAM, Malcolm.   Walkies: Phantom and Floater.

I was not supposed to be doing these words as WAM was meant to swap but the message didn’t get through, so it’s me again, sorry.

It was a warm evening and we were joined by Malcolm, a good runner, who was with us to research the background to hashing.  He was intending to write an article for Exmoor magazine.

The hare pointed the way and we soon found a crossway in the wood.  JB was calling ahead which she did for the next two checks until she finally guessed wrong.  

I had no idea where we were but Tenzing reckoned we’d gone right, left, left, three times.  Each time, there was Malcolm already at the check taking numerous photos as we stumbled towards him, then he shot our backsides before running past us to the next check.  

The hare had us going dizzy and most of us guessed wrong most of the time but after about 4.25 miles, we were back at the cars.   Malcolm, having taken at least a hundred photos, quickly dashed off home to Shepton Mallet.

With our chairs set in a biggish circle, we were treated to barbecued sausage rolls and onions by the industrious mr and mrs hare.

A well laid trail and a pleasant Nom Nom gathering in the wood

Run 750 - Red Dress Run - WAM!

Wam! would just like to point out that in fact this run was Why Bother's but he didn't bother and luckily JB stepped in at the eleventh hour to help WAM!.   Any lack of flour on the run was Why Bother's!  

Hare: WAM & JB

Hounds:  P2L, Big Bird, Liz, Grasshopper,Brush Off, DitW. Soc App, Justin, Why Bother, Phantom, Gentleman Caller, Baby Spice, 

Walkers: Bangkok, Floater, Dormouse. 

Red Dress Run

   

Well the fun started as soon as I picked up John, he just seemed too comfortable in that dress for my liking and when I offered to go into the coop for some drink and he replied that he was happy to go in, this confirmed my suspicions.  As he walked across the car park heads turned and fingers pointed. I noticed a Dad with a young daughter call her over to keep her close to his side as John walked by. Apparently it did not get much better in the shop.

Met at WAMs house where lots of Men were acting very strangely. We were informed that there would be several stops to allow for some cunning marking of the route.

Off we went into the village, past the church where I was reminded by WAM that I ought to mention the 2 tubs of vibrant flowers by the church door, duly mentioned.  Out of the village across the fields to the railway line.  All very different to the quagmire we had to deal with the last time we ran this way.

On On called we ran down by the river expecting to see a check, no checks in sight, as we progressed we became more certain there must be a fishhook just around the next corner, I backed off to let Martini take the lead but no fishhooks either.  This was mentioned later and apparently JB and WAM were too engrossed in talking to think about complicated things like fishhooks, checks, blobs of floor etc.  We reached the bridge and had an impromptu for people to catch up, then on through the village to see more wide eyed people making various comments and smiles.  We then ran up a side ally into someone's back garden? They must have been expecting us as there was a table with glasses, jugs of water and a few bottles of cider.  I also noticed they didn't have just one but two conservatories.

After half a bottle of cider we set off across the field and back to the White Horse Pub.  Some searching later we picked up the trail back over the bridge and along to the railway line were there was a regroup. Then it was up the bank and into the fields full of heavily laden blackberry bushes.  On arriving at Nicky's we were directed to the side of the house where there was another table with glasses and drinks.  Here we sampled the product of those delicious looking blackberries.  After feeling suitably refreshed we were off down to the road.  As we watched Grasshopper disappearing in the distance I heard several other people commenting on how well John wore that dress, not just me then.

As we were making our way back to WAMs the footpath passed through a garden, we passed the door of the house just as a very surprised looking owner opened the door, was that a twinkle in his eye as Grasshopper passed by?

Back at WAM's Why Bother was voted the best dress and John the one who enjoyed wearing a dress the most.  WAM's hubby joined in the "madness" buy producing a luverly barbeque with strawberries and cream for afters, enjoyed by all of us