Run # 771 : Down in the Woods Langford Budville Village Hall

Run Number: 771: 8^th January 2014

Venue: Langford Budville Village Hall

Hare: Down in the Woods

Hounds:  P2L, Why Bother.  Liz, Big Bird, Brush Off, Grasshopper. Phantom, Wam!, JB. Gentleman Caller, Ferret, Justin (stranger .... maybe?! - could this be a new naming)

In the pub: Bangkok

   

We arrived at the new village Hall with, by the time we got there, quite a convoy of cars (signage for hall very very tiny). After admiring the new village hall and its ample car park there was a quick briefing from the hare about wet conditions and that mostly it would be “two and on” but sometimes it might be “nothing and on”.... well that should be interesting!

Off we set down a foot path and onto a road ... so far so good, plenty of flour but it wasn’t long before we were on a very slippery downhill track with lots of stones and green slime underfoot.   Whilst Wam! was creeping down at snails pace, she nearly got taken out by Grasshopper who seems to have no regard for his own or others safety (you should hear his partner’s views on his badmington skills), powering down the hill, following hot on his tail JB wearing her new “mudclaw” shoes ....... mountain goat like!

On we went through various wooded parts and muddy tracks and on to the first re group .... just a practice, no sweeties.  Not long after that, the real regroup with real sweeties. This was the moment the heavens opened and we all got wet!  We didn’t hang around and carried on through the wood, up a steep very very muddy hill and back into the woods and then on in down the road.   

A quick change an on in to the Martlett where Wam! got her bossy hat on and wouldn’t allow anyone to leave until they had committed to setting a run.  Ferret amused one of the locals by talking about the Romanian woman who was going to massage his a**e tomorrow.... well I never!

Run 768: Roadkill Staple Cross Inn

Hare: Road KillHounds:  P2L, Why Bother. TomTom, Big Bird, Tenzing. Wham!, JB. Gentleman Caller, Phantom, DitW.





On a beautiful clear night with lots of stars, 10 intrepid hounds await instruction from our hare Road Kill, all anticipating a bit of road!! Bit of chat about how we all managed to find the place but in the end not so remote as we all thought…..quick brief on deer park and some wildlife and gates and….
At the cross roads the hounds spread out North, East, South and West, and on on called East on the road, cross roads and check  towards Hockworthy. Another check and left to the deer park and “close the gates”. Lots of deer around. On on towards Turnham and Stuckleys and check at Lea Barton. Left and check again on up and up towards Hockworthy again and guided around and through Court Hall Farm and Home Farm.
Re-group and a lessons in geography and star gazing (is that Taunton or Wellington and what are those red lights!).
On up and check right at Luckleigh Farm towards South Staple Farm and down towards Wilpit Farm with On Inn right marked twice so we didn’t get lost! 
And to finish some road, wouldn’t be right otherwise!
Many thanks for a lovely run….