Run 522 - Park Lane Nursery .... Grasshopper

Hounds: M’Bongo, Chris, Bangkok, The Sorcerer’s apprentice, Big Bird, Paul, Jackie, Liz , Phantom, Gym Slip, P2L, & a bit late Just Bull, DiTW, Wham

In The House: Martini

Everybody managed to get nearly all the way around the Monopoly board without going to jail and landed at Park Lane, one more square and it would have been Super Tax for all of us. The sorcerer’s apprentice jogged to the start from his house, and despite cars stopping to point out hashers don’t jog insisted on going all the way on his own. 

A very enjoyable run with a mixture of road ( above and below  water ), and Mud ( above and below water ). Part way around it was noticed that the pack was being followed by three mysterious lights. Instead of running faster ( my preferred choice whenever being chased ) the pack slowed down and allowed Just Bull, DiTW, and Wham catch us up.  

A rumour started to circulate that there was no sweetie stop, and not even a regroup. There was only one thing I could do. I pushed my aching little legs to get to the front of the pack and luckily Gym slip checked wrong. Finding a narrow track with a stile I dived into my bum bag and dug out an emergency supply of sweeties ( no they hadn’t been left in my bag for weeks to go stale ). Grasshopper soon moved us on as he knew what he had in store for us. Or rather in store for some of us, as Grasshopper very kindly directed some fortunate souls down a short cut. The rest were allowed to run on following the trail into a double hedged track that was being used for water storage. Well there was a lot of water in it anyway and no way around it. So only one thing to do and splash On In, On On, & On INN back to Park Lane where we found Martini, late again so he did his own little run around the lanes. 

A lovely spread of nosh was laid on back at Grasshopper’s house and I’m sure all would all like to say a big thanks to Jess. Sitting innocently in the corner Jacky was pulled up to stand in front of the amassed congregation where she was given the hash name of “Baby Spice” in recognition of her singing prowess that was demonstrated at the Christmas meal.                                                       M’Bongo

Run 521 - The Crown at Rumwell ... WAM!

Run Number: 721 2^nd January 2013

Venue: Rumwell Inn/ now called The Crown, Rumwell, Taunton

Hares: WAM (assistant JB)

Hounds: (So many daft names to type and have had weeks off due to injury so apologies if I’ve misnamed you or not named you at all if you were there!) Phantom, Tenzing, Brushoff, Ma Baker, Paperwork, M’Bongo, Big Bird, Withy, Pink2lips, Why Bother, DitW, Paul C, Liz, Dave and Mark. (Chunky and Gungadin in the pub).

What a popular hash start or Hare as so many old friends turned up tonight at the newly renamed pub. Good to see Ma Baker and Paperwork again. Pub car park was nearly full with hashers. WAM gave out the instructions, the main one to meet together at early regroup to go through horsey ladies fields en masse to prevent hassle from her or her horses. 

Off we set Why Bother helpfully calling “on,on” but not sure why he bothered, someone else crossed the road and found more flour. Off again up past the old Rumwell Manor Hotel weaving between the car parks and up through the fields to the regroup for group safety through ‘horseville’. Safely crossed and then down through an enormous muddy field to come out amazingly through a neat stile onto the road wearing muddy stilt-like trainers.

Long road section next great for actually running and not squelching for a change, lots of decoy flour until we meet the A38. Here a wild swede lies in the middle of the road, nearly tripping up several hashers trying to dodge the cars, and cross over to Bishops Hull and past lots of new houses being built but with amazing footpaths already made. 

Lovely night time views of Taunton lights, which distracted us all a while from the mud, mud, mud and smelly cow shed mud. A really fun hash, many thanks WAM.

Run 720 - Dead Woman's Ditch Boxing Day Run

Hares: Bankok and Ferret

Hounds: Phantom, WAM, Tenzing, Brushoff, Justin, Floater and Grasshopper.

Only seven hardy souls braved the delights of Dead Womens Ditch on Boxing Day.  Maybe the majority was put off by all the rain that fell during the day but the sky had cleared so that our Hares in Wellies and wet weather gear were able to lay in the trail in the dry.

New to me was the “One and On” which sped up our navigation massively apart from the fact that the hounds kept falling over, more to do with the treacherous conditions underfoot rather than any excess of alcohol consumed over the previous days celebrations.  Floater is a bit of a misnomer as he obviously does not float on mud and Brushoff lived up to his name by having to brush off large quantities of mud after doing  a “Superman” dive full length into the mud.

Because of their attire, understandably, our Hares were not running but would appear mysteriously out of the gloom at various points of the course, at one point scaring the bejesus out of me when I overshot the regroup.  The sky had cleared completely by this time and we ate chocolate orange segments under a bright Moon.

A delay after the regroup as we searched for the correct route until someone noticed the gate, in full view, through the fence that we had missed.  Another delay as the hounds lost the scent near the road but casting round in larger circles picked it up gain.

A final dash over the top led us back to the start where 7 very satisfied hounds were glad that they had made the effort to come out.

Only 2 hounds joined the hares for refreshments, good conversations and tasteless jokes in the Rose and Crown in Nether Stowey.  

Note to Brushoff: Be sure to check for facial mud stains before entering public houses.

Run 719 - Brush Off North Petherton O/D the Globe

Hounds:- Bangkok, Ferret, Chris, Pink2Lips, Why Bother, Tenzing, Liz, Martini, Big Bird, Grasshopper, Dave, Gymslip, WAM, JB, DiTW’s, Justin, Marco.

On arrival, we found Why Bother and Pink2Lips wondering if they were in the right place, a very full car park but not a hasher in sight.

Two and on its wet and muddy!!! Well what did we expect?

After a few laps of North Petherton, Pink 2 Lips announced we had lost Why Bother, no one seemed bothered except her apparently he had the car keys.

We then got off road where we found the mud and some nicely chilled water, slipped and slid on the downhill bit with excited screeches (that was just the blokes) then merrily squelched around the fields, still slipping and sliding onto yet more very wet fields.

The regroup was after a check with an arrow to make the front runners go a bit further, but only Ferret tried to follow it with Why Bother remarking on how grumpy he was that night.

We had homemade minced pies at the regroup, Martini found someone to talk too over a Laurel hedge, before the pack charged off as the rain started to fall; well we wouldn’t want to get wet would we?

We set off along the road only to turn off onto a farm track where the choice was either to balance along the middle calf deep in mud or in the tyre tracks, knee deep in cold water, what a choice.

Bangkok remarked that this was the first time when running from North Petherton the run hadn’t gone into Kings Cliff woods, Brush Off not wanting to disappoint had actually gone in a little way, only to run out of flour and marking what he believed was a check back causing some of the pack to scuttle around trying to find an alternative route convinced it should go up and out onto the top road WRONG!!! It went back, then through more very wet fields and out opposite the car park.

Good hash Brush off. 

URGENT MESSAGE!

In an unprecedented move, tonight's run has been cancelled due to abnormal amounts of flood water everywhere! ....... has this ever happened before in the history of Bridgwater Towpath H3?

We may be tough but we prefer to run than swim ....... !!!

Run 713 - Bankok Halloween Run

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Hare Bangkok

Hounds Liz, Big Bird, Phantom

Grasshopper, Marco, Tenzing, David, Justin

At the start the pack was diminished in numbers, the Witches about to depart on their broomstick to the other side of the world, and Brush Off socializing. Grasshopper was dressed up menacingly with cape and wizardry.

Bangkok having just returned from laying the trail gave us our instructions. Two & on, alternative trails will be marked at some checks L ( long ) & S ( short ) , no sweeties since we were to be fed at Bangkok’s base.

Pack set off down Sea Lane, at a check some hares go straight on, David gets lost down track on right, but manages to hang on, Up front hounds were checking at Packhouse Farm. Picked up trail and over fields back to Sea Lane by ruined chantry, then on on through car park and check at Victorian retort. Pack set off to the beach, Marco not knowing about the sea wants to jump off the cliff, but is persuaded to continue with us.

Next check had the pack trying every possible route to no avail, then Tenzing and Grasshopper decide to head back on a nearby path to the car park. Grasshopper busy looking for flour so does not see the barrier across the route, crunch.

Pack presses on along a track up a ridge between fields, going very slippery. Marco and Grasshopper up front again. At Kilton Park Wood David checks one way but cannot find flour. On returning he passes Liz, Bird Bird and Grasshopper taking the short route which had just been marked, but David doubles back for the long route through the woods. Eventually he catches up with the pack, but realizes that his torch is low on power, and stumbles along. Meanwhile the three hounds on the short route have time to stare at some deer in the open, approaching close to them before the deer showed them how to run fast.

On the way back to the start now up Hilltop Lane, a long steady climb, then check right down a narrow footpath back to Kilve.  Path was like a stream with water flowing down the middle rocky rut, but great fun if you had light to see by.

On down to Bangkok’s base, where Ferret was on domestic duty. Big Bird put on her party gear going in. What a spread, and pack further reduced in numbers (did they get lost?) but very cozy by the wood burner in the conservatory.

Thanks to Bangkok & Ferret for the run and refreshments.

Next weeks run 14 Nov Hares: P2L & Why Bother

Run 712 - Chunky & Bigbird

Hairs:- Chunky and Bigbird.               

Howns:- Eighteen, of the best.

Trail:- Mud, mud, glorious mud.

On Down:- Winchester Arms.

A bold Hasher boy was standing one day
On the banks of the cool River Tone.
He gazed at the bottom as he peacefully lay
By the light of the evening moon.
Away on the hilltop sat combing her hair
His fair Hasher maid
The Hasher boy was no ignoramus
And sang her this sweet serenade

Mud, mud, glorious mud
Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood
So follow me follow, down to the hollow
And there let me wallow in glorious mud

The fair Hasher maid he aimed to entice
from her seat on that hilltop above.
As she hadn't got a ma to give her advice
came tiptoeing down to her love
Like thunder the forest re-echoed the sound
of the song that they sang when they met
His inamorata adjusted her garter
and lifted her voice in duet

Mud, mud, glorious mud
Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood
So follow me follow, down to the hollow
And there let me wallow in glorious mud.

Now more hashers began to convene
On the banks of that river so wide
I wonder now what I am to say of the scene
That ensued by the Tone River side
They dived all at once with an ear-splitting sposh
Then rose to the surface again
A regular army of Hashers
All singing this haunting refrain

Mud, mud, glorious mud
Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood
So follow me follow, down to the hollow
And there let me wallow in glorious mud

The amorous Hasher whose love song we know
Is now married and father of ten,
He murmurs, "God rot 'em all!" as he watches them grow,
And he longs to be single again!
He'll gambol no more on the banks of the Nile,
Which Nasser is flooding next spring,
With Hashers in silken pyjamas
No more will he teach them to sing...

Mud, mud, glorious mud
Nothing quite like it for cooling the blood
So follow me follow, down to the hollow
And there let me wallow in glorious mud

Thank You Bigbird and Chunky for a very SHIGGY hash.