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

Run 749: Just Bull Catherine Wheel Hemyock

Run Number: 749: 24^th July 2013

Venue: Catherine Wheel, Hemyock

Hare: JB

Hounds:  P2L, Why Bother.  Liz, Bigbird, Phantom, Ferret, Tenzing. Dormouse. Martini, Sourcers Apprentice, Brusoff, Grasshopper. 

Walkers, Bangkok and Floater

   

Quick briefing from the resident hare, Wasn’t listening as usual, (something about horses and cattle I think) so off we trot left for the pub then sharp right and up thought a field and left (quick pee stop) road and left and down to a cross roads.

On on called up by an athletic Frt. Up we run (well some did) check and after some wondering left through a farm with some young lads asking if we were following the flour (bloody hope so!). Through the farm on to the top field, now this is where I have a problem, do I say that Phantom farted while running or not, humm, best not then. 

On left and check more fields, right and down to the re-group. Sweets and much talk about fish ponds, water levels and drainage! 

On called and up right and down only to find a check and booby trap (garroting wire well place for the taller amongst us) on right and down, up then bit of road. Check right down through cow field and On Inn and back for a well-earned pint.

Lovely run, many thanks

Now some local history……………..

Hemyock is the largest village on the Blackdown Hills, Devon, which is now designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The parish has an area of about 2350 hectares, and lies on the NW of the Blackdown Hills. The village has a very long history, some prehistoric remains may be found, from about 100 BC to well beyond. In the middle ages local iron ores were smelted in small  bloomeries (furnaces) to produce pure iron. In Saxon times a battle was fought at Simonsburrow between the native Britons and King Ime's Saxon army, which put an end (temporarily) to the Kings expansion to the west. 

The name Hemyock could have originated from the British stream name "Samiaco" (meaning summer), other authorities suggest a Saxon origin from a personal name "Hemman" coupled with a Saxon word for a bend or a hook (occi).

Hemyock gave its name to the Hemyock Hundred, a unit of 7 parishes, that was an administrative unit of local government during the Saxon period.

After the Norman conquest a castle was built adjacent to the Parish Church, the remains of some towers may still be seen.

Hemyock is a typical upland settlement consisting of a central "town" surrounded by a number of hamlets (Culmdavey, Millhayes, Simonsburrow, Ashculme, Tedburrow, Madford, Mountshayne etc). From the 1500's to the early 1800's much of the parishes wealth came from the production of wool. The population remained fairly constant throughout the 1800's, and until the end of the second word war. Since then a  number of housing estates have been built, and our population has increased to over 2000.

Hemyock remains a busy village, we have a primary school, excellent medical facilities, 2 garages, 2 hairdressers, a pub, a building society, 2 shops one with a Post Office, a playing field (soon to become 2), a Parish Hall (soon a 2nd will be provided) and 2 Churches. (Baptist Church and St Mary's)

The Cadbury family, of chocolate fame, originated here.

Hemyock was the terminus of the Culm Valley Railway that ran for about 100 years from our village to Tiverton Junction.

The first mechanically operated butter factory in the West of England was started at Mountshayne in 1886 by 4 local farmers, this was later transferred to Millhayes, and was only closed in the 1990's.

Run 748 - Liz Chargot Woods

Run 748    Chargot Woods        Hare: Liz        On Down: Ralegh’s Cross Inn                        Pack: Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Dormouse, Tenzing, Big Bird, Roadkill, Grasshopper, Phantom, Chris, Brush Off, Pink2Lips, Why Bother.  Martini 20 mins late.

We parked the cars at 347 metres and humidity was just as high after the hottest day of the year.   Instructions: some gates difficult to open.   Phantom found a descending grassy track.  Big Bird followed with the pack stretched out on the chase.  The trail widened and a check appeared at every bend of the downward zig-zags, enabling the pack to close up.    Espying white stuff on a rear entrance to a mine shaft, I ventured forth across a stream and ploughed bravely bare-legged into dense Urtica, searching like Harrison Ford, for the illusive second blob.  Histamine stabbed my veins as I called ON ON, though my gritted teeth, at the base of ascending wooden steps.  I listened to the screams below before checking, stupidly, a long way downhill.  The route was, of course, up to Kennisham Hill(382 m) and some had worked it out that we climbed a long way.  One of me made it 1000 feet but I was lucky not to have met the cruel fishhook near the summit. 

At one point, the ground was becoming very sodden, possibly water rushing from a pit-shaft, but a flight of well-built wooden steps took us up and over a bank and on to a dry track.

Bird Bird was running well and out in front a lot (must have been all that marshalling at the Wellington Ten) and we were led to a junction of ways where Brush Off and Soc App took the two right-hand (and uphill) paths, Big Bird to the left.   My only choice was downhill (again) and by the time I’d returned it had gone quiet.  Heading downwards to a dark valley that I now know to be Collyhill Wood, I came upon an attractive pheasant keeper, probably descended from the Doones, who had already gathered enough feathers to stuff a quilt.  I was about to ask if she could spare the time when I realised it was Pink2Lips.   “Could be useful”, she says.   Many a story will be told about the days of austerity!!

  

I could hear Phantom calling so I joined the group behind her.  She had an unconfirmed report of an animal, a deer she thought, but couldn’t specify the make.  Sorry, Phantom.  It doesn’t count if nobody else saw it!

. 

History Bit: This vast area is dotted with pits and is the reason for the Mineral Line that took the ore from these hills to Watchet harbour where it was shipped to Wales to make slag heaps.  

There were two fallers, Why Bother and Phantom, ‘though I didn’t see either event.           Back at the cars, the GPS clan compared recorded running distances but the greater interest was shown to the descent and ascent totals.  

Thank you, Liz.   A well thought-out hash on unusual terrain.

Run 746 Dripped on and Nick

Hares:   Dripped On and Nick (ultra man)

Hounds: Phantom, Tenzing, Bangkok, Ferret, Bigbird, WAM, Roadkill, Liz, Martini & Dormouse.

Well what a beautiful evening for a hash ..... warm and sunny at last!   We arrived at the Rifleman’s to find Dripped on looking rather to stylish for running ..... unfortunately she has injured her shoulder and the painkillers have made her ill so it was all down to Nick to keep us on course.

It was noted by Phantom that we were a perfectly balanced, harmonic pack this week:  five male and five female hashers!  

Of we set to the left and very quickly headed up hill ...... will be going to the top of the Tor this time? .... not yet it would seem.   We followed a lane and then a check with a footpath closed (did Dripped on mention this at the start?) for no apparent reason, fortunately as this was the route we took.  Tenzing surged on ahead shouting “on to a check” ..... or was it “on to a chick”?  As the rest of us arrive, we find Tenzing talking to an attractive young woman ..... come on Tenzing we are supposed to be finding our way not chatting up the locals!

On we went through quiet country lanes in dappled light, across wildflower meadows and dusty farm tracks..... and behold what a view.   Wam became slightly panicky after finding herself “off piste” in the long grass .... what might be lurking in there?..... lions, snakes any number of scary things.

Glastonbury wouldn’t be Glastonbury without the little messages on the styles “this way to weed and LOVE...”.   We also came across a little collection of Yurts and what would appear to be people living a life of simplicity and self sufficiency ..... idyllic!

The regroup was held under a knobbly old lightening tree ..... I can’t remember the local legend about this tree but suddenly as we were guzzling our malteesers, a musician, guitar in hand, emerged from the undergrowth around the tree and wandered off into the distance.  

Off we set towards the distant Tor ..... will we or won’t we be climbing its summit?   Up, up we go with Ferret in the lead when he suddenly finds his shoe lace needs attention .... how strange it looked alright to me, but I thought I had better stop to help!  My caring nature was rewarded as a few meters ahead ..... a fish hook for three ..... and thanks to the shoe lace we didn’t have far to run back to the back of the pack.

At last we reach the foot of the Tor and up we toiled to the top .... and wasn’t it worth it!  The views all around where magnificent and truly worth the climb.

The final leg home was down hill of course and on in to the Rifleman’s Arms.

Thank you for a fabulous run, a pity Dripped on wasn’t feeling so good.