Run 741 Library Car park Nether Stowey

Hare: - TenzingHounds:- JB, WAM, Bangkok, Ferret, Phantom, Grasshopper, Pink2Lips, Martini, Dormouse, S App, Chris, Mark, Liz, Dripped on, Nick, Baby Spice & new runner Angela.Pub Why Bother. (Coz he didn’t)

Well this is my first time writing the words for the hash so before I start I would like to apologise if it is awful and if my run turns into a total farce I can only say that I am sorry.
After arriving at Nether Stowey Library car park in the pouring rain where, to our amazement, WAM and JB had cycled and Martini arrived on time!  Now the Hashers, all eager to set off, realising that we had a new runner (Angela who was encouraged to come by Baby Spice) and the Hare was nowhere to be seen.  A couple of minutes later a very wet and bedraggled Tenzing appeared around the corner telling us its ”two and on” and that he will catch up later.
So off we go (I will confess now that I generally have no idea when we run of where we are and the names of places so for the words I shall just express what we ran through) out of Stowey and then through some fields and then up to Stowey Castle where we all spread out to siege it and find the trail again. We then ran up a steep slippery hill where Bangkok took a short cut which turned into a long cut.  Further on we had a impromptu then down the other side the hill through a small ford and then through some more fields.  We then ran through the woods above Over Stowey where a belated Baby Spice joined us.  Then on down into Over Stowey where we stopped for a regroup.  After chomping on sweets and chocolates, we set off again only to lose the trail shortly after, though Ferret actually found the trail and the rest of us just didn’t hear him. Finding the trail again we ran along the road and then across some more fields, one with a lot a horses in so we treaded carefully not wanting to repeat past incidents where we were blamed for horse rustling and accidentally letting them into the adjacent field.  We then ran through Stowey Park and on inn.  Back at the car park WAM had a puncture which Martini kindly fixed.  Then in the Pub we found Why Bother and a folk band.  Later on we were invited by the band to join them by playing some spare instruments, of course we were all ecstatic about this and joined in making an out of tune, out of tempo racket. 
I would like to thank Tenzing for a thoroughly enjoyable if very wet run.
It was also expressed that we didn’t stop to have a history and geography lesson about a local landmark so I have taken the time to find a website with some information on Nether Stowey Castle so no one misses out.

Run 740 - The Crown at Rumwell - WAM! & JB

Hare: WAM & JBHounds: Phantom, Why Bother, Grasshopper, S Apprentice, Dormouse, Tenzing, Liz, Bigbird, Chris, Martini & PaulBrief Guest appearance: DitW

Whilst we were awaiting the off from our Hares a car screeched to a halt in the car park and DitW got out dressed in a becoming outfit of black and purple.  I thought that this was a  strange attire for running, especially as her shoes were more suited to the ballroom.   She then pulled up her skirt and showed off a leg that had more black and purple (and brown & yellow) than her clothes.  She explained that she had been practising her ballet steps on her slippery floor and her splits had  gone awry and she with it. Hopefully she will recover in time for her next performance on the floor!On on was right out of the pub and right again down a road and onto footpaths round and across fields, an impromptu for everybody to catch up, Why Bother was having recurring problems with his hamstring, and although manfully struggling on further decided that enough was enough and short cutted back to the pub.  We continued on along more footpaths, short stretches of road , more paths, coming into and through Bishops Hull and onto a check on the Silk Mills road.

The trail took us through the Cornishway industrial estate and onto Galmington road.   At this point I thought Dormouse had finally gone over the edge as he was running in front of me , first waving one arm in the air and then two. It turns out he was indicating one blob then two for on on, all very technical!

Then right and right again onto a long footpath that took us along behind said industrial estate and on to a very narrow pathway between two fences, no good for anyone over 18 stone!!  Before long coming out onto the Wellington road just past StoneGallows.Another footpath led us to a road that took us back to the Wellington road just a couple of hundred yards further down, then left onto a track that took us to our regroup by disused chicken barns.   Plenty of sweets to go round with only 13 hashers, and two bags of choccy  sweets!Fully sated, we continued on, coming to a drive that took us through a horsey place with a number of young frisky horses. Previously warned of this place by WAM we dutifully walked through the farm/stables area and then back into our proper hash mode running and calling along the remaining footpath trail until reaching the pub.We all then enjoyed the real benefits of running by quaffing quantities of alcoholic beverage and feeling quite virtuous about it!   Many thanks to our hares for a fine and enjoyable run.
 

Run 739: Curry Mallet Village Hall

Venue: Curry Mallet Village Hall Car Park,
O/D The Bell, Curry Malletl
Hare: Brush Off
Hounds: Big Bird, Why Bother, DitW,
Dormouse, JB, Phantom, Liz,Tenzing, S’App,
Grasshopper, M’bongo, Dripped On,
Walkers: Bangkok, Ferret & P2L

Well it was a lovely evening and the going was good (dry but soft underfoot)
after some rain the day before. DitW, JB & Wam arrived in lovely new
matching running tops in soft cupcake shades of Orange, Pink and Turquoise .....
or so they thought until DitW thought perhaps they looked like a fruity, three
pack of condoms in orange, strawberry and mint flavours ......! Well, I never!
Off we set a merry band of hashers over the hills and far away and into a wood.
Here we were once again treated to some historic information about the old
canal. A one mile long tunnel used to exist there but has now been filled in. Liz
suggested that we should be renamed the Bridgwater Towpath Historic Hash
Harriers (not because of the sum of our ages but because of our interest in
historic sites..... I hasten to add).
Once in the middle of the wood, Brush Off admitted to us that he had got lost
while setting the run....... would we ever find our way out again or be lost in the
woods forever? He then produced the sweeties which made us fear even more
that this would be our final destination but fortunately after a few wrong turns:
On, on ..... we eventually found our way out!
Through long grass we went, over styles and across farmland (avoiding the
farmer with a shot gun ....... do they really detest hashers so much?). Wam
learnt from JB, a farmer’s daughter, all about the padlock thingies around the
necks of some cows in a field ...... they are programmed to accommodate each
cow’s feeding needs ..... very clever!!
After 5 fairly swift miles, we arrived back at the pub to find Bankok (still
recovering from pneumonia), P2L (suffering from cruel dentist treatment earlier
in the day) and Ferret (no excuse) enjoying a drink in the pub.
Thank you Brush Off for a very lovely run and sorry to hear you were in so much
trouble at home last week ..... but being male it was definitely your fault, you do
know that don’t you!

Run no 737 - Birthday May Day Hash Bradford on Tone - DitW

Hare: DitW

Hounds: Why Bother, Big Bird, Chris, Liz, Grasshopper,  Tenzing, Nick, Paul C, P2L, Brushoff, Dormouse, Dripped On, Baby Spice, Phantom, Soc Ap, Ferret, WAM, JB, M Bongo, Ashley (walking)

Hashers were invited by DitW to dress up with ribbons for Run 737 as it fell on May Day. The run started from Bradford Farm and DitW would be providing food and drinks, resulting in a good turnout. In the farmyard it was clear that the usual culprits had not made the effort, however they were thoughtfully rescued by P2L’s assortment of ribbons. At least that spared the idea of having to run with one’s frilly knickers showing.

DitW unleashed the pack: 2 & ON, early regroup to show us a point of interest, and then watch out for the sheep in the field near the end. Off we went between the blackcurrant bushes.

The pack was lead by M Bongo to the first regroup where DitW announced that we were to invade the garden of Lift Cottage. The owner was away but aware of our visit. What would he have made of frilly knickers and ribbons and bows wandering around the cottage garden look for the remnants of the canal lift? Grasshopper identified parts of an old cider press in an open shed, several of the car nuts inspected the rusty remains of a Ford Anglia, and then Grasshopper pulled off the save of the evening grabbing at JB as she was about to fall into the deepest part of the canal.. Once recovered the pack set off again, got spread out, called impromptu regroup, and later had sweeties at the refreshment regroup, before the on in.

At Bradford Farm, DitW had laid on curry and all the trimmings, quiches and drinks followed by desserts – a veritable feast. Dormouse thoughtfully presented her with a card. Happy Birthday DitW and thanks for organising The Hash with the Extras.

Run 736 - The Bell Inn Creech st Michael - WAM!

Hares: WAM (Ably assisted by JB). 

Hounds: Big Bird, Pink2lips, Why Bother, DitW, Dormouse, JB, Phantom, Liz, Mark, Tenzing, Martini, Sorcerer’s Apprentice (Sorcerer’s App or SAP maybe!) and new runner Sarah.

 Hurray, hurray, Martini arrived on time- shaken but not too stirred this week, and ready for a run on a lovely evening in Creech. St. Michael. 

Welcomed new runner Sarah, who bravely ran with shin splints so all hashers carefully watched over her in their normal caring way by waiting at checks and frequently inquiring solicitously about her well being while on route. 

Welcomed back our friend, Sorcerers Apprentice, after his holidays in the Far East – South Korea and China and for anyone lucky enough to hear of his holiday tales you got a free geography lesson too this week by hashing near him. 

At start Hare told us to be ready for the off and basically we had a lovely fast, flat run along a river and back the other side with lots of fish hooks for the speedy and unwary which meant that the two Nicks (DitW and P2L) were in the lead for much of the time!

Sorcerer’s Apprentice found the only puddle of mud left on the riverbank and slipped over in it. Luckily not injured so carried on chatting about Guangzhou (known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, capital and largest city in Guangdong province).

Chocolate popcorn at sweetie stop was a new culinary experience for all. 

Lovely evenings run and even spotted a pair of serene swans gliding along on our return journey to the pub where all enjoyed a swift half or two.

Many thanks WAM and to JB too for a lovely evening hash in evening light

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.