Twenty Five eager hashers circled up to hear U-Bends pronouncements. There was no GM's question this week so Teapot volunteered one. What stood on the site of the two houses adjacent to the Manor Inn? The answer was the old Fatstock Market where, in fact, Teapot had begun his working life.
It is one of U-Bends favourite trail areas and a suggestion that it might be a different route to the norm proved to be accurate.
A long trail of 3.5 miles to the beach was offered, (no mention of how far back!) and a short trail of 1.5 to the beach. The beach being all important as that was the venue for both the sweetie stop and the promised swim. At least one of the several dogs was really looking forward to the swim. Those doing the short were asked to go slowly as the trail was not yet laid.
Not wishing to hang around (being an aflete n all) your correspondent took the long trail. We set off along Old Road, passed the school and over the railway bridge to Coombe Lane. Originally a drovers trail which served, before the invention of the combustion engine, to bring fatstock for Teapot to process in his early days. Following a footpath we crossed the Kingswear Road heading towards Higher Alston eventually arriving at Churston Cross. Teararse and Mouldy acted as crossing monitors to guide us across the busy Brixham Road.
As we passed The Churston Manor, “No wedding to photobomb” said Mouldy as he recalled a previous Roman Away Day group which took leave from the pub stop to gatecrash somebody's special day.
Ensuring we stayed in bounds we crossed Churston Golf course on our way to the S.W. Coastpath then down through the woods to Elberry Cove. A couple of whales, several dogs and some enthusiastic hashers, Whisperer, Wet Johnny (living up to his name), Piltdown, Beefy, Mouldy and Wigwam took to the water before retiring to the sweetie stop.
It proved to be a reasonably short and uneventful trip back to Galmpton for a welcome beer and some tasty grub.
Down Downs were awarded to Teapot for “misplacing” a drinking vessel; Grimm who arrived Tardisly with Avatar (a mixed sci-fi problem) ; Soapy for bringing the All Action Dog and to Lady Bouy on reaching 100 runs.
Thanks to U-Bend for a nice trail.
OnOn
George Dent
