Around 25 intrepid TVH3 Hashers formed up for the circle for the 1770th Hash outside The Carpenter’s Arms, Ilsington, on a chilly but clear and dry night. Piltdown Man’s question, answered by Gobbler, to earn her pint, knowing the Brit. released from UAE after being sentenced for spying was Matthew Hedges!
The stand in hares were Coldtitz and Polyfella, for injured Poacher, who is recovering from a recent knee injury. However, Coldtitz was not at the circle
.... was she lost again?
No, still laying the trail, apparently! Polyfella indicated a long trail approx 4.5 miles, a short approx 3 miles and a walker’s trail approx 1.5 miles. Warning Hashers about the steep ascent near the start and the steep descent, very slippery and wet underfoot, near the finish, which Hashers could take a different route back to avoid.
There would be a re-group and sweetie stop.
Into the night they went, down Simms Hill lane south from the village and then up the steep (gasping) lane used for challenging motor cross events, to be dazzled by the impressive rising red moon, caught on camera by Winfield.
Melon Picker’s back was playing up, so he turned back from the first steep ascent to take a different route.
Gobbler and her 12 year old son,William( Point Four) took a walker’s route( in error) with Teapot and Doris. Birthday Boy, Winfield, for some reason made his own way across gates and fields ( a short cut) ??
The the pack carried on down to the first split, (including Roxanne) to go left left along Lenda Lane," Shorts" (Satnav, Soapy with dog, George Porgy, and half a dozen others) straight on to East Lounston and Longs (Fukarwe,U-Bend and friend, followed by Sparkie with his young Doberman, Tia, and Polyfella) on to the right split to a wooded area, then on to skirt Rora Wood, before arriving at Willie’s Cross and on to the Re-group and Sweetie Stop on the outskirts of Liverton, arriving about 10 minutes after the shorts, where Coldtitz was waiting to welcome them.
It was now about 2 degrees C, so no-one was hanging about. The pack ran on to take the long lane back to Islington, along the ridge and on up to the Old Town Hill, where some areas near the junction were very eroded with tarmac very broken up - maybe another challenging corner for the motor cross here? For the brave, it was on on through the woods to the slippery steep descent (also used by the motor cross) into the bottom of Silver Wood, named after the previous mining for silver in the area.
Liverton Brook was overflowing after recent heavy rain but Hashers were able to take the little wooden bridge to get round the flooded area and follow the trail to the main road, back to Ilsington and finally up the steep hill to the On Home sign. Phew, it was hard work but everyone enjoyed the trail, or so they said afterwards! No-one got lost either!!
At the On Down in the lovely Carpenter’s Arms, decorated with dangling hops, the new landlord served some great hash food and kindly provided the beers for the down downs, which went to:
Roxanne for not bringing a torch.
Sparkie, after missing 2 years and not remembering what the Down Down vessel was for!
Melon Picker for having a bad back from “gardening”??
Winfield, our Birthday Boy.
ON ON to next week’s Hash at Churston Manor, Churston Ferrers near Brixham, Hare U-Bend.
Please bring your money for tickets for the big Christmas Raffle (Draw on Mon 17 Dec) and for Fancy Dress Christmas Party tickets for Sat 8 Dec if you haven’t got your’s yet. Donated prizes, especially mystery ones, would be very welcome for the Raffle.
On On, Coldtitz x
