Run #1802 Monday 8th July from the London Inn at Shaldon with Piltdown & Georgy P'orgy
Holiday
time and high summer approaching meant that Shaldon was sardine rammed
with visitors. Georgy's directive that parking might be problematic
proved spot on and village spaces were very hard to come by though U
Bend's super chariot remarkably slotted in right next to the green.
Riding
shotgun with Bobby Woll, it was a wise decision to Panzer park in the
main Ness car park with Manpig having the same idea, arriving in the
lady wife's chariot.
Hashers
were milling around and congregating on the green and a goodly turnout
it seemed to be (Teapot called it at 44) with a few unfamiliar faces.
Three newbies were noted, including Mousegrass from Kathmandu - and
that's one helluva commute.
Good
to see Klingon, who has been racking up the miles lately; BroadS and
Coldtits had all of a mile walk from Teignmouth and Wetfart from across
the water also put in one of his infrequent appearances.
Quite
a lengthy process at the holiday circle but worthy of note was
Piltdown's victory lap of the green after winning the GM's star prize
question. After calming down, Piltdown was joined by co-conspirator
Georgy to outline what wuz waiting for us out there. 'About 5 for the
longs, 3 1/2 for the shorts and a walkers' trail plus a SS' was
discerned in the usual chaos and the starter's gun fired to release the
warriors and gentle joggers all.
Plonker
- still good to gogo after Saturdays's torrid A2B ten plus miler (and a
still dehydrated Manpig), just managed to slam the brakes on before
charging into the Teign estuary... sigh. Manopause was a reluctant
leader as the FRBs gathered themseves for the inevitable frenetic fray.
Beefy was quick on the draw to get a vid clip of the charge as the flat tarmac
had the pace really rolling. Poacher/Cider, Flasher (completed the
across Tor Bay and back swim on Saturday), Runner Bean, Plonker, BroadS
(putting himself about this evening and fresh from a PB 5K Promenade
Parkrun) Polyfella, Beefy, Manpig and the crazed Bat - yes, Oh Dearly
Frantic, we were Shirley frying tonight..
The
de rigueur silly sod loop took the longs around about, hereabouts and
thereabouts afore returning through the village and WHOA! hard a
starboard up Homeyards, botanical gardens bound - the lads going too
quickly to spot it and recalled by an observant Beefy. Now it was Game
On and the pace was still high Harry. Hitting the main road and seeing
the OH across the road it was spin a coin left or right until the hares
drove past up the hill!
Back
down to the Ness and golf course and the hares' wilful design became
clear - Yes Oh Dearly Alarmed, we were going to take on the Eiger
Sanction!
And
there it was, high above the Ness headland in all its savage glory -
only three tenths of a mile in length but a net ascent of some 250 feet -
the pain, the pain, the almost unbearable pain.. I cannot possibly tell
you the expletive uttered by BroadS as he hit the steepest section but
he was evidently well-impressed by the gradient grave..
Most
walked but a lone hasher - young Polyfella - kept on truckin' earning
the respect of 4 star FRB Runner Bean. And then after blessedly cresting
the summit, the Labrador bends beckoned. The Bat was in home territory
now and the climb to the road crossing was much easier. There was only
one way the trail could go from here - up to the Beacon and there
awaiting us was the SSSS manned by Slip on Me and Georgy P.
Neatly
set out on trays were hand-crafted milk, dark and white chocolate
covered strawberries - yet another TVH Simply Sensational Sweetie Stop,
well done Georgy!
The
FRBs didn't tarry long and the battle commenced as we gleefully
descended the mile long Better Flee Lane. No, NOT Butterfly Lane as the
maps would lead you to believe, Oh Dearly Name Corrupted as this was the
very lane that led from Fire Hill* to the grisly gibbet at Forches
Cross and not many people know that, Oh Dearly Educating Rita.
Hard
right at Forches Cross of old and more glorious rapido tuxedo descent
along the aptly named Long Lane for us to rush. The trail kept us
guessing and it was the five and a bit miles as promised by Piltdown -
though the trudge back up to the Ness CP was an unwelcome extra.
The
London Inn was packed out with eaters but we had the outside area to
ourselves and they had Proper Job which went down a treat.
Getting
my second Proper Job at the tiny bar and in came Archangel. 'I bet you
haven't done the trail!' quoth the Bat - but he had, Beacon and all! I
doff my Bat hat to you, Archangel.
WINFIELD'S WISDOM & DOWNDOWNS
An
‘energetic’ trail which lead us around the narrow streets of Shaldon
before taking the L/S on a testing climb with great views!! to Bundle Head then on-on up to the Trig point for a Strawberry stop!.
The "Awards" for the evening were presented to:-
POLYFELLA WHO KEPT ON RUNNING UP THOSE HILLS!
ABLE SEMEN WHO COMPLAINED "NOT THAT HILL!"
RUNNER BEAN FOR TRYING NOT TO WEAR THE BAT HAT, now has the Cow Hat!
MOUSEGRASS OUR VISITOR,WHO LIVES IN KATHMANDU.
* Ancient name for where the Beacon/trig point is now sited
Not
often do I have the luxury of a lift and long-suffering Bobby had to
wait for the four or so pints of Proper Job to be Bat-imbibed before the
second trudge back to the Panzer. A made to measure trail for the longs
and a splendid evening enjoyed by all, thank you, Piltdown and Georgy.
ON ON to next week and mark the NEW instructions carefully please: NOW near BRIDGE BETWEEN Trenchford & Tottiford Reservoirs os ref 50°37'52.9"N 3°40'57.6"W nearest code TQ13 9 OD. Bridford Inn Bridford (Deep Semen & Poacher)
