Run #1819 Monday 4th November from the Church House Inn at Stokeinteignhead with Bluebird and friends
Come on, singalong with me - you know you want to:
Aches and pains, I've had a few
But then again, too few to mention
I laid what I had to do
And saw it through without precipitation
I planned each charted trail
Each careful blob along the byway
And more, much more than this
I laid it my way
Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than the longs could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
I laid it down and spread the checks about
I laid it all and I stood tall
And laid it my way
Didulikethat? No? Well...
Oh Dearly Delirious, how can I relate the saga
(some Shirley wish I couldn't) of the trail and the tormented nights
worrying that I might fail...
I'll keep it as brief as I can as I know you
have people to see and places to visit as the world spins giddily
onwards to eventual oblivion - yes, I am still recovering from the
Otter.
The rain fell relentlessly throughout the week
as did my spirits and only on Sunday did it blessedly cease for me to
venture out with the sack of cat litter - flour a no no as more rain
forecast overnight.
I kept on trucking until the cat litter ran
out and on consulting the Strava realised I might have over tweaked the
long - 7.7 miles being the readout. The more likely 3 and a bit miles
for the short was laid Monday afternoon and I was finished - in more
ways than one, Oh Dearly Clearly out of Condition.
The cavalry was summoned and cometh 6 pm the
Good ol' Boys arriv-ed for the pep talk. Long suffering buddies Wiggsy
and the legendary Bobby Woll were given details of the upcoming debacle
to be and the roles they would play. Wiggers would lead the shorts and
Bobby would make it up as he went for the walkers - more on that later..
7 pm and the heavens opened up with a hefty
chorus of raining cats and dogs, prompting 69 to revise his sweepstake
forecast of numbers to 25. Bobby went 32 and wily Wiggers 36 but Teapot
called it at 42:
Fallen Woman, Broken Man (Guest of Honour and welcomed by all), 3Sum. SatNav, Teapot, Winfield,
Rambo, Doris, GM, Piltdown, Bobby, Wigwam, Manpig, Pan Fart, Bush Baby,
Melon Picker, Soapy, Palmolive, Manopause, Erection, Fukarwi, Big End,
Well Hopped, Hornie, Pork Torpedo, 69, BB, Chris, Fish Bait, Small Fry,
Beefy, SM Ellie, Zorro, Twinkletoes, Zoot, Hotlips, Able, I-Poo'd,
Hagen Daz, Budgie Smuggler, 40 recalled so only two missing.
The sparklers (four years old
and reluctant to ignite) eventually were lit despite running
interference from Pork Torpedo blowing out the lighter and I retired
into the pub to give Simon the numbers for grub (14) leaving Wiggy to
front the show.
Wagons roll, shorts exited stage left while the longs legged it right.
The long was 6.4 and a 'super' long loop would bring it up to the Magnificent 7.7 though I doubted few would take up the offer.
The hip stood up for all of a
hundred yards, allowing me to get the longs on trail and then it was
back to the chariot to fill in a few gaps on the 'Super Long' section.
I
returned to the point of combat or 'make your mind up' junction behind
sleepy Netherton and awaited the survivors. I didn't have to wait long
as head torches appeared and there were the lads: Manpig, Fukarwi,
Manopause and Erection. The huddle had a quick conflab and it was
Fukarwi egging them on with a jolly 'Come on lads, are you up for it?'
Manpig and Manopause Shirley were and though Erection looked a little
dubious, he wasn't going to be a lone hasher crying in the wilderness
and off they jolly well sallied - brave pioneers on a Super Long...sigh.
Not
far behind, Big End and Well Hopped arrived with Ned barking loudly at
the apparition suddenly emerging from the hedge. Most reluctantly they
demurred as the clock may have beaten them and any chance for a meal and
they turned for the tarmac.
That
left the question of Beefy. Where was he? Shirley he would have been
up front and he couldn't have gone astray - a hasher like him. Slowly I
turned and there was a head torch far far away on the crest of the hill
above Milber. Yes, it was Beefy and he must have gone through before I
got into position AND not heard the vital info of the missing marks.
High
up on the hill, Beefy, weaving from side to side and about to clear
away to Newton Abbot, heard a cry of 'ON ONNNNN' perhaps close by and
wheeled his snorting steed.
Far
below, lights were turned on in the not now sleepy hamlet of Netherton (they go
to bed early out there) as a maniac was clearly at large..
The
Super loop was more taxing (and difficult to find) than I had
calculated and I scrambled the chariot to look for them. Finding no
trace, I returned, fearing that I had consigned them to their doom, but
wait, what do I see, are they running back to me? Yes they're running
back to me, Oh oh, Pretty hashers... No? Well please yourselves then.
In
pouring rain, the gladiators fought their way home, every one a hero
and I drove alongside, giving words of encouragement: 'If you don't get a
move on, it'll be last orders!' Sigh...
But
my lads had only done it - Magnificently triumphing over a savage 7.7
miler and the drinks were on Bluebird back at the bar. Olé conquistadors all!
Wiggy reported no casualties or drama on the safe shorts though Chris reported that it was a tight squeeze through the blocked off climb from Newton Hill to the Ridge road (west).
All home safe and sound, that's all a hare can ask for.
Simon
gave me the veggie option of the Goats cheese tart and salad and what a
bargain that was for a fiver! Home made by Karen, the usual menu price
was £10.95 and I have to tell you that it was the best meal I've had for
many a year - Fallen Woman remarked that it looked good and it tasted
even better. Whoa!
The Monday night bell ringers
arrival had the bar crowded and there were quite a few refugee
Maidencombers there as the Thatched Tavern remains closed.
WINFIELD'S VIEW
Soggy Memories from trail 1819!, Mon 4th Nov. from The Church House Inn, Stokeinteignhead, with Hare:Bluebird.
Another
wet Monday! but a great turnout for the trail anyway, starting with a
Sparkler extravaganza at our Circle. Then heading off into the rain and
floods around Stokeinteignhead. On-On left Short, On right Longs on a
7.7miler, we all headed into the darkness.The flooded short 3+Mile!
trail led us to Rocombe followed by a gasping uphill climb from No Mans
Land. This trail had it a muddy slippery
track, blocked by farmers coppiced branches to crawl under before we
finally emerged into Combeinteignhead with a great leg stretching run
back, getting us hotter under all the waterproof gear, leading us into
Stoke.
The Sparklers did eventually light and Broken Man who was pleased to be back, found himself an appropriate seat by the fire!
The DD Awards from this weeks adventures were presented by Manpig to....
S.M.Ellie for continually choosing the wrong trail
Beefy no marks but he found a trail!
Broken Man welcomed back from his op! and still drinking well
Shitfaced who received his well deserved 100Runs Badge at last!
Well done to Bluebird a great evening in-spite of the rain!
POSTSCRIPT
In all
honesty, I couldn't have managed without Wiggy and Bob, thanks lads.
Remember Bobby and the walkers? Able reported that they had a great time
and completed about two miles. Able even managed to make Teapot
complete for a welcome change. Doris is quietly persuasive and I suppose
it was about time I contributed a trail. Solo hares have my greatest
admiration and respect. Thank you and good night.
On-On to next week to The Cridford Inn
Trusham (TQ13 0NR) A Fireworks trail please bring extras. Food &
Drink back at The Cridford with Hare: Forrest Stump
