Run #1829 Monday 13th January from the Railway Brewhouse, Newton Abbot with hare Archangel
'Deep within Hackney Marshes, an arm was
raised aloft, Lady of the Lake like and a reflex twitch splattered a
handful of flour...'
The forecast was grave and hashers had braced themselves for the incoming Storm Brendan. Many a wilting hash flower did demur*
deciding they had an urgent appointment elsewhere and it was Only the
Brave who saddled up and ventured out, Oh Dearly I Don't Want To Get Wet
If I Can Possibly Help It...
No Teapot and Piltdown asked if I had a good memory. For such a tiny band of stalwarts it was fairly easy:
GM Shitfaced, Winfield, Piltdown, Georgy,
Archangel, 69, Able, Slip on Me, Beefy, Wet Johnny, Manopause, Erection,
Manpig, a moustachioed panto Forrest, SM Ellie, Pisswell, Soapy,
Palmolive, Melon Picker, BB, Flasher, Plonker, Doris & Wiggy, Two
dozen brave souls whose names would live on until closing time at least.
A reluctant little huddle was formed outside
the Brewhouse to hear the rallying call of Shitfaced - Oh Yes, he came
back, a Grand Master like him, complete with the Hash Moses lookalike
Staff which would doubtless be needed to part the prodigious puddles out
there in storm ravaged Newton.
Piltdown's 64 thousand dollar question (what
he had been bought for his 64th birthday by Georgy) predictably had the
bold band baffled though many a valiant attempt was made. Magic hair
restorer, a dildo and a defibrillator being some of the likely
contenders. Closest was Manpig's witty defibrillator as a blood pressure
monitor was the answer, Oh Dearly Don't Call Me, I'll Call You. But I
am wittering on again, why didn't you stop me? Let us return to the saga
that was in the making that wild and stormy night...
The GM informed the shivering shambles that
Archangel was out there somewhere 'live' laying the trail and that we
shouldn't be too alarm-ed. Sweetie stops and other ornaments there would
be none and it (the trail you fools) was out there somewhere. Vaya con
dios and we were released into the welcoming arms of Storm Brendan..
What we hadn't known was that Archangel had
started the lay at 4:30 pm and had already been out in the storm for
nigh on three hours before we set off and the elements were starting to
take their toll on even this battle hardened hasher..
A silly sod around Courtenay Park for the
longs allowed the shorts cum walkers to filch a nice little lead before
they turned off into Brunel industrial estate. Down to Penn Inn for the
longs and the cut back into Aller Brook. Flasher and Plonker were flying
and Beefy, Manopause, Erection, Manpig and Forrest mit Muttley were to
the fore. What of Wet Johnny? I hear you ask. Well, the dear boy had
succumbed to a calf injury and was walking wounded with the shorts.
Doubtless he'll be back, Arnie style.
Over the bridge above the A380 the marks
merrily splodged until the trail petered out. True, there was a cross to
the left but nothing else. Beefy, (correctly as it turned out) reasoned
that perhaps the true trail was back over the bridge but others felt
the cross should either have been a HA HA or a check back.
In any event, the decision was made to boldly
go our own way down to the Teign and at least get a run in. Under the
massive flyover and a few yards along the bank, Plonker and Flasher
rediscovered the trail! GAME ON! Well done lads and with hope in our
hearts we coursed onwards.
Meanwhile, deep within Hackney Marshes, an
arm was raised aloft, Lady of the Lake like and a reflex twitch
splattered a handful of flour. Soaking wet and getting colder by the
minute, Archangel was laying on instinct only. However, there was no
time to rest, the pack could appear at any moment..
With all the to and froing, the pack had concertinaed and SM Ellie and late arriving Pisswell joined the fray.
A plethora of marks did assail our eyes as we
entered the de rigueur racecourse loop. Round and round, up and down
and back and forth we fled as the marks came thick and fast. We met
Soapy and Palmolive coming back to us and they revealed that they were
on the long as well.
The grand denouement came as we were directed
into Hackney Marshes - presumably for a laugh or two. Flasher and
Plonker's head torches were seen returning but they then called the ON
ON.
Splashing into a small clearing, we came upon
a macabre set. Around a confused blob - Shirley this was the 'reflex
twitch' that had splattered the handful of flour - came our comrades
round. Flasher's dread words of 'There's no way out from here!' sank
[Shirley sic] in just as a gay 'ON ON' was heard seemingly OFF TRAIL on
the tarmac lane beyond the marsh. 'Are you longs?!' 'Why yes!' shouted
back Manpig and with muttered curses, we extricated ourselves from the
morass to find Pisswell and SM Ellie peering over a gate to see what we
were doing - which was not a lot as it happened.
Back to the Brewhouse without further ado or
mishap and it was almost a pity to end our magical adventure though the
Brewhouse beer beckoned. Many variations of the trail were recorded but
all that went out are to be congratulated. You are truly real hashers.
Ave, vale, hail and farewell!
* archaic form
WINFIELD'S STORM BRENDAN MEMORIES on trail 1829
At
the last count 24 Hashers braved the elements to circle up outside the
Railway Brewhouse well protected for a run in the storm.to support Hare
Archangel who at present was.. still out there somewhere battling with
clouds of flour in the storm! An immediate LS split took the Long
around Courtenay Park with the Short heading on towards the Brunel
Estate eventually we were
all finding ourselves on Hackney Marshes. The Flour was hard to spot in
the wind and rain but after the new Cycle bridge A distant dimly lit
figure?? approached dispensing a dusting of flour all over us as it
passed. Meeting a return curve next some headed on back after him while
others including Soapy and Palmolive decided to carry on towards the
very muddy marshland.The returning short were soon back at the Bridge
encouraging the Longs to go over...not cut short! In the wind and rain
we were soon grateful to be back in town, changing now for a very
welcome drink plus an excellent buffet.
The Awards from this testing evening were awarded to...
ARCHANGEL for heroic efforts in storm Brendan drinks up with one eye on his train time!
SOAPY for asking if we would still be doing DD's !!
S.M.ELLIE seen to be first home on the Long?
PISSWELL for asking what we were thinking of, "running in Newton Abbot" ?
Well done the Hare for a great trail in a storm!
POSTSCRIPT
What
a night and what an effort by Archangel to live lay the trail in the
conditions. Well-earned indeed was his beer when he staggered into the
Brewhouse just after 8 pm. The Brewhouse was a good old-fashioned spit
and sawdust bar with intriguing ales. Even with our numbers reduced,
there was a rattling good atmosphere and the evening was enjoyed by all.
Yet another adventure I am glad I didn't miss! Thanks Archangel, you
did good out there.
ON ON to next week Monday 20th Jan. Circle 7:15 at The Dolphin Hotel "Celebrate Burns Night in Tartan" with Birthday Hares Soapy & Palmolive.
