Run #1827 Monday 30th December from the Jolly Sailor, East Ogwell with hares Zoot & Hotlips
Dark,
dry and dreadful were the depths of East Ogwell as the chariots
converged on the Jolly Sailor. The three Wise Men, Beefy, Para and the
Bat had travelled from afar to secure their spaces for the inevitable
jolly Jolly [sic] Sailor car parking carnage..
Forty plus hashers eventually made the circle, including
yon virgin Jessica who turned up with new shoes and was gleefully
peppered with flour by Teapot who has a particular venom for pristine
footwear. Some unfamiliar faces lurked on the periphery: Bigfoot
('Nothing on the tv tonight!'} and Shortie - returnees after many a
year; Zen - got his name right this time and Ernie (who drove the
fastest.. you know what I mean Shirley) from TamarH3.
I recall a mere forty as follow:
Winfield,
Teapot, Beefy, Para, Fishbait, Knotty, Strap-on, Ann, Chris, Only
Here, Slip on Me, Manpig, Wet Johnny, Bigfoot, Shortie, Zen, Ernie,
Artful Dogger, Fallen Woman, Jessica, Rambo, Doris, Zoot, Hotlips,
3Sum, SatNav, Wigwam, Soapy, Melon Picker, Piltdown, Able, Well Hopped,
Big End, Zorro, Twinkletoes, Teararse, Debbie, Georgia, Adam and the
Bat. A rare no show was the Grand Master Himself to be sure, leaving
Winfield to come to the aid of the party.
The
hares hadn't had a trouble-free lay as Hotlips had been lurgy laid low
leaving Zoot to soldier on Sunday with the preliminary marks. Hotlips
had heroically risen from his death bed on the Monday to complete the
trail with Zoot. Never in the course of TV hashing has so much been
owed by so many hashers... No? Well...
Circle
chat completed, the wagons rolled out in search of the promised land
with Wiggy briefly assuming chief scout duties up front. The Artful
Dogger had slyly advised the Bat that he'd seen marks on the way over
and it was on some of his 10K training run on Sunday. The superb blue
Nike Odyssey racing flats were donned and the Bat was content...
Oh
yes, My Dearly Beloved, there was beautiful road aplenty BUT not for
the first mile. I would prefer not to dwell on my mistaka, Oh Dearly
Bearing Ill Will to those that delighted in my predicament. Yes, you
Melon Picker who left me trailing far behind with many a snigger. At
least Dear Old Dad tried to assist.
It
was left to Fallen Woman to rescue the by now tearful Bat and on they
sallied through the savage shiggy until waving cheerio at the L/S split.
Just
after two miles, the aptly named (for the Bat that is) Littlejoy Road
loomed and a wild and lonely road it was as I wended my way up. At the
summit and having lost all hope of sighting another hasher, faint cries
were heard and head torches could be glimpsed far below. Oh joy resumed
from the Littlejoy Road and with renewed vigour, loudly did I blow Roland's mighty horn* to proclaim that the Bat was still annoyingly
there...
And
there they were up ahead, a little huddle progressing along the
desolate lane. Bigfoot, easily identified with little Shortie alongside
and Heavens to Murgatroyd! there was Strap-on!! They were trundling
along very nicely thank you and the Bat was impressed.
The one saving grace was the ever reliable marks and you really couldn't go wrong on the trail of the Lonesome Bat.
What of the other longs? I hear you gently enquire. Well, I'm going to tell you a story - whether you like it or not.
It's
the continuing story of that legend in the making, Wet Johnny. I am
reliably informed that he did it again - running from Ipplepen, doing
the five mile hash and running back to Ipplepen - with no beer! This is
a hasher with a very serious running problem and I can't see it ending
well. I have him at the top of my Hit List for 2020.
Anyway,
Beefy finally caught up with the flying Johnny as did the Artful Dogger
who had been led a quarter of a mile off course by some idiot who had
assured him: 'Trust me, we're definitely ON!'
I
only briefly (about twenty yards) ran with Well Hopped, Big End/Ned but
assume they were up with the likes of perennial longs, Manpig and
Zorro.
It
was packed in the Jolly Sailor and the landlord John was on his own,
serving food and manning the bar. He had been expecting 15-20 hashers
apparently and had been just a tiny bit overwhelmed. A seasoned local
confided that he had 'never' seen so many hashers in the Sailor - but
then he had only been a 'local' for five years. Jail and Tribute were on
tap and a fine time was had by all. Thank you Zoot and Hotlips, a very
good night indeed.
*The Song of Roland
POSTSCRIPT
Another
year done and dusted and what a good year it has been. So many new
faces and personalities to infuse new life and strength into TVH and so
many adventures along the way. I know I'm a bit late, but I wish you all
a very Happy New Year - and the decade to come.
WINFIELD'S MEMORIES OF OUR FINAL TRAIL OF 2019 from The Jolly Sailor, East Ogwell, with Hares Zoot & Hotlips.
A
final big turnout of 40+ Hashers,ready to enjoy! the last run plus a
post Christmas workout. An excellent trail had been laid by our Hares
even though Hotlips was with "manflu". A final Virgin Hasher was duly
anointed plus a welcome to Big Foot and Shortie before we headed on with
a 5 Mile Long,3 Short, plus 2 Walk.
Leading
us up onto Ogwell Common. After this the mud was deep and slippery and
certainly not even! on our way down towards the river Lemon. Bluebird
in flat racing shoes was certainly not enjoying this and for once we
could leave him behind! shouting and cursing, as we headed eventually
on-on to road!
This
was a great trail where I for once was totally disorientated when off
road again, slipping and sliding along unfamiliar lanes. Far in the
distance lights from a pub shone out but not ours as Soapy Paraprick and
I finally emerged into civilization, still following that guiding star
on the Church I nearly missed out O/H car park!
Final awards for 2019 went to....
ONLY HERE FOR THE BEER (Hashit Shirt)- for respecting his elders with a 10p loan !
ZEN (White Bat hat) who thought the Trotters regroup would offer him refreshments!
FALLEN WOMAN for assisting a struggling Bluebird
HOTLIPS held responsible for all that mud on trail
ON ON to next week: Circle 7:15 in Teign and Stover Canal Car Park
on Teigngrace Road (TQ12 3QJ) Birthday Hash for Flash with other Uni
Friends. On Down the King's Arms, Kingsteignton (TQ12 3EG)