Almost daylight trail from The Star Inn, Liverton
Run No. 1962
HARES: Beeflicker and Slip-on-Me
by Man-Pig & BB
Who
wuz there: Beeflicker, Slip-on-Me, Bluebird, Man-Pig, Shitfaced, Soapy,
Melonpicker, Palmolive, Beefy, Pisswell, Piltdown Man, Georgy Porgy,
Smellie, Coldtits, Big End, Well Hopped, Ned, U-Bend, Wet-Johnny,
Manopause, Erection, Triple Jump, Broken man, Fallen Woman, Zoot,
Hotlips, Strap-on, Forrest Stump, Wood Lend, Ernie, Arkangel &
visitor Wife Beater from Cambridge Hash.
CIRCLE
A
fairly brief Circle. Smellie announced that she was OK for hares up to
12th June - hoorah. Shitfaced welcomed our sole visitor - Wife Beater
from Cambridge Hash.
Forrest
advised that next week's AGPU hash would be from a different venue; it
was now going to be set from the Bridford Inn. Pizzas can be ordered
on the night - but not too late.
Finally,
Man-Pig was looking for the owner of lost property. A head torch had
been found in the FBI last week. The usual suspects, Smellie and
Coldtits were found innocent this week as the guilty party was this
week's Hare - Beeflicker. It was then Beeflicker's turn to explain the
trail; Walkers' 4 miles; Shorts' 5 miles; Longs' about 6.5 miles but
take the first walkers' trail if you'd like it a bit shorter.
TRAIL FOR THE LONGS
Daylight!
What a pleasant change to start the trail in daylight and relative
warmth. What would the hares have in store for us with Beeflicker on
only his second TVH3 lay? A jolly long and jolly excellent trail. That's
what! And well marked too!
Left
out of the pub car park and a check at the first junction after only
25 yards. Most went straight ahead but the trail actually beared left
and into a housing estate. Big End led the pack followed by Man-Pig and
visitor, Wife Beater (who is originally from Bickleigh so he knows the
area).
The
second check had the Pig on trail and heading down a cul-de-sac that
ended with a footpath and then an arrow to the right and another check.
This took us along a fenced in footpath across two fields and towards
Old Liverton and the Walkers and Long/Short split.
The
Longs went through a small new estate in Old Liverton and past a
renovated pottery kiln. We then traversed across the main road between
Ilsington and Liverton and then took a short loop back onto the main
road.
Soon
there was another check that took us into Rora Wood by Woodgate
Cottages. Wet Johnny had incorrectly checked on road towards Ilsington
whilst local knowledge visitor, Wife Beater, found the only Long/Short
split now that we had already parted company with the Walkers. The
Shorts went left and towards Penn Wood. The Long went right , following
the footpath that skirts the northern periphery of Rora Wood.
The
footpath looked strangely familiar. By the time we came to our fourth
check, with the trail crossing a small stream (but not so small that
you could keep your feet dry), the penny dropped. This was part of a
trail that Wigwam and Bobbiball had laid about 8 or 9 years ago from
the Carpenter's Arms. But we were doing it in reverse.
The
trail now took us out of Rora Wood and onto open pasture and a steep
climb. In front of me was Wet-Johnny. Behind me was Wife-Beater (who
had checked out in the wrong direction), Wood Lend, Big End and Well
Hopped. Ernie and Pisswell would be on the Long too but they were well
out of sight.
At
the top of the hill, we came to a new five-bar gate with peculiar
steps built into its structure to encourage walkers to get their
leg-over. A long and relatively level wide track towards Lower
Lounstone ensued. It wasn't long before Wife Beater, Wood-Lend and
Beeflicker overtook me.
At
the end of the track, we rejoined tarmac and encountered another
check. Wet Johnny had checked out the wrong way and I caught up with
FRB's, Wood-Lend and Wife Beater at a five way junction at Great
Lounston.
Both
FRB's had checked out false trails so it was southeast on the lane
towards Bethelcombe Cross (Bethelcombe Cross was part of Bobbiball's
trail from 4 years ago. You may recall it as we started on a firing
range. It absolutely bucketed down throughout the entire hash but,
famously, this didn't prevent Bobbiball from providing freshly cooked
bacon sandwiches).
The
trail continued past Bethelcombe Cross, and then an arrow had us
divert onto Ramshorn Down. We have been here a few times with Wigwam
over the years.
At
its peak, the views are spectacular (when it's daylight). It was quite
tipsy now and time to put on our torches. There is a stone circle at
the highest point. however, I don't recall ever having noticed that
before...and for good reason. It is almost brand new. In the pub
afterwards, one of Forrest's friends told me that it had only been
build in 2020. Ah. So I wasn't losing my memory after all!
We
hadn't seen Wood-Lend or Wife Beater since great Lounston. It was just
myself, Wet-Johnny and Beeflicker atop Ramshorn Down. The trail took
us down and then left on a long footpath just below the eastern edge of
Rora Down. This too had been part of a previous Bobbiball trail.
The
trail then started a steep descent towards Rora House. We were still
high though. In the distance, I could make out the lights to the car
park of the Welcome Stranger.
Wet-Jonny
and Beeflicker were beginning to pull away so the last mile or so of
the trail would be spent on my own. Entering Rora Wood, the trail went
right and eastwards along its southern edge. Then surprisingly, an
arrow had the trail change direction to take a sharp right and uphill
into Penn Wood.
The
trail appeared to be going in a circle, and now that I am looking at
an OS map, I see it was. About half way around the circle, another arrow
had the trail almost come back on itself as it now changed to a far
narrower path and a steepish descent to the lane-cum-track below Rora
House.
Here
I caught up with Coldtits. I bade her farewell as I pressed on. At the
end of the poorly tarmac'd lane we came to a junction with a proper
tarmac lane - and a chalk arrow. The trail was straight across and
along a very muddy and slippery footpath. Almost zero traction and
then.......errrrrg....total zero traction. I was well covered in mud.
Fortunately, this footpath runs next to a brook so I gave myself a good
wash off just before the footpath ended.
Back
on tarmac, I could see wet footprints in front of me. Hmmmm. I wonder
if I was the only one to take a fall on that section of trail. Someone
else had definitely been paddling in the brook.
The
footpath ended near Halford and an arrow had us go right and then
immediately left and back towards Liverton where we rejoined the
outward trail. I think this may have confused a few hashers but all
made it back into the vey welcoming Star Inn.
All
the Longs in the pub agreed that it had been a fantastic trail. Very
well laid and well worth the nigh on 7 miles. Well done Beeflicker and
Slip-on-Me.
AN ASPIRING THESPIAN & DONALD WHERE'S YOUR TROOSERS
I was not expecting to be able to go far, still plagued with a knee injury since that fateful hash of 23rd January.
A McWot style hash trail direct to the bar seemed to be odds-on
favourite which would explain why I had not bothered to change into any
trail apparel. In retrospect, whatamistakatomaka!
Fellow
injury sufferer Beefy, hiking boots attired, was going for the
projected four mile short, so what the heck, I would avago myself.
Last
out of the car park along with the GM, we set off on our excursion -
mini for Beefy but a major trip for the already limping Bird.
It
was quite a fun trail out on the tarmac until veering hard a port into
the boondocks and encountering dreaded mud, mud, not so glorious mud.
Shrieks of rage emitted from the Birdbrain's beak as he tried to preserve his bright yellow £124 Hokas from the liquid evil.
'Is
that all you've got!' trilled the self-psyching flightless one as he
managed, with great difficulty, to overtake the dainty-stepping Fallen
Woman.
'Your'e making a lot of noise!' observed a patient Fallen Woman as the betrewsed one fluttered by.
Fifty
yards ahead, Ernie and Strap-On were having a nice little natter until
being rudely interrupted as the still muttering Bird slipped between
them.
Terra
tarmac resumed, Soapy and Palmolive were overhauled and the open road
beckoned. Faint cries were heard from behind. 'Bluebird, Bluebird,
.....BLUEBELL!' A 180 degree turn did the injured knee no good at all.
'What is it?' 'Check back.' Long sigh....
The hares had been as cunning as a bag of weasels as suddenly, the walkers appeared from the left.
Exiting the village limits of Liverton, the true adventure began oh Dearly Are You Still there...
The
L/S split and trail buddies Ernie and Strap-On bade each other a
tearful farewell as Ernie decided to risk it and go as a biscuit whilst
Strap-On opted for the safety first short.
I've just come down
From the Isle of Skye
I'm not very big and I'm awful shy
And the lassies shout when I go by
Donald, where's your troosers?
From the Isle of Skye
I'm not very big and I'm awful shy
And the lassies shout when I go by
Donald, where's your troosers?
Pursuit
of Soapy and Palmolive proved futile as they continued running up the
woodland path and the pain was becoming annoying. There was nothing
for it but to take my trews off and apply the neoprene support. Only
Strap-On witnessed the operation, and he would keep mum about it in the
pub. Good boy S-O, you know it makes sense.
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw U Bend
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
No? Well please yourselves then.
I gave him a quick burst of Whip Jamboree on my banjo as I continued on my merry way.
A
sly attempted short-cut didn't work out as well as I hoped, and I had
to be called back on trail by Beefy who was walking faster than my
shuffle.
As
we turned for home, Beefy spun me a tale of an aspiring thespian from
deep in the Teign Valley. Apparently, Forrest, he of Panto fame, has
been getting rave reviews for his acting talent. His latest being a
production, for adults only, where he plays several characters in a
play. Hurray!
It
became a little congested on trail as Smellie and then U Bend hove
into view, and then the first of the longs, Wood Lend, mit Muttley,
swept past.
That
last muddy lane was a corker. Man-Pig confessed to coming down, and
the skid marks bore testimony to many a slide. The Bird slithered on
landing and impaled himself on the barbed wire fence bordering the
death hazard.
Finally,
the Star's welcoming lights were passed, and it was time for a
well-earned pint. All three disciplines of long, short, and walkers
certainly got their money's worth.
Well done Beeflicker and, for tonight's trail, the aptly named Slip on Me!
DOWN-DOWNS
Licensee James generously provided four halves of ale and a half pint of water for the Down-Downs. Thank'ee kindly, landlord.
The first award was the Turkish wedding hat from former recipient, U Bend. This he could have given to a number of candidates.
There
then unravelled the story of an alluring Harriet attempting to get
Broken Man's attention by performing some sort of a courtship dance in
front of him. I don't know what Fallen Woman would have though of all
this. Additionally I don't know if this was a jig, a twist or a twirl.
U-Bend identified Smellie as the guilty party and grabbed her just as
she was on the way to the ladies! A note for "the twizzler".
Next
up was Bluebird with the Jester's hat. Bluebird had been quizzing our
visitor as to how he had got his name (apparently because his wife had
always been faster than him but, one day, he actually beat her).
Additionally, Bluebird wanted to know all about the Cambridge Hash.
"We always run from the same pub", said our guest.
"What?"
"Yes. And we never get bored. It's always a different trail. I know all the back passages!"
I'm sure you do. A note for the "Hershey Highway".
Man-Pig
thought that he had the Hashshit shirt from last week but, upon closer
inspection, it turned out to be the Pillock shirt. The Pig also held a
collection of lost property. Beeflicker got his head torch back, and
then the Pig began his search for a Harriet....a very special Harriet
as this particular Harriet has three hands.
Man-Pig
has collected three, non-matching, small black nylon gloves. "Who is
the three handed harriet". A show of hands revealed Georgy Porgy to
have an additional hand. Useful for all the housework no doubt.
However, neither were worthy recipients. Had anyone else forgotten
something this week? Blank faces all round. "Has anyone forgotten to
bring their award from last week?". A sheepish Smellie had forgotten
the Bacardi Hat. In fact, she seemed to have forgotten that she'd got a
half pint to down as well. A note for "the amnesiac".
Finally, a half of beer and water for each of the Hares for an absolutely fantastic trail. Very good indeed.
Thanks to James at the Star Inn for providing the Down-Downs and making us most welcome.
NEXT WEEK
Next
week's Hash is at The Bridford Inn. It is also the AGPU. Despite the
occasion, the Hare, Forrest-Stump, is threatening a long one just to
make the AGPU as brief as possible.
Now it's goodbye from us for now and
On-On to next week!