Run #2123
Monday 6 April, The Bridford Inn
Hares: Forrest Stump & Man Pig
Back
in the beautiful Teign Valley territory this week for an Easter bank
holiday hash. Not a bad turn out considering, with around 15 heading out
for what promised to be a dry and lovely evening.
Forrest
had been let down by Woodlend so he called upon Man Pig to assist,
which answered our confusion as to why he was holding a bottle of flour.
At
the circle Wet Fart shared some very sad news regarding Teapot’s
daughter Sally. We’re all thinking of you and your family Tea pot.
Without any further announcements, it was over to the Hares - “there’s a
walkers, a shorts and a longs and it’s on on that way” was all the info
supplied and so we were off!
The trail:
We
headed off out of the village, and missed a first check which the hare
made clear he wasn’t happy about. Swinger and I returned to check up
past the church only to find a cross. We had been on in the first place
but I guess in the true spirit of hashing these things need to be done.
Then
it was a steep descent down to the river, and a walkers long/short
split. The first of two or three? That would become clearer later on. At
the bottom of the road another check - I said it couldn’t possibly be
where the “private property do not enter” sign was so checked left. It
turns out, with Man Pig sweeping behind, that it was indeed that way. I
called “on back” and waited for Big End and Pocket Rocket to catch up,
when a concerned member of the public arrived enquiring if we had
permission to be entering the quarry. Big End used all the politeness he
could muster to placate the resident before we followed the trail
through the quarry and then up the very steep and infamous ‘cable car
climb’.
We
caught up with the rest of the pack at the top, where Big End spent
some time admiring the VP which was a rather inviting (for him anyway)
fishing lake!
There
wasn’t time to check for signs of carp though as the FRBs were ahead
again. We followed and crossed a field where we were treated to a
panoramic view of the Haldon Hill range looking spectacular in the
evening light, before leaving the private property behind and joining a
lane that climbed up past Christow Common.
We
were then met with a l/s split. Both hares were present at this point
and neither could agree whether this was the one and only chance to cut
short. Pocket Rocket didn’t hang about to find out more, and was gone in
a flash in the direction of the short. Swinger, Big End, Ernie and I
deliberated for a moment over which Hare to trust, and decided in the
end that Man Pig was the more reliable of the two - so we took the short
while Pisswell, Starsky and Beeflicker opted for the long which was an
additional 2 mile(ish) loop to Laployd Plantation and Rowdon Rock.
It
only took us a minute to catch up with the GM who’s lighting fast
movements had fizzled out pretty quickly and he was found taking photos
of the evening sky.
We
then ran on in the direction of Bridford village, taking a left through
a beautiful garden and down a bridle path back to the stream.
It
was then a short distance to the OH where we met Wet Fart taking his
usual cold water wash in the car park. The other walkers were already
inside.
The OH:
The
landlord of the Bridford Inn was staying up past his 8.30pm bedtime and
was very hospitable, and, as it turned out, good with a mop and bucket!
The sausage and chips was really good, even if the price was slightly
higher than what was shared by the Hare in the circle.
As
for the downs downs, what can be said other than they were Easter
themed and messy! Pisswell took charge of proceedings as RA and
fortunately the landlord didn’t seem to be too upset by what transpired.
Downs downs awarded to:
Starsky for his “cracking” Easter joke
Pocket Rocket for almost breaking a sweat
Smellie for going to the wrong pub (it’s Bridford not Cridford)
Ernie for stealing Pisswell’s parking space
The two Hares for a very enjoyable trail - thank you
On, on to next week. Well Hopped x
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