Coldtits advises: Circle is outside the On-Down, the Devon Arms. Hashers should bring money or plastic for beer stop. Prize will be awarded for best Halloween fancy dress. Some free on street parking is available in Somerset Place & there are nearby car parks in Quay Road Car Park (171 spaces), thought to be free after 6pm and in Brunswick Street Car Park (56 spaces) but check for charges. Devon Arms is not doing food in the evenings & adjacent Harbour Fish Bar is currently closed but nearby Ali’s Kebab Shop in Somerset Place does takeaway burgers and kebabs, which you can eat in Devon Arms, who have a rear beer garden. There are other pizza, fish n chip shops, etc., within a short distance.
Sunday 31 October 2021
Saturday 30 October 2021
THE REVENGE OF THE RABBIT WORRIER by Man-Pig
TVH3 Run No. 1887 25th October 2021
VENUE: Wick-Dipper and Mouldy Dick's Residence, Clennon Heights, Paignton
HARES: Wick-Dipper and Mouldy Dick
ROLL CALL:
Mouldy Dick, Wick-Dipper, Francesca, Amy, Shit-Faced, Piltdown-Man,
Georgy Porgy, Smellie, Strap-On, Triple Jump, Anne, Twisted Tart,
Man-Pig, Ali, Able Seamen, Beefy, Pisswell, Pollyfella, Coldtits, Rambo,
Erection, Manopause, Mini-Penners (3), Wet-Johnny, The Artful Dogger,
Big-End (sans Ned), Well-Hopped, Swinger.
APOLOGIES:
Bluebird (injured) and apologies for omitting the following from last
week's roll call - Bobbiball, Wet Fart, Artful Dogger and the moaning
Piddler.
THE CIRCLE
The
venue had been advertised as the Wick Dipper/Mouldy Dick residence.
BYOB but sausage and chips would be provided by the hosts....yummy.
Although the temperature had dropped a little, it was still warm for the
time of year. So it was that 31 souls descended (or should that be
ascended?) upon Wicky and Mouldy's abode. One thing is for sure, we were
all going to finish this trail with an uphill slog. It was good to see
Twisted Tart again; only the second time in 10 years! I was also
intrigued to see her new toy - a Ford Mustang SUV. "Five litre V8?", I
enquired? "No. All electric" - that's progress I guess.
The
Circle announcements comprised Shitfaced advising us that next week was
going to be a fancy dress Halloween Hash, "Come dressed up!". 3Sum then
confirmed that there would be a Christmas raffle this year with tickets
at £1 a strip. The raffle would take place at the Kings Arms,
Kingsteignton - the date eludes me....again. Over to Mouldy. "There was a
long, short and a walkers' trail. The long would be circa 6
miles.....". How we laughed? Mouldy laying a six miler? Not on your
Nelly. However, we would all be laughing on the other side of our faces
by the end of the trail. Mouldy continued, "Shorts, 4 miles". More
merriment and incredulity. "Walkers to be determined. Follow Wick
Dipper". "The marks maybe a long way from the checks" (he wasn't
kidding!). "If you see flour - you're ON". We took this to mean one dot
and you're ON.
THE RUN
The
trail did not take us straight down Clennon Rise. Instead it was across
onto Osney Crescent. The first check had everyone bamboozled but
Well-Hopped opted to check out the Osney Avenue cul-de-sac. Success. At
the end of the cul-de-sac, there is a footpath that took us to Fisher
Street and the first Long-Short split. The Longs went up Fisher Street
before a check had us going down Elmsleigh Road and across the railway
line.
We
continued down Sands Road and then onto Queens Road. Another check and
the mini-Penners got us on trail, across Queens Park and on to the
Apollo Cinema. Another check and left for a simple loop around Paignton
Green. Well, not that simple.
Nearly
15 minutes were spent checking hither and thither before Wet-Johnny
decided, "It must be down the coast towards Roundham Head". As we passed
Paignton Pier, we picked up the trail again, heading due south along
the seafront and through the arch into Paignton Harbour. Around the
harbour, onto Roundham Road and then left onto Cliff Road before
dropping down for our zig-zag around Roundham Gardens. From here it was
pretty much a reverse run of Mouldy's trail from 2 years ago. All along
the seafront, past Goodrington Sands and Water World and up to the
viewpoint above Three Beaches. Here another check had us on a path
turning inland and exiting onto Dartmouth Road opposite Grange Road.
Turning
left off Grange Road, we followed the trail due west on an uphill
footpath towards Clennon Hill. We were on trail....but which trail? The
next thing we see is Erection, Manopause and Small Erection coming
towards us. Were they still on the Short? A U-turn for the Longs and a
descent to where the Longs and Shorts merged. The descent was a tad
slippery as we gingerly headed towards the Clennon Lakes and crossed
Clennon Valley Park and picked up the trail again at Brentwood Drive.
This
is where we simultaneously lost the trail. We could only check left or
right. Wet-Johnny and Big End went left. Man-Pig and Polyfella went
right.....for ages. It was not until we reached the junction with
Penwill Way did we find another mark....only 600 yards between dots
here! Mouldy was not joking when he said, "You might need to go a long
way before you find a mark!". Down to Dartmouth Road and, at last, the "On Home" sign.
This
was way longer than any of us had expected. The stoic Mini-Penners had
stayed with us and put in a good pace. A fantastic effort by our young
hashers. But not quite as fantastical as the Artful Dogger's recount of
the trail. He had turned up late and ended up doing the entire trail on
his own. However, we're not quite sure which trail he was following.
Sometimes it was the Long; sometimes the Short and sometimes no trail at
all. The trail on his Strava looked like someone had deposited a plate
of spaghetti all over his iPhone. He must have clocked up 11 or 12 miles
even though his, obviously malfunctioning, techno-gizmo had only
recorded a paltry 7 miles!
A very good run, made all the better by the long distance between the marks......which kept hashers guessing.
THE DOWN-DOWNS
Back at the Wick-Dipper residence, Mouldy had erected a large tent in his back garden. This was the improvised On-Down,
restaurant and pub for the evening. Although the run had been dry, the
rain was just commencing as the last of the Longs were returning. Hence
it was with some relief that we found ourselves under cover in a large,
but nevertheless snug tent for the Down-Downs.
As
the rain started to increase in intensity. the floor of the tent began
to get wet as hashers traipsed from car to tent, loo to tent, kitchen to
tent, rabbit hutch to tent etc. I was, therefore, both delighted and
surprised to observe Shitfaced dutifully mopping up the damp patches
with an old rag. How thoughtful of him!
The first award was actually an award outstanding from a fortnight ago - the jester's hat. Beefy awarded it to Wet-Johnny
for, as the Yank's say, "hitting on me". Apparently, Wet-Johnny had
made the comment, "Hey. Looking good tonight Beefy!". Does your wife
know about this Wet-Johnny?
Big-End
had the horse's head hat to dish out. There was some story about an
experienced hasher not being very good at checking. Despite covering 400
yards along the seafront at Paignton Green, this hasher had not found a
mark and had turned back shouting "No marks". Had he persevered for
another 5 yards he would have found five closely spaced dots. The error
of his ways had been compounded by the fact that the Hare had told him
where to go. Who on earth could be so stupid? Man-Pig did, indeed, look more and more sheepish as this sorry tale unfolded and was duly awarded a down-down for appalling checking.
It
was Smellie's turn to name and shame as she had the third award of the
night to allocate to some deserving soul. Well, I don't know how long
Smellie had been back in the tent or how much she'd been drinking. The
narrative regarding the award was all about erections. Big ones. Small
ones. Canvas ones. She couldn't get enough of them! Ultimately it turned
out to be a story about child exploitation.
Seasoned Hasher, Erection
(that's Big Erection) really couldn't be bothered doing the checks.
However, just like Santa, he had a little helper - his son. Hence, on
arriving at a check, Big Erection would send his son (Small Erection)
checking for marks. A vote was taken on whether the down-down should go
to the big or small erection with the Big Erection winning the vote......a vote for Ivor Biggun then.
Finally,
Shitfaced had the Hashshit shirt to award. The soiled, damp rag that he
held before the gaping crowd seemed peculiarly familiar. Why? It was
the rag that he'd spent all evening wiping the tent floor with! What sin
was so heinous that it deserved such an award? Once again the story
reverted back a fortnight to the run from the Rugglestone. Apparently,
one hasher had made a bit of a night of it. So much so that, when he got
home, he only made it as far as the bathroom; never even seeing his bed
till the following day. Which party animal could this be? None other
than the Hare for that evening - Beefy. Well, Beefy
wriggled and squirmed suggesting that the Hashshit shirt was big enough
to fit over what he was already wearing. The crowd were having none of
it. "Off. Off", they bayed. Reluctantly, Beefy donned the odorous, dank
rag and sank his down-down.
There was one beer left but no awards. What to do? In time honoured tradition, Mouldy awarded himself the last down-down and made it disappear in pretty swift order.
Well done Wick-Dipper and Mouldy
for your hospitality, the trail and the venue. It must have taken a
fair old while to get that tent up. Let's hope that it dries up soon to
allow you to take it down and pack it away dry.
Next week the venue is the Devon Arms, Teignmouth. It is a fancy dress Halloween run.
Judging by the map gazing taking place in Mouldy's tent I'm guessing
that our Hares will be Polyfella, Coldtits and Smellie. I am advised
that the beer on tap is Gun Dog or Deckhand and that food can be got
from the chippy and brought into the pub.
On-On to next week!
Post script: The Revenge of the Rabbit Worrier?
We
had a bit of difficulty locating Wet-Johnny for the Down-Downs. He was
the only one not in the tent. Apparently he was worrying the rabbits
and, as his name suggests, getting wet. Read into that what you will?
Saturday 23 October 2021
Friday 22 October 2021
THE GOOD SAMARITAN & THE GHOSTLY GHOUL OF KERSWELL DOWN
Run #1886 from the Park Inn, Kingskerswell
Date: Monday 18th October 2021
Hares: Man-Pig & Bluebird
Drinks hostess: 3Sum
Hashers:
Man-Pig, Shitfaced, Wet-Johnny, Roxanne + mini-Penners x 4, Arkangel,
Only Here for the Beer, Two Little Shits, Grinder, Deep Throat, Alexis,
Tamsin? (the dark haired lady on the Long), Gaga-4-it, Slip-On-Me,
Pisswell, Wet Fart, Smellie, Piltdown Man, Georgie-Porgy, Rob
(Shitfaced's cousin), Strap-On, 3Sum, Martin, the gentleman that I was
talking to in the circle that might even not have a hash name, Zoot, Hot
Lips, Ali, iPoo'd, T-Humper (food orders), Big-End & Ned,
Well-Hopped.
Apologies:
Forrest Stump (who had pantomime rehearsals), Bluebird (who had home
commitments to address after having spent the afternoon laying the
trail), Beefy (fixing power steering failure), Man-Pig (oh, woe is me.
Without the Bird's cinematic record I have Shirley missed the names of
many in attendance. My humble apologies.)
THE CIRCLE
Shitfaced
welcomed all to the Circle. There were no virgins to be christened but a
couple of returnees. Shitfaced made a couple of announcements regarding
forthcoming events. The votes had been counted and we were going to
have a Christmas raffle. This would take place at the Kings Arms,
Kingsteiegnton - I have forgotten the date. Additionally, there was
going to be a Christmas Party this year. This will take place at
Teignmouth Sailing Club on Friday 10th December. Tickets are £7.50 for
members and £12 for non-members. Thank you 3Sum for organising that.
Finally, food orders. Hands up. T-Humper counted the hands for sausage
and chips and advised Park'n'Ride that scoff time would be circa 9 -
9.15 due to the drink stop at chez 3Sum's.
Over
to the hares......or should that be hare? Man-Pig apologised for the
absence of co-hare Bluebird - an issue had arisen at home but the Bird
would Shirley make it to the pub for a post-run swifter. There was a
Long, Short and Walkers' trail. There was also the opportunity to
Short-Cut but both the Walkers' trail and the Short-Cut were only marked
at the beginning of their respective trails. They were on straight
tracks/roads from which you could/should not be able to deviate. The
Walker's trail would join up with the Shorts and the Short-Cut was a
downhill road back to the village.....simples! There was one Long-Short
split. The Longs would be spending a lot more time off-road than the
Shorts, even though the Long was probably only 0.7 mile further than the
Short's.
Approximate
distances were mumbled to a disapproving throng: Longs circa 5.5,
Shorts, 4.8, Walkers (if you survived the split down a very steep
slippery bank) 4.2, SCB's 3.7.
As
a bit of an experiment, Bluebird had marked some early parts of the
trail in orangey-brown chalk. Unfortunately this had faded badly in some
parts due to the afternoon's rain. Other than that the trail was laid
in flour using a combination of arrows and dots. On-On.
THE TRAIL
Crikey!
Wasn't it humid out there? I have never know an October in the UK to be
so warm and clammy. It reminded me of my time working in the Gulf.
Strap-On commented that it reminded him of early mornings in Houston,
Texas. I would have thought that, being in the middle of the desert,
Houston would be bone dry. Apparently it has a lot of lakes which were
probably the source of the humidity. Fortunately the afternoon's rain
had cleared but there was still a warm mist in the air. The mist
partially obscured an almost full moon which peaked out periodically
when the mist dispersed only to cloud over again a few minutes later.
One thing was for sure, no-one was going to get cold despite it being
mid October.
The
good thing about living in a country with long hours of daylight in the
summer and long hours of darkness in the winter is that the Hares can
cheat. You see, a trail can be re-used four times and most hashers would
remain unaware. Simply lay the trail clockwise and then anticlockwise.
Repeat this for one run in the summer and one in the winter. It is
amazing just how different the perspective is between clockwise and
anti-clockwise trails. In the dark, one can only see as far as one's
torch beam so you could be almost anywhere.
The
trail took us over some well hashed ground that most of you will have
covered at one time or another. Over Kerswell down and down the long
farm track to North Whilborough, then road to South Whilborough. Carry
on past Colliers Barton towards Edginswell. Under Hamlin Way and double
back on the new footpath that takes you over the railway line near the
Texaco filling station. A right turn behind the Hare and Hounds and up
Southey Lane to our drinks stop.
The
Longs parted company with the Shorts just before exiting the woods on
Kerswell Down. They dropped down to the Bickleigh Mill and then looped
round and up Windmill Lane. Turning right at the windmill and passing
Styles Garden Centre before dropping down an ancient track to rejoin the
Shorts at Colliers Barton.
The
Drink Stop comprised mulled cider and garlic bread. It was a well
earned respite from the incredibly sticky and sweaty weather. 3Sum's
garden looked lovely with illuminated fence panels, nice non-slip
composite decking and a very efficient brazier which allowed weary
hashers to de-robe and let their bodies breathe without getting cold.
All very convivial.
The
last part of the trail was all road but not without its adventures.
Arriving at the Lord Nelson Smellie and I observed four police cars, an
ambulance and a fire engine both above and below Kerswell Arch. Both the
main road and the road outside the Nellie had been closed. What on
earth was going on? I knew that Network Rail suspend rail services when
there has been a bridge strike so we assumed that there had been some
sort of vehicular accident. We made our way back to the Park Inn totally
oblivious to the actual events unfolding before our eyes on Kerswell
Arch.
THE DOWN-DOWNS
Some of the recipients of last week's awards were absent. Nevertheless, there were enough to go round.
Arkangel was the first to name and shame. Smellie
had had an electrical malfunction early on. A distinct lack of
illumination from her headtorch saw poor Smellie attempting to struggle
along the unstable footpaths of Kerswell Down aided only by the light
from her iPhone. Hence an award to the "illuminati".
Piswell
had already left the pub to help Beefy with his power steering. At
least that's the story that she was telling everyone. Nevertheless, she
had left the horse-head hat with Shitfaced to award on her behalf. It
appears that being a sexagenarian can become very tiring. Especially
when you are driving. So, what better than strapping a settee onto the
back of your car so that you can have a comfy rest whenever you so
desire....even if it is a wet settee. For some reason Only Here for the Beer
has spent that past week driving around Kingskerswell with a settee on
his trailer. I do not know if he is delivering or collecting.
Nevertheless a down-down to Only Here for the Beer for taking relaxation
to extremes.
In the absence of a physical award, Slip-On-Me had received a virtual award the previous week. Slip-On's award went, again, to Only here for the Beer.
This time it was taking short cutting to extremes. Apparently OHFTB
exited the back door of the pub and simply re-entered via the front
door. Trail completed! That's what I call shot-cutting. OHFTB nominated Park'n'Ride to take his down-down on his behalf. I have never seen a pub landlord drink so slowly.....no rush now Andy.
There was one drink left but no more awards. Hence we thought about a naming for Ali.
You may recall that Ali does not like beer; she will be sick if she
drinks it. Hence the naming was postponed. Nevertheless, it was observed
that Ali had always attended the hash wearing black tracksuit bottoms.
However, now that we've had the first wet day in four weeks, Ali had
decided to wear shorts! Why? Due to her beer allergy Ali nominated Hot Lips to have the final drink on her behalf. this was swiftly dispatched to a chorus of, "Here's to Miss Lovely Legs....." etc etc.
That pretty much rounded up the evening.
THE TITLE
Why
on earth have the Words being donned with the title of "The Good
Samaritan and the Ghostly Ghoul of Kerswell Down" I hear you ask? The
Good Samaritan refers to the incident at Kerswell Arch. Apparently
someone was threatening to throw themselves off Kerswell Arch and onto
the busy A380. This occurred at about the same time as the Walkers were
returning from the drink stop. I have little information on this
incident but I understand that the Walkers were instrumental in
preventing this loss of life before the emergency services arrived. Well
done. It reminds me of the title of Kate Adey's book, The Kindness of
Strangers, such an evocative title.
And,
the Ghostly Ghoul of Kerswell Down? Bluebird is an extremely seasoned
hasher. He very kindly offered to help me lay the trail. With metronomic
precision he arrived at the Park Inn bang on the two o'clock appointed
time. At the Long/Short split we parted company. I laid the Long whilst
Bluebird laid the Short with the assistance of a map that I'd printed
off for him. This time Bluebird had remembered to bring his glasses in
order to enable him to actually see the map. What could possibly go
wrong?
Picture
this if you will?. Man holds bag of flour. The bag is made of paper. It
starts raining. Man walks around in the rain for an hour. Bag gets wet.
Paper bag begins to disintegrate. No problem. I will patch it up with
Man-Pig's map. It rains some more. Pop. Bag eventually gives up the
ghost covering Bluebird from the chest down. He still has half the
Shorts trail to lay but no flour. So, what does he do? He scoops up the
damp floor and puts it in his pockets to lay the rest of the trail!
Really? I ask you?
It
gets even better. Bluebird loses his way so he refers to what is left
of the rather soggy flour-covered map but he can't read it because it's
covered in flour. Oh, I'll just put my glasses on. Now his glasses are
also covered in flour. Wet flour at that which is turning into a gloopy
paste that will stick to anything it touches!
The
next time I see Bluebird is at the point where the Longs rejoin the
Shorts. Forty minutes earlier, I had left Bluebird wearing blue jeans
and a dark blue jacket and a light blue baseball cap. What appeared in
front of me now was more reminiscent of a very cheaply made B-grade
horror movie from the fifties. He was covered in flour from head to
foot. Even the baseball cap was white with flour. The Bird's futile
attempts to brush off the flour with wet hands had just made matters ten
times worse. "It's a disaster Man-Pig" as he recounted his sorry
explanation of what stood before me.
Having
completed laying the trail we retired to the pub for a well-earned
half. You could tell where Bluebird had been. A combination of flour on
the floor and on the bar. Everything he touched was covered in gloop. It
was only when the Bird had to put his glasses on to see what beers were
on tap, that I saw that his glasses were covered in sticky flour too.
You'd have to have good eyes to see through them! Finally, when he came
to pay by credit card even his wallet was covered in flour. Only the
Bird is capable of creating a major catastrophe with nothing more than
flour and water.
On-On to next week at chez Mouldy Dick's, Clennon Heights, Paignton.
Sunday 17 October 2021
WHAT DID YOU SEE? NOTHING. IT WAS DARK! by Man-Pig
Run #1885 Monday 11th October from the Rugglestone Inn with Beefy.
I
am always a little doubtful about the wisdom of laying a trail on the
high moor in winter. It is dark. There is little in the way of reference
points to assess where you are, even more so when you are off road.
Additionally, Garmin's and Strava's have their limitations when you are
off road, especially if you have a rather antiquated Garmin Foretex 201.
Hence, it was with a little anxiety that I jumped in (the wife's) car
for the long trek up to the Rugglestone. The moor is surely a thing of
beauty by day but, at night, it can become treacherous. Like most
hashers, I also suffer from a little trepidation with the prospect of
running alone in areas that I do not know well - particularly at
night....and even when carrying two torches and a phone!
Despite
the distance from Kingskerswell a very respectable number turned up for
Beefy's trail from his new home in Widecombe. The Kingskerswell
contingent alone comprised Hotlips, Zoot , Ali (who doesn't like beer)
plus virgin, GM Shitfaced, Threesum and Man-Pig. Next door, OK,
Abbotskerswell, attendees included Strap-On and wife. Even further
afield we had the usual Teignmouth contingent of Georgie-Porgy, Piltdown
and Smellie. The Penners were back in force, Wet-Johnny, Erection and
"Two-Pies" Manopause who informs me that he was not the only one who
scoffed two pasties at last week's On Down. However, the mini-penners
were absent. No doubt October's exceptionally mild weather helped swell
the numbers?
Zoot
and Hotlips had brought a virgin which Shitfaced welcomed into the
Circle in time-honoured fashion. There were no notices although Man-Pig
had forgotten which pub we were running from next week. This was despite
being the Hare. Beefy offered little in the way of instructions apart
from advising that both the Longs and the Shorts would find themselves
on the moor at some stage. There would also be a sweetie stop and an
opportunity for a toilet break! Has TVH3 really aged to that extent
already?
The
first check was at the entrance to the car park. Despite the Bird
having done his usual warming up exercises, which usually includes a
sneaky pre-run check of the trail, he exited stage right only to find
that he was not on trail (BB: deliberate loiter as I hadn't been
reccying and wanted to avoid accusations later!). For some unknown
reason the Pig wondered if we might be doing Beefy's June run but in
reverse. Hence the Pig exited stage left and soon found himself on-trail
as the FRB.
It
was not long before he overrun an arrow that took us through Widecombe
church cemetery. It must have been 15 years since we've been through
here on the Hash; one of Poacher's I seem to recall. The thermometer on
the car read 16.5 degrees when I left Kingskerswell. On reaching the
Rugglestone the temperature had dropped to 9 degrees and there was a
dampness in the air. The daytime warmth emanating from the stone pillars
that supported the access gates to the churchyard was distinctly
noticeable - just like mini radiators. That was the last warmth we'd
enjoy till we returned to the pub.
Exiting
the cemetery, an arrow directed us across the road and across the
village green. Wet-Johnny out in front pursued by Big End, Ned and the
Pig. But what of the Bird? Nothing. Our flightless friend had
disappeared into the ether. We sped past the Old Inn towards Wooder
Manor before arriving at the only Long/Short split on the trail. If
Beefy's blurb was accurate, the Shorts would be doing 3.2 miles and the
longs circa 6 miles and no opportunities for short cutting. My guess is
that the Shorts retraced the last part of Beefy's June trail whilst the
Longs continued to the footpath that eventually joins up with The Two
Moors Way; a right turn here would have taken us onto Hamel Down and
eventually to Grimspound for a re-run of Pisswell's run from Challacombe
Farm. We would not be turning right.....too far!
The
trail did, indeed lead up the long track to Kingshead. The last time
that I had been up here was with a Devon A2B hash well over 10 years
ago. I knew pretty much where it was going but it looked different
somehow. Had the route of the track changed over the intervening period
or was it the darkness? My earlier trepidation began to evaporate, even
as we headed for the high moor. The marks weren't just good, they were
excellent. Although Wet-Johnny was now some 200 yards ahead of us,
Big-End and I had settled down to an even pace together. It looked as
though I wouldn't be alone after all. Looking back from Kingshead, we
caught a glimpse of a single hasher behind us. Was it the Bird? Was it
Beefy sweeping the Longs? No. It proved to be Broadshit. The only other
hasher on the Longs. Although we didn't find that out till we got back
to the pub.
Past
Kingshead, we found ourselves traversing a couple of fields that were
only accessible by climbing over two high stiles. This was all familiar
till we got to a 5 bar gate that took us onto the Two Moors Way. A huge
arrow directed us left. Not much further we came across a cross laid in
flour. We looked around and saw another large arrow pointing down a
track in an almost reverse direction. We were on open moor now but after
500 yards we started a descent down a narrow but steep track with a
stone wall to our left. This is definitely a track that I have never
been on before. Ahead, we could hear Wet-Johnny calling quite regularly.
Ned was just in front of us. We could follow him easily as he had
something around his neck that looked like a blue glow-stick - but it
flashed. At least we wouldn't lose the dog! This track proved to run
past the back of Hatchwell Farm. It was a jolly long track, a little
unstable underfoot and I was glad when we reached tarmac at Gamble Cot.
Only
now that I'm working out the route from the ordnance survey map in
front of me does the penny drop. We were now on the road that we would
have taken to Pisswell's trail at Challacombe Farm. At Gable Cot a check
had already been kicked out by ace FRB Wet-Johnny. So left it was,
heading due south for the best part of a mile. I was convinced that we
would have to turn right at some stage. However, referring to his GPS,
Big-End reckoned it should be a left turn that we needed to take. The
trail took us straight through Rowden Cross and to our left we could see
a dim light. It didn't seem to be bobbing up and down so I didn't think
it was a hasher....just a slow car with poor lights. I was wrong.
As
we reached the next junction, we came to a check that had not been
kicked out. However, we could hear Wet-Johnny calling "On-On" to our
left. Big-End's sense of direction was correct and it had been
Wet-Johnny's head torch I'd seen and mistaken for a slow car. We kicked
out the check and turned left onto a small road that forms part of The
Two Moors Way over Dunstone Down. From the top of Dunstone Down we could
see the tower of Widecombe church - maybe a mile distant? Just as we
started the steep descent towards Southcombe - a cross! What? We're
almost home! An arrow to the right took us on a southerly track,
bordered by a stone wall to our left. We followed the wall, and the
abundance of marks, until we came to the hamlet of Higher Dunstone where
the moor gives way to tarmac.
Maybe
we'd become too accustomed to looking for blobs of white flour but,
somehow, we clearly missed the enormous green illuminated arrow. No one
had mentioned glowing arrows in the Circle. We knew where we were now.
We didn't think we'd gone off trail. So, where was the sweetie and
toilet stop? So close. Only a glowing arrow away.
We
picked up the marks again as we turned left towards Lower Dunstone. At
lower Dunstone four dots in a row swept us right and down towards
Chittleford. A fast downhill and then an arrow left towards Venton. At
last. The "OH" sign. Select a higher gear for the final canter back to
the pub car park. In the final leg Big-End commented:
"We're really lucky to be able to go out onto the moor and do a 6 mile run. I'd rather have this than a posh flat in London".
"Yes. We are, indeed, fortunate to have all this on our doorstep".
Thank you MP and now the usual details plus the adventures of the Bird:
Roll call almost impossible to see in the dark but I've given it agogo:
GM
Shitfaced, Piltdown, Georgie, SM Ellie, Steph, Beefy, Pisswell, Wet
Johnny, Manopause, Erection, Strap-On, Ann, 69, BroadS, Man-Pig, 3Sum,
Satnav, Gaga4It, Slip on Me, BB, Forrest, Hotlips, Zoot, Ali, Archangel,
Big End, Melon Picker plus virgin making 28 or perhaps 29
Rugglestonies.
THE BIRD CAPERS
With
most of the week missed with injury, the Bird fretted, clucked and
trilled as he pondered the wisdom of hashing up on the savage moor.
However, the thought of staying in and wondering what the lads were
doing was an even more bitter pill for the Bird to Swallow [Shirley as
sic as a parrot].
Mindful
that three strikes and you're out, the Bird decided for once to be
sensible and not put himself about on the long. The trail shoes (yes, I
had listened to Beefy) were taken out of storage, examined but
ultimately discarded. The grip they afforded not able to offset further
aggravating existing injuries. And so the drums sounded their familiar
beat of 'Hoka Hokum' as the Bird headed for the moor amidst the
splendour of the setting sun..
A
knot of hashers were already in the car park, booking their chariot
tether in case of congestion. Young 69 had dropped by, Forrest - with a
large dressing on his shin after having a disagreement with a sheet of
corrugated iron, BroadS on a risk it and go as a biscuit visit, were
joined by Man-Pig sans his Men in Black cruiser - in for repair and the
Grand Master himself to be sure Shirley.
Now
listen carefully, I will only say this once: the ag-ed Bird has to warm
up before every run nowadays and this night he informed the mini
gathering that he was orf to limber up.
There
are only two ways to go from the Ruggles - left back to Widecombe or
right up the hill into the boondocks. It was the latter that was chosen
and walking, stretching and limping the Bird gradually got going. Nary a
mark was seen - to the Bird's relief - as he was not about to be tarred
and feathered [sic you fools] by Beefy for advance reccying.
On
the way back, Piltdown drew alongside and enquired if the Bird had run
all the way from Maidencombe!?!! Down over the hill and there was a
brand new X that Shirley was not there before. And there was a check
just outside the car park - Beefy was late laying evidently.
The
circle was already convened and all the details of the run were missed -
but as I was not going to embark on the long it would not be a problem -
the warm up had not gone well.
The ON ON
was called and note thee well, the Bird loitered at the entrance as
Man-Pig and Wet Johnny exitoed Widecombe side. Forrest's call of 'We'll
follow Bluebird!' eliciting a furrowed brow from Beefy who quite rightly
harboured doubts at what the Bird had been up to previously.
From
mid-pack, the Bird slotted in behind Man-Pig as the climb to the
crossroads unwound - calling MP back as he had missed marks over a stone
stile. The pack clambered over as the Bird saluted and abandoned ship
to set off to have a little road run on his lonesome.
At
the junction by the Old Inn, most remarkably dots appeared going left
and up into the hills. 'That's 'Andy, 'Arry, pop it in the oven!' mused
the Bird and off he ambled adventure bound.
But
what trail was I on? Long, short or walkers? If it was the long, I
would Shirley incur the wrath of the FRB's and the hare! An arrow
pointing skywards beckoned and what a hill of woe unfolded as the Bird
struggled to the stars themselves. Nothing behind, no lights, no calls -
no retribution yet.
A
left turn onto the moor (and apparently there was a L/S spilt mark
here?) and the dreaded off-road but the Bird had found a game to be
played and play it he Shirley would, whatever the outcome.
The marks were deluxe de Beefy standard and even a slight deviation was punctuated by an arrow. Bravo Beefy!
Lonely
as a cloud did the bedraggled Bird wander over the starlit moor, ever
guided by the wise hare's marks. The sharp downhill was the only
'downside' and the injured legs did not like it up 'em one bit.
And
now Oh Dearly Beloved, we come to the heart of the matter and I may be
able to give 'illumination' to those that missed the Green Arrow and SS
(which I was unaware of).
Immediately
hitting the concrete there was a blob by a low wall. Continuing
straight down for fifty yards with NO marks - and an alarm bell went off
in the Bird's tiny brain and he retraced his footsteps back. AHA! There
were two more blobs close together which would have been hidden coming
down.
It
did look as though the trail went into someone's garage by all the
parked cars but just off to the left, a lane opened up. Around the
corner and the Bird stopped to gaze awestruck at the splendid green
arrow - reflecting back the light from his head torch. The magpie Bird
had never seen such a beautiful thing and even contemplated claiming it
as a trophy - thinking it was a council direction sign for a concealed
byway.
Fortunately
for the Bird, the desire passed and he unfastened a gate and proceeded
but... what was this, it led down to a house, this Shirley could not be
right! But the marks were clear so it must be a strange right of way but
the house owner Shirley could not be happy with all and sundry flitting
past 24/7?
A window was open so turning off my head torch, I tip-toed past and legged it when clear - that was a close one!
Back
on tarmac true and a couple of hundred yards later, another strange
sight did assail mine eyes. A large band of walkers (Gaga4It, 3Sum,
Satnav and Uncle Tom Cobley and all) led by the be-staffed Grand Master
approached, going against the marks! What on earth was going on!!
The
Bird babbled his close escape from the chateau of fear and warned the
walkers to proceed with caution. They didn't seem that interested so I
left them to the mercy of the chateau's owners, who Shirley would hear
the large group passing.... It was only much later that I discovered it
was the SS at Beefy's abode.. Whatamistakatomaka!!
Oh
the glory of the flattish road but all too soon the OH appeared and it
must have been the short trail I was on as barely half an hour had
elapsed. I determined to get my money's worth and set off for another
lap - and even more adventure as it turned out.
Turning
off again onto the moor, a shout! Shirley that was Wet Johnny, but how
was that possible? As I coursed across the moor, the shouts continued
from a tangent above and to my right and were getting closer. I called
back and on hitting the concrete legged it past the Green Arrow one more
time and fled for the final mile, determined to hold the rampant Wet
Johnny off. A quick chat with Archangel en routey and the OH passed for
the second time.
In the Heat of the Night (1967) the legs just about held up and triumphantly did the Bird enter the car park with an hour on the clock.
WJ,
Man-Pig and Big End were not that far behind having covered a fair more
distance on the long. BroadS had a similar experience to me with a
solitary trek on the long with (I think) only trail sweeper Pisswell
behind. I needed a beer after that..
ON DOWN AND DOWNDOWNS
Snug
as bugs in a Rugglestone were the hash après trail and the Butcombe hit
the spot. Forrest was the RA and the awards went thus:
FUKARWI and POLE DODGER
(not Dancer as Forrest stated again!) had popped over for a pint and
took the opportunity to thank the hash for their support of Pole
Dodger's fund for his upcoming competition. A round of applause from the
hash.
Forrest awarded the Cheeky Chimp hat to SHITFACED for 'Popping out'.
A DD for SLIP ON ME for her 'long p***er' hound.
Confusion never far away, in the absence of Beefy, Forrest given a DD as 'substitute hare'.
Right on cue, BEEFY appeared in the doorway and was awarded the Viking hat by 3Sum for the SS cum toilet stop at Beefy's 'Green Arrow' abode.
PISSWELL had the Homing Horse Head hat to award but was (thankfully for me!) too late to award.
POSTSCRIPT
The
evening turned out a lot better than anticipated and yet another
adventure to savour. The ground that Beefy covered was prodigious and
notable for the excellent marking for which I was most grateful. It was
well worth the journey, thanks Beefy.
ON ON to next week and the Park Inn at Kingskerswell with Man-Pig.
Saturday 9 October 2021
SANITY & INSANITY AT THE RED ROCK (BABY) RANCH HOUSE
Run #1884 Monday 4th October from the Red Rock Brewery with Well Hopped & Big End
Roll call:
GM
Shitfaced, Piltdown, Georgie, SM Ellie, Wet Johnny, Manopause,
Erection, Swinger, virgin Matt, Hotlips, Zoot, Paul, virgin Jenny,
Coldtits, Rambo, Kelvin, Man-Pig, Ali, 3Sum, Satnav, Strap-On, Big End,
Well Hopped and little Emma, Beefy, Pisswell, Alexis, Wetfart,
Archangel, Gaga4It, BB making a Dirty Gertie thirty Braveheart hashers.
THE SANE VERSION of the trail words by Man-Pig
Well,
at least we didn't get wet. The forecast rainstorm held off pretty much
until all hashers had returned from whence they came. Even 'the perfect
10" Pisswell made it back before the Heaven's opened. The weather only
really presented a problem for those trying to access their cars after
9.45pm as it was raining cats and dogs by then.....blustery too.
So
what happened out there? Bluebird and I looked at each other in the bar
across a half-eaten pasty. "What did you see on tonight's trail
Man-Pig?" "Ermmm."
"What
all, Man-Pig?" did the Bird ask. "I stayed with Kelvin and Pollyfella.
Didn't see a thing. Well, at least I saw Kelvin and Polyfella I
suppose".
This
might have proved to be more than blind-as-a-bat Bluebird had seen. In
an attempt to avoid a repeat of last year's fall, the Bird deviated off
trail to escape the descent on the steep footpath that leads from just
south of Colway Cross and exits onto the bottom of Forder Lane in
Bishopsteignton. I may have only seen two other hashers on trail but
that's better than none! I wonder if Bluebird saw more than two hashers
out there?
Big
End invited us back to the Red Rock Brewery for his second lay for
TVH3. This time a solo lay sans l'assistance de Bien Hopped. Solo lays
can be hard work, especially when Sunday's copious marks have been
washed out by Monday's mini-monsoon. So well done to Big End for
re-laying significant parts of the trail just before our 7.15 departure
time (in 26 years of hashing with TVH3 we have never commenced the trail
at 7.15!). Instructions were simple: "I've relaid some of it. If you
don't see a mark, continue in a straight line!". What could possibly go
wrong?
The
only announcement in the circle concerned who had, and had not,
pre-ordered a pint and a pasty. Swinger advised that Carl had
pre-ordered a pasty and a pint but couldn't make the Hash. Manopause was
the first to pounce and gobble up the opportunity of a second
pasty....he'll grow up to be a big boy. His Mum would be proud of him. I
think there were mumbles of 4 miles for the Shorts; under 6 for the
Longs and a Walkers' trail. Back down the driveway. Longs to the right.
Shorts and Walkers to the Left.
Bluebird,
apparently fully recovered from last weeks' near death experience, shot
off and ignored the first check as he careered down Humber Lane. Wet
Johnny checked right, up Humber Lane. Man-Pig, in third place after 150
yards, followed the Bird knowing full well that he would have had a
crafty reconnoiter of the trail beforehand. And so it proved to be.
Three clear new dots and then an arrow that took us along a Hare's
favourite track in this neck of the woods. Exiting at Colway Cross, the
Bird's reconnaissance went awry....or so I thought. The Bird flew
straight across whilst an arrow directed FRB's Wet Johnny, Beefy,
Man-Pig, Kelvin and Polyfella to the right. Swinger could not have been
far behind as I had heard a female voice behind me for most of the first
mile. That voice disappeared as another (new) arrow pointed us down the
steep and slippery footpath to the bottom of Forder Lane.
By
the time we hit Forder Lane, Beefy and Wet Johnny were well gone and I
only had Pollyfella and, the usually very fast, Kelvin from Plymouth for
company (great effort to travel all this way to join us, especially
given the weather forecast!).
As
we climbed up Forder Lane, I did wonder if another mishap had befallen
the Bird. I was oblivious to his alternative route Avoiding Low Bridge
and slippery descent. "I was not going down there again" screeched the
Bird later on in the pub.
A
short way up Forder Lane, we came to the Walkers and Long/Shorts'
split. The Walkers taking a left up Great Furlong, or was it Murwell
Crescent? Never mind. The Longs and the Shorts carried on up Forder Lane
till another arrow took us left and up West Street; straight across and
onto Berry Hill, past a pub (I'm sure this pub had been renamed) and a
quick left and right onto a public footpath. For those of us who knew
where we were, we knew what was to come. Over 100 metres (330 feet) of
unending ascent to Beacon Copse. In the far distance, I could see the
shadows of a torchlight bouncing off the trees. This must be a hasher.
One of the Shorts, I suspected or maybe Beefy or Wet Johnny? The dancing
beam must have been a good 300 yards distant. It later transpired that
these flickering lights emanated from none other than the Bird's
head-torch....Short Cutting B*****d!
Rejoining
tarmac another arrow. Right this time and up towards Teignmouth Golf
Course. At White Well (another copse) a Long/Short split took the Longs
into the copse and a loop that brought us out near the picnic tables
where Bobbiball had his birthday drinks back in May. A distinct absence
of marks meant that we had to rely on local boy (or should that be
parrot?) Pollyfella. A left for about 150 yards before turning right
towards Little Haldon. After 400 yards it was left and onto Three Trees
Lane. A nice, but potentially treacherous, descent down a badly
dilapidated track that had once been a tarmac road. Eventually we came
to a proper road. Lo and behold, we were back on Humber Lane yet again.
Left and left again and were back at the brewery and........relatively
dry!
Thank you MP and now:
FLIGHT OF FANCY (INSANE) VERSION
When all at once a mighty herd
Of red eyed cows they saw..
Oh
Yes, Oh Dearly Beloved, the Shorts and Walkers Shirley got a surprise
when they embarked on their Teddy Bears' Picnic from the Red Rock Baby
Ranch House Monday evening under the threatening clouds ..
Now
before we continue any further into what may well be a flight of fancy,
I feel I must issue a disclaimer about the events that follow which may
bear no relation to the actual events that took place on Run #1884.
Supping
my £3.20 Red Rock Baby, I listened in awe to trail tales being spun -
notably by Manopause - but was he talking about tonight's trail? I leave
you, Dear Readers, to decide the fact of the matter...
Now where was I, ah yes, the Teddy Bears' picnic horror:
In
abject terror the shorts and walkers fled, no match for the mighty
stampeding herd of red eyed cows that bore down on them. All hashers
were Shirley fully paid-up members of the Self Preservation Society and
thereupon scattered to seek whatever cover that could be found out there
in the wilds of Red Rock Baby country - behind trees, up telegraph
poles, it didn't matter - all they wanted was to survive the encounter
and get back to the Red Rock Baby for their Pint and Pasty offer at a
projected bargain £5.50 agogo..
Their
formidable leader, man-o-war Manopause, stood his ground unblinking in
the face of what was Shirley certain destruction. Half a second later,
the man-o-war blinked and dived for cover.
Meanwhile,
at the crossroads where the longs, shorts and walkers would so
cunningly converge, Big End waited, confident that the plan - and the
hash - would come together. But no cigar for his starter for ten as the
longs charged out of the lane.. Shirley it couldn't have gone belly up
already...
Back
at Custer's Last Stand and the mighty herd had thundered past leaving
the shattered remnants of the shorts and walkers to regroup before
sallying forth once more. The Pasty and Pint, projected at a bargain
£5.50 the only beacon of hope back at the Red Rock Baby ranch-house.
The
Bird, wearing his beloved only good on road Hoka Mach 4's and already
mauled by the off-road section, entered a plea of insanity and asked the
hare for mercy.
The
quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth as the gentle rain from
heaven and thus the Bird was spared further punishment and directed
down, way, way down into the village to Shirley head the longs off at
the pass, Percy. HA!
And
now, to prove to you that I'm no fool, I'll walk across your swimming
pool. The first of two hardly credible tales on this doom-laden Fight
for Your Pint and Pasty hash, I give you Walkabout (1971) Part 2 (Part 1,
even more implausible, had already taken place). Alexis missed the left
turn for the Descent of Death and continued all the way down to the
Newton road before finally conceding that the hare's fateful final words
did not apply here:
'If you don't see any marks, keep straight on....' long sigh. But never mind, a seven mile plus trail bagged. Shirley shades of Coldtits Court Farm Inn Wong Wei here.
Dodging
the Descent of Death, the Bird glided serenely down into suburban
Bishopsteignton, Humming bird as he went. But thoughts of having a big
lead evaporated when FRB calls could be heard in the distance. Wet
Johnny and Beefy probably - but would they be pleased to see the Bird
again? Possibly not.
Still
on tarmac true but a climb to ye Olde Commercial Inn and a curious set
of marks which left the Bird brain bewildered. An arrow pointing
straight up the hill but to the left another set of marks: an arrow with
O/R. Off-road, decided the Bird. 'That'll cramp their style Shirley!'
and the Bird fled upwards, blissfully unaware that it was a road
surveyor's mark he had seen... sigh.
A
quick bugle Bird blast and then the FRB's swallowed him up. Ah, the
pain of the near vertical climb on slippery field and furrow. Nearing
the summit, a faint light was glimpsed behind, far below - Man-Pig!
Anxiously, the Bird pressed on, waving to be-cycled Big End who was out
and about, shepherding his flock.
Adventure
aplenty was to be found and Beefy was sighted looking down into the
woods for Wet Johnny who had gone astray on a lower path. The Bobbiball
beer table loom-ed and the Bird didn't like the look of the next
tortuous off-road section. 'I'll track you from the golf course road
lads.' Beefy, tiring of the Bird's Hoka hokum exclaimed: 'You'd better
wear your trail shoes next week!'
Wet
Johnny was searching for marks when finally emerging from the mud and
was called back onto trail as other lights were espied at strange
compass points.
Ye
savage gods, what was that ruined road descent all about?! It seemed to
be endless and the legs took a pounding before blessed relief and the
Humber road turn for home. Strap-On was soldiering on the short and just
up ahead were Manopause and Erection who, seeing the Bird in their rear
view mirrors, legged it back into the car park - I think they're
getting fitter now!
Big
End nodded permission to the Rain God above and the precipitation
commenced as we scuttled into the ranch house to claim our Pasty and
Pint offer.. HA!
TRAIL & BAR TITTLE-TATTLE
Missing the pre-booking deadline and on an away-day from Plymouth, KELVIN cut out the middle woman (Well Hopped) and ordered his Pasty and Pint directly from the Red Rock Baby!
COLDTITS smooth as silk on the short trail, never going Wong Wei at any point - hurrah!
Good to see POLYFELLA back on trail after injury.
KELVIN wasn't at the front with the FRB's owing to poor lighting - which you decidedly needed.
Happiness was Shirley WETFART who sat drinking his half of Red Rock Baby with a glazed smile. '£1.60 Bluebird, £1.60, now that's what I call a good price!'
THE DOWNDOWNS
BIG END most deservedly got his drink for double laying the trail - great effort!
PISSWELL awarded the Homing Horse Head hat for recording ten kilometres or was it miles?
MANOPAUSE singled out for punishment by Swinger for claiming Carl's pasty!
COLDTITS nominated by a babbling Bird for her Forde Park detour the previous week.
Finally, a BIG 400 Badge for SATNAV - and no, you didn't tell me Grand Master, it was just a good guess!
EPILOGUE
What a stonking evening we had at what has become a favourite On Down for TVH.
Vittles and ale at bargain basement prices and a most convivial ranch
house to enjoy them in. Many thanks to Big End for twice giving me
'foolproof' directions, once on the trail and how to get home!
The heavens opened up as Big End departed on his bike - trust the brakes worked on the descent!
Well done the hare.
POSTSCRIPT
What about Walkabout (1971) Part 1
I hear a solitary voice enquire? I shall merely relate Man-Pig's
comment: 'Nobody could be that stupid!' I think you are right, MP and
they wouldn't have believed it anyway - it must have been made up..
sigh.
Glad you happened along though!
ON ON to next week and Beefy's Walk on the Wild side up on the moor. Circle-up in the Rugglestone Inn's car park 7:15 pm. Details to follow.
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