R*n 369: Lupton

A good turn out was waiting at the refurbished Plough at Lupton. We thought we we going to have a 'bald' r*n (hareless) as there wasn't a hare to be be seen. The GM actually arrived before the hare but with about 5 seconds to go the hare arrived minus Bedside Manner and Cotside Manner who were elsewhere in the country. The circle kicked in to action bringing a clear briefing by the hare with extra instruction for the knitting circle and we were off.

A killer start up toward Farleton Fell but heading in the general direction of the Clawthorpe - Hutton Roof road. Thunderdick had live hared a wimps split for the knitting circle which took us directly to the beerstop on the road.

We then headed between Holmepark Fell and Clawthorpe Fell toward Holme but a right turn took us up in front of the gritstone crags up to the cairn on Farleton Fell. Fair play to Full Member who ran all the way up this steep rise. It was then downhill back to the Plough.

I've always wanted to go up Farleton Fell, passing it so often on the motorway, and today was the day with great views all round.

Back at the circle our stand in R.A. "Bitter" provided an entertaining spectacle by firstly hauling his wife in the circle and berating her for commenting on his driving skills - seems a fair punishment.

It's hard to recall what other down downs happened next as Bitter was bouncing up and down as though he had springs on his feet as he was dispensing them but I do recall:

• The Hare
• Morticia - Fouling the trail
• Sax Maniac - Hash Crash
• Sir Tom Tom
• Cyberseptic - Bitter wanted clarification about Cyberseptic's statement that he ate like a horse. "Does that mean you eat a lot or does it mean you stand on all fours and get your head in the trough?". The answer was "both".

As the circle closed we realised that Turkish Delight and The Gobbler were still not back so Full Member and Antiseptic went out to successfully recover them.

There was "a slight cock up on the catering front" as the Plough was fully booked so everyone did their own thing although it is rumoured Highway and Layby may have got a table.

Great r*n with a most entertaining circle.