R*n 545: Goosnargh

Today's scribe was the first to arrive at the run site and was able to join the hares at the Inn as they enjoyed a coffee after laying the run. By 10:55 a pack of ten had assembled, mostly regulars but including yours truly and visitor Bushy Brows. The hares informed us that they had abandoned the usual clockwise run direction and today we would be going anti clockwise. So it was with this thought in mind that we turned left out of the car park and proceeded downhill along the road.

The first check took us to the right along a farm lane then into the fields. Antiseptic, as usual , made the early running, but a further series of checks turned the pack back to front although hare Twisted was usually on hand to redirect those of us who had strayed in the wrong direction. By now we had left the road far behind and advanced through farmers fields with occasional stretches of open country and woodland. Some of the grass showed evidence of overnight rain resulting in wet feet for all. A number of electric fences were negotiated with care. Back on the road, the trail led us to the top of a hill where a fishhook was faintly outlined in orange chalk on the tarmac. Your scribe made a token effort to go back the locate the tail enders but everyone else just stayed put and waited. When all were assembled, Twisted informed us that the beer stop was only a few minutes away so we set off again with renewed enthusiasm. We soon discovered Bitter unloading the car with the usual refreshments.

The trail then skirted a wood along a path at the side of a field before emerging onto the road near a T junction. No surprise to find a check on the corner but Cyberseptic soon found the trail on the left fork. After proceeding up a long hill the Wimp/Rambo split was at last encountered. Four Rambos (Antiseptic, Cyberseptic, Scribe and Twisted) turned right along a wooded path while the Wimps continued up the road towards the run site. Actually the Rambo path was not too difficult apart from a profusion of nettles in a copse that the hares had done their best to flatten. After emerging from a series of fields, the intrepid foursome regained the road, and reached the run site by quarter past one. The Wimps, of course, were already there.

The circle was a brief affair because lunch at the On Inn had been ordered for one thirty. Hares and returners were acknowledged and down downs awarded for two hashers who had been spotted relieving themselves on the trail. Your scribe was unable to attend the on on so someone else will have to report on the catering at Ye horns Inn.