R*n 715: High Bentham

An adventure near High Bentham with the Adams Family (well Lurch and Morticia anyway)

The hash tribe descended onto the Forest of Bowland moorlands; parking proved interesting as we tried to shoehorn numerous cars into a limited lay-by! Any tourists who wanted to admire the view would have to come back another day... tough!! The RA is supposed to be responsible for the weather, so top marks to Baldbrick for organising a sunny day so we could admire the panoramic views from our starting point at the Big Rock.

A highly detailed briefing on what to expect was conducted - wet under foot, likely to go up hill, and downhill, maybe a few checks, definitely a beer stop and probably a couple of fish hooks to keep the FRBs honest and a plea not to disturb the horses when we get there (no horn please). When questioned on the distant 3 peaks we were reliably informed that these were not on the agenda, lucky, as we didn't have a week to complete the run.

First stop Big Rock, all 100m from the start, a few idiots (myself included) ascended to be on top of the photo shoot, (thankyou Bitter for the photo having restored his duties as Hash Flash) and then on to the first check. Having found the trail a few FRBs jogged through the local's garden only to be dragged back as they were going completely the wrong way! (nice place though, one of many on the trail as it turned out).

So, it was off through the fields and through yet another rather splendid house and garden, which again the pack managed to attack from all sides. On then to the initial decent ending up at the beer stop, eventually; the fish hook proving a delay to consumption by a few minutes, for a few. Biscuits went down a treat (the peanut variety proving a major hit, note to Beermeister make sure you buy enough they nearly ran out). Rumour has it that during the beer stop it was advised, (by a protected source), that Baldbrick had an interesting side trip.....I'll leave that to your imagination and for future circle reference!!!

Watered and fed it was off again, further descending to the first river crossing and then up and over to Lowgill. A deleted check (the hare kindly avoiding the leg scratching brambles path as was the original trail) and then back across the fields, another fish hook and then down to the second river crossing, slightly more difficult than the previous bridge. The scribe staying back to see if there was going to be any involuntary swimming involved to enhance his narrative!

Up, again, catching up with a couple of very friendly sheep who were keen for a pat on the back and hoping for food from the passing humans. Into the riding school whose only comments were "we thought you were supposed to running", shows how much they know about hashing! Then it was the final slog back to the cars, cresting the fell to see the peaks in the distance and the beer buckets resting in Morticia's car.

A quick circle as we had to be in the pub in 10 mins, Hares called in and congratulated on an excellent run (Bitter was heard to say the best run ever, crawler!!), Twisted was dragged in for defaming the RA (nobody knows what for, it was too bad, apparently, to be repeated in public!!), "no name" Mike and Sue were dragged in to give a potted personal history for the hash to ruminate on for future naming ideas and it was off to the pub.

6 point something miles, wonderful scenery and suitably celebrated with an excellent lunch at the Black Bull for the remainers.

For the record Sir Tom Tom tried to eat for England by ordering the largest roast dinner ever seek, he failed by a few mouthfuls, but he won't need to eat for a week after what he did consume!!

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