It started off with a little bit of fun and games with the parking, and despite Facebook, WhatsApp and messages in the circle list week, some of the pack arrived on the wrong side of the bollards, (the physical ones, not the Harriette... You certainly don't want to get on the wrong side of Bollards!), with Tampa parked away in the village itself. Anyway, Wide and Tight got it right, but by the way they flashed their lights when they arrived, it gave the impression that they were perhaps thinking they were doing something else in a secluded location...
After welcoming the pack, Tight announced that we have no hares after next week, so please volunteer!
Then off along Doctors Lane to the Twisted Oak (where we met Tampa coming the other way), up a footpath, and that's when the fishhooks started. They were a major feature of t r*n, perhaps more fishhooks than checks!
Then back down again for first regroup (again plenty of these today) and across an icy field, to almost where we had been 15 minutes earlier, the Twisted Oak, for regroup #2. Wide went off exploring around the streams by the pub, and as Tampa told him not to get Harry (the dog) wet, Harry jumped in the steam. "I had nothing to do with it!" said Wide.
Then over the bridge (not the tunnel) to the other side of the A30, and a long short split, with the shorts going straight through the village and up to another regroup. Up through the churchyard to the new playing fields, where Wide decided to see how far he could get across a big iced up puddle. Exactly half way it seems... Before he splashed into the cold muddy water... Luckily only a few inches deep. The longs were 'invited' to r*n round the playing field, which the clueless ones did, in opposite directions. Then rejoining the shorts we headed up on to the disused railway line to a tin roofed Sheppard's Hut where we had the sweetie stop.
After this, the pace slowed, hoping that we were more than half way round (we were!). There was a steep downhill, where Son of the Bitz slipped, a bit of road, then an almighty climb up the other side of the valley, to another regroup. At this point Blobby told us that he'd been laying the trail since 7.30am! Unsurprisingly he was tired!
Then it seemed we were nearly home, but Blobby had a nasty suprise because he didn't want us to use the downhill track to the cars as it was too icy. Wide, Wilf and I decided to try it anyway, anf despite a little slip from me, it was fine. The alternative route on the road turned out to be much worse, and longer.
Eventually we all returned, and thanked Blobby for an excellent trail, despite it being gone 1pm!
Please don't forget to rate the hash! https://cityofexeterhhh.blogspot.com/p/rate-hash_3.html.
Next week we're at the Rec, in Newton Abbot https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en-GB&q=Rec%20Club%2C%2016%20Marsh%20Rd%2C%20Newton%20Abbot%20TQ12%202BA%2C%20UK.
After the trail there will be a Extraordinary General Piss Up to agree/ discuss the hash's constitution. See here https://cityofexeterhhh.blogspot.com/2023/01/notice-of-extraordinary-general-piss-up.html?m=1
And don't forget to volunteer to lay a trail!
