Sunday, December 1

#1183 Pynes Hill, Exeter - Stix - 1 December 2024

Thank you, Stix, for today's trail. A 'one and on' trail with a promise of a maximum 4.6 miles. The route took us away from the obvious dip into Ludwell Park to the main duel carriageway, only to head back down into the top end of the park. It was at this point X Bitz lost Son of the Bitz, so I took it upon my self to look for her chid and found him waiting for Odd Bitz to help him down a bank, not knowing that he had been given a shot cut.

In and threw the fields of Ludwell with a couple of long/ shorts to boot. We found the SS at the bottom of the park. A quick Happy Snapper, and we were off! Into to playing fields, over the doggy course, and out to Topsham road. Apparently, the trail went over the road into the old Pitch and Putt but was completely missed. Instead, we headed up and back through the winding streets and back into Ludwell Park but not before another L/S Spit. Wasn't long before we were back and unsurprised to see Tampa's car, who turned up late and couldn't find the start arrow, so he just made his own trail up. Big thanks to stix for today last minute trail.

Onon Spockster



And she words from me!

The first trail of winter, and with Storm Bert a distant memory, Wide welcomed the pack and acknowledged that last week would have just been too dangerous to lay.  I was today's hare, getting back to the start with less than 5 mins to spare, and Bollards had brought me a cup of coffee from home, which lasted the entire trail!  I was filling in as we didn't otherwise have a hare; Spocky was also going to volunteer, coincidently also from Pynes Hill, but I beat him to it and sacrificed my Sunday lie in.  

The trail took us up to the main road, with a loop round the houses, apparently close to where Blob Hoblin used to live.  I ensured that Spocky did the back check, while the rest of us headed towards a very slippery Ludwell Valley Park. Some of my marks had been kicked out, despite only laying 60 mins earlier, but that didn't get in the way.  A long-short split, and then a lot of slipping along the bottom of the valley , before climbing again, then down to the sweetie stop by Northbrooke.  

A lovely photograph framed so well - shame Spocky had to spoil it!

From there is was through the assault course to Topsham Road, where the trail went across to the old pitch and putt and a loop around that, but some dodgy trail marking meant that only Howlin' Wilf and Happy Snapper attempted it! 

We risked our lives crossing Topsham Road again, then back into the Valley Park, past Southbrooke School, and Oddbitz did some FRBing.  Them past a bench where Wide and Howlin' Wilf sat down (blaming Rosie) and on home.

 At the circle, Spocky declared that it wasn't as good as the hash he would have set!  The bench-users got down-downs, as did Oddbitz for not being around for the next few weeks (wishing him all the best for his operation!)

Next week's hash is at Kingsteignton, Blindwell Farmhouse, laid by Wide, with snacks afterwards.