Run No. 1344                20^th June 2010

Venue:                         Chez Spotted Dick & Custard

Beer:                            Tolly Cobbold Pheonix

Location:                      Welwyn

Hares:                          Spotted Dick & Custard

Runners:                      14

Virgins:                         0

Visitors:                         0

Newies:                         0                                 

Hounds:                        1

Après Hashers:             1

Total:                            16

Membership:                Low on the ground!

It was a complete contrast from the bustling atmosphere of the 25^th Anniversary weekend, but unfortunately there seemed to be a few of the regular crowd missing.  It was quickly mentioned that there were no Horrors present on this Sunday Trail, that were instated in order to encourage their turnout!

            Those who had managed to make the effort were entertained by the sight of a hobbling Hyena, he had already informed the RA that he had bruised one of his legs after falling down the stairs at Flip Top & Sis’s place after a Bike Bash!

The Hares seemed concerned about the lack of numbers, the thought of too much food being left over weighed upon their minds, but the RA told them not to fret as Fartin Martin had turned up & Kylie was on his way, so there wouldn’t be too much left over!

Of more importance was the fact that Kylie was bring a Tap & Spile for the Barrel of Tolly Cobbold Phoenix (Greene King)!  He had yet to arrive as ARP & Porky Pie came cycling along to the venue, the RA was impressed as he thought that they had cycled all the way from Hitchin.  It would transpire that they had only cycled up from Knebworth Station!

A few extra minutes were allowed for the late comers to arrive, but they didn’t as the RA introduced the Pack to the Run & then the Chief Hare finished off his spiel about what the Pack could expect out on the Trail!  There were short cuts mentioned, as was a bit about the Trail was shortened when the Hare realised that the Trail was getting a bit long when he set it!  He also mentioned that there was a bit of road running on part of the Trail.

Being in a dead-end cul-de-sac there was no other route out to start the Trail than heading up the hill & running the length of Mardley Avenue to Come out on to Mardley Hill road.  An arrow directed the Pack straight over the road, via a traffic island to find the first CHK by the footpath in to Mardley heath wood.

Porky Pie was first in to the wood, Windmill followed on, the RA & Hare Raiser were next & the ARP followed on before the first two came back after they failed to find any dust!  ARP was quickly around down a part of Heathlands & Sludge joined her to find the Dust leading down to the end of the road & on to an alleyway in to Mardley heath wood.

Windmill soon over took the other FRBs, he led the way on the most direct route in to the woodland, but again the Dust petered out.  A call of “On!” from behind indicated that the Trail had branched off on to another path.  The Trail would make its way around through the trees & up to a CHK on the lane running through the woodland.

The Trail was found across Heath road & now the Pack found them selves running out of the East side of the wood, to look down across the fallow fields before the railway lines.  The Trail followed a serpentine like path around the outer contour of the wood to the North, then the Dust led the Pack back in amongst the trees, were the Pack appreciated the shelter from the cold wind!

The first Held CHK was found in the corner of the woodland, the Pack remained inside the wood as they waited for Hyena to hobble into sight.  As they did, two EWS Engines passed by on the railway line, so Mr. X took their numbers & text them to Junior (who was working).

            Zing-a-long-a-max caught up after his late start, he had brought along his little plastic horn, which paled in to insignificance compared to the vuvuzelas that have been making a din out in South Africa!

While My Lil’ Sperm ‘ead led Sludge& a couple of others away along a path inside the wood, Porky Pie picked up the Trail on the long straight path over the fallow land to the rail bridge on Wych Elm lane leading in to Woolmer Green.  A CHK was found just before the Railway bridge, it didn’t slow the FRBs from picking up the Trail inside through the railway arch & in to the village.

On to London road & Zing-a-long-a-max led the way by the Red Lion & then over the crossing to follow the Dust around on to New Road lane & on by the duck pond & then the Fox Pub, the RA noted that the Hare had led them on by two pubs & there was no beer stop!

As the Trail continued, Custard set off on a short cut to make sure that the food for after the trail was all ready for the Pack’s return.  Hyena was offered this short cut, but he refused it & soldiered on.

The next CHK was found beside the footpath out over the fields at the end of the village, My Lil’ Sperm ‘ead, Porky Pie & ARP were soon away down the long straight route to Mardleybury farm but they seemed to have gone through a Bar CHK.  The Hare indicted this to those trailing in their wake.  ARP obeyed the RA’s calls of “ON back!” but the other two hung about on the main path & so missed out on the detour around a loop to one side of the crop field & then back to the main drag over to Mardleybury farm.

A Held CHK was found beside the lane to Datchworth, the Pack had a little wait for Hyena to come up to the CHK, but by the time he arrived he was walking with more ease than he did when he first arrived!  When it came to resuming the Trail it took a while as the most obvious choice as Sludge, Windmill, Porkie Pie & Zing-a-long-a-max all searched the other options, it was down to My Lil’ Sperm ‘ead who searched the footpath along the edge of the field that back toward the edge of Woolmer Green.

The Trail took to Whitehorse lane, it took the FRBs a little while to pick it up, the Hare was surprised to see that a man was walking his dog along the edge of the field above the lane.  He didn’t realise that there is a permissive path up there that he could have used to keep the Hash off of the tarmac. 

The Pack soon got off of the lane, two passing cars soon saw to their running on the lower level.  The Next CHK was found on the edge of Robbery Bottom lane, again My Lil’ Sperm ‘ead was first to pick up the correct route on the way up the narrow rustic lane on the way up to a sentinel like solitary oak tree on the brow of the ridge.

A CHK was found up by the bridleway over to the mobile phone transmitter, but the choice of running down Robbery bottom lane to the end spit of Harmer Green wood seemed the most popular.  On the way down it was obvious that the local bees had fallen foul of what ever is decimating their population, for lots of dead bees littered the lane on the way down to the CHK just within the corner of the wood.

Windmill stuck with Robbery bottom lane, while My ‘Lil’ Sperm ‘ead searched within the wood, but neither call “On!” so the RA decided to look at the desire line just within the edge of the wood.  There he found the Trail.

Windmill soon cut in to the wood & My Lil’ Sperm ‘ead joined the path from one inside the wood that intersected this one.  The Trail would lead out of the wood & back on to Robbery Bottom lane, now under the railway bridge the Pack were heading back in to Mardley Heath.

The final part of the Trail was to take to the footpath running up between the properties, this turned as it made its way up between more of the residencies on Mardley Hill.  Windmill & Zing-a-long-a-max ran this last up-hill bit, while the RA & My Lil’ Sperm ‘ead decided to wander along Rosecroft lane to make their way back to the On Inn.

As they came out on to Mardleyheath road, Zing-a-long-a-max drove by in his little car, having abandoned it before reaching the Chez Spotted Dick & Custard’s.

The returning Pack found 2-1-2 Maureen was at the venue, she had started the Trail but lost her way & decided to cut her losses & turned back!  Then Kylie & Roget the Cabin Boy arrived back from the Trail.  Hyena was a bit miffed as he said that eh didn’t see them get by him at the back of the Trail!  Seems that a wee bit of SCBing took place form these two to get back before him, but they were carrying Charlie around & it was that that probably made Hyena jealous!

The weather had now changed as the cold wind had died down & the sky was clear, allowing the sun to come out & burn the unsuspecting! 

The Pack were pretty much spoilt as they found the excellent Ale had been tapped & was at the right temperature in the back garden, then they were spoilt even more as Custard started to bring out a veritable feast.  Starting with snacks, the pakoras & samosas went down well & Hyena was appeased with a bowl of Scooby Hyena Snacks (Hoola-hoops)!

The Chicken & rice was spot on, the RA decided that after seconds he ought to get the Down-Downs out of the way before the pudding came out! 

The RA had his work cut out in the Circle, firstly by the odd passing Train, but he had more work to talk over the noisy blackbird who was constantly twittering away as it protected its territory of the neighbour’s garden!

The Hares were rewarded for a Trail that was spot on the hour for the majority of the Pack; ARP was out for running almost all of the Falsies!

Sludge was out for not going off on his own little Hash, which is unusual; while 2-1-2 protested as she was called out for not making it all the way around, Hashshit handed back by Kylie & it neatly folded in to a plastic underwear box!

Hyena was awarded the Hashit, for falling down Flip Top & Sis’s stairs, that ARP described as sound like Lucy & Winston bundling down the flight of steps!  As Hyena donned the Hashit, My Lil’ Sperm ‘ead said “Back where it belongs!”

The Pack settled down to enjoy more of the Ale &b then tackle the puddings!  Especially the huge slices of lemon cake that Spotted Dick cut.  As they did so, T-B-T arrived, which has to be some kind of record?  He was soon offered Chicken & Rice by the hostess, which he did not refuse!  For the rest of the afternoon the remaining Pack took the rise out of ARP & Porky Pie as they kept missing their train home as the Cider took effect!