Run No. 1376                16^th January 2011

Venue:                           The Victoria

Beer:                              Deuchars IPA, Tribute

Location:                      Baldock           

Hare(s):                         Sludge

Runners:                       37

Virgins:                          3

Visitors:                         0

Newies:                          0                             

Hounds:                         5

Après Hashers:            0

Total:                             45

Membership:               Back in Bagdad!

What a turn out it was for this Hash, the ‘Clapp Clan’ were out in force & there were even three Virgin Hashers coming along for the first time.  The Pack eventually assembled on the semi-pedestrainized part of Sun Street, outside of the Victoria, but after a several cars going by, including Sloppy Seconds, then Both Ends & Suicide Blonde, the whole of the Pack were moved up toward the benches outside of the one local Church, which is built in a style that’s reminiscent of Hamden Court.

The GM introduced the Pack to the correct Run number, he must have been at home practising after the last few faux-pahs on the previous couple of Hashes since his return?  The Virgins of Lynn, Kerry, Jayy & Morgan were then introduced to the Pack, followed by the Hare being called forward.  To the surprise of a few, this turned out to be Sludge & not Kylie who they thought was going to set the Trail, there was a sense of relief from some of the Pack when they realised this!

Sludge went on to say that it was the usual Herts markings & that there was one Held CHK (a regroup) that everyone had to stop at!  He seemed very determined about this & made sure the Pack knew it as they were allowed to search for the Trail to the Northeast.

Before setting off Pepé le Pew was taken aside to receive a quiet word in his ear about ‘Ginger-baiting’ of Porky Pie, not for Porky Pie’s feelings but because Two Timer was there & Horrors (red haired or not) can be a bit sensitive compared to hardened, thick skinned Hashers.  No doubt senior Hashers gain their thick skins due Alcohol having the same effect as tanning leather?

Mr. X had a good idea in which direction to head off, since he & My Lil’ Sperm ‘ead had spotted arrows on their amble from the Station, Sludge probably knew this & he shouted out to the RA to make sure that he obeyed the instructions to turn left in to Tranters Yard.  The FRBs ran over the newly laid & not finished off paving blocks to find a Held CHK in front of a newly built barn conversion of a place called ‘Tranter’s Barn’!

As the RA turned around with the rest of the Pack, to head out of the dead end yard, he said that the Pack were only taken their to please the Hare’s ego!  Sludge was chuffed that the Pack had seen ‘Tranter’s Barn’, he & his now inflated ego led the Pack back out through the entrance with little room to spare with both of them trying to get back on to the main road!

The Trail now headed up to the traffic lights at the crossroads on the Royston road & the arrows led around in front of the Old White Horse to head out up Station road to the north.  The Trail passed by the Engine & then on to a CHK at the start of Football Club lane.  Sloppy Seconds, Pepé le Pew & Porky Pie took one option, while Flip Top & Skip took the other down the Icknield way.  All of these would be running back after finding T’s down each road.

The RA picked up the Trail further along the Station road, heading under the Railway bridge, where it becomes North road & on to a gate through the hedge & on to the corner of the common land.  Dust led the RA & Porky Pie south-westward to run beside the Railway embankment but this would end with a T once it was hidden by the line of bushes & trees!  As the two FRBs ran back to the common, the Pack were kept together well, now it was down to Six Pack & Paul searching the other option to run up beside the local allotments to pick up the scent of the Dust.

A couple of dog walkers were soon surprised by the sight of the Pack emerging from the allotment access road, & on to a CHK on the opposite side of the gate in a fence to the large, open common.  Porky Pie chose the footpath running diagonally across the open grassy enclosure toward the tree-line at the opposite side, he soon found a T, as did the RA who searched over to the southwest & Paul who looked on the path that led straight across!

The Real Trail went around the inside of the perimeter fence, as the Pack made their way to find the Trail heading out into the tree-line, along the way the RA spotted Sloppy Seconds was on his mobile phone!  Technology on the Trail!  Perhaps he was talking to his other half, who Skip & a few others still believe doesn’t exist, even though the RA has met her!

A CHK was found just within the tree-line, beside the stream of the river Ivel, here Psycho & No Eye Deer took to the path running northward through the wooded strip, while others searched out on the footpath running on the outside of it between the series of empty paddocks fenced off with electric strapping fences.  Paxo came back from one direction saying that Psycho & No Eye Deer had called “On!” from within the tree-line.

The Virgins Lynn, Kerry, Jayy & Morgan with Yaga, the Pug, were up with the middle order of the Pack.  Yaga seemed to be getting a lot of attention from the other Horrors on the Hash.  Interestingly the Pug is name after the Jägermeister (Digestif) drink!

Some of the FRBs had to pass the Virgins after they had made their way back from another Falsie, now they found that the Trail was now being ran on the outside of the tree-line around to the northeast, before it dropped down in to the wooded nature reserve, where it looks as if a lot of conservation work had taken place in clearing out the old reeds & hedges.  The Trail passed by the lake & then turned through a couple of alternate corners to head out to the Norton Mill lane road,

It was here that the RA was surprised to see Slug was running, he hasn’t run for years but now he has kids it’s all different as he had to try & keep up with Port, who was enjoying a trot around the grassy footpath!  Meanwhile Pepé le Pew encouraged Spillage to run to the end of this bit.

The Dust led out to a CHK on Norton Mill lane & the FRBs made sure that the Horrors didn’t run out in to the lane, not that there’s much in the way of traffic out here!  With Spillage hanging around at the CHK for Pebbledash, Pepé le Pew set about doing some FRBing!

Paxo, Pepé le Pew, Porky Pie & T-B-T all found the Trail heading beneath the A1(M) westward but soon found themselves falling foul of the Hare’s trickery as they were led astray, when they followed Dust off up on to a footpath in to a field by the motorway, a Bar CHK soon had them back down on the lower level of the lane to find the RA indicating (with his elbow) that there was another footpath just around the corner of the bend.

Sure enough the Trail would be found around this bend & the FRBs picked up the Trail on a long footpath over the scenic flat area below the rolling crop fields toward Radwell Pepé le pew & Porky Pie led the JM & T-B-T out on this long footpath, Mr. X pulled up as he caught up with T-B-T at the junction with a footpath that comes off of the one they were on & leads down to the river Ivel again.

The RA suspected that the others would be heading out to the other path that comes back & makes up a triangle, Flip Top was also hesitant in running that far & T-B-T was just impressed that they could remember previous Trails around here!  But in the distance Pepé le Pew’s bright red top could be seen going right up in front of the farm, it looked like Mr. X was wrong in his assumption.  But then the red figure stopped running up the hillside & then eventually turned around.

The Trail did cut back on the other path to from the triangular routes to the river Ivel, My Lil’ Sperm ‘ead knew this & as he was at the back of the Pack he took advantage of the first of the two paths to cut across to the river, there were a few howls of protestation, mainly from the Hare!!! [Pot & Kettle come to mind! – Ed]

The Trail crossed the Ivel by way of an old ornate, skeleton like iron footbridge, now the Hash were heading across the meadows & flood plains, but those who thought that they would go straight up toward Letchworth would soon be shocked to find a T on that route.

The Hasher from Cambridge led the way out over the flood plains to the northwest, Dust could be seen on its prominent position on the wooden duckboards to cross the small streams from a few of the springs here that feed to the Ivel from the Norton Hills.

A CHK on the third of the enclosures of meadow land saw Mr. X leading the way & hoping it would now head toward Letchworth in the southwest but a T put pay to that!  Pepé le Pew, Porky Pie, Flip Top & Six Pack were all caught out after following Mr. X on what was a fairly long Falsie!

Back along by the Ivel, here Slug & Port were making their way along further north-westward, so was Does She Knightly with Biscuit, Sloppy Seconds & T-B-T, but My Lil’ Sperm ‘ead was less enthusiastic to take to this path as Pepé le Pew had told the Hare that “You can mark your short cut for the walkers, now we’ve found the T up there!”  It was only once My Lil’ Sperm ‘ead had tagged along behind the others on the full route that Sludge did indeed mark the Falsie as Short Cut!

Six Pack out in to the watery edge of the stream & using a branch to spring across without using the proper bridge.  Porky Pie led the way from a CHK beside an enclosed area of saplings, the route he chose was a little overgrown & is probably as fire break, since no Dust was found up there.  Porky Pie was all for turning back & taking the other option that Paul had been on & not come back from.

Pepé le Pew barked out that they should carry on, Skip, Flip Top, Six Pack & Mr. X must have all agreed since none of them complained & turned back.  To reinforce their belief that they would intercept the Trail on a capped route up ahead, a quick glance through the tree-line revealed the SCBs on their way up on the early parallel path!

Six pack said that he cold see his mum over on the other path, the RA looked through & was shocked to see that Paxo was out on that route as well, his excuse in the Circle afterwards was that the Hare had instructed him to take the Virgins, Sis, Psycho & Louise on that route.  The RA noticed that the Hashit Duster in Paxo’s hand was fully erect in an upright position! (Ooh-er! Pebbledash)

From the back of the unofficial short cutters, My Lil’ Sperm ‘ead could be heard grumbling about not being offered a short cut when he’s crocked!   But Does She Knightly, ARP, No Eye Deer, Slug & Port had no such qualms & they continued with the longer route.

Out on the hard capped path & the Pack had now turned & most of the FRBs sensed that they were just about beginning the Inn stretch, Paxo even started running as the Keenies caught up with the SCBs.  Again the Pack were kept together fairly well, with only Roger the Cabin Boy & Kylie at the very back as they had to negotiate Charlie & his wheelie basket around. [Have they considered getting Charlie rollerskates to drag him around on? – Ed]

The RA thought that Paxo’s sudden enthusiasm to start Running was down to the fact that the Trail was heading toward the picnic area where the Herts 25^th Anniversary Trail had a refreshment stop, & of course the fact that the car park for this little park was once a notorious d??? spot!

The Trail now led across the round green space, which had been churned up a bit in places by thoughtless horse riders, to pass between the shrubs & bushes to emerge out of the car park, with its self-raising bollard to prevent illicit activities at night, & on to Norton Bury lane beside Nortonbury stables!

Paul & Mr. X were now leading the way as the Dust could be seen on a worn earthen patch, beside a footpath sign to a gap in the hedgerow across from the Farm, on the way by the barn the Pack could read the graffiti about ‘Ban Hunting’ sprayed on the brickwork.

The Trail disappeared through the hedge & led on beside another block of stables & out to the corner of the crop fields to the northwest of Baldock.  The Dust headed up the hillside & Mr. X was almost led astray halfway up the field when a purposely left blob of Dust right on the cut-through in the hedge down to the Norton lane was seen.

The Trail didn’t go that way & he soon realised that it would carry on around the edge of the field, Dust was found & soon the Pack were heading down the west edge of the field & down toward the Stables at the start of the Trail.  In the distance Baldock could be seen, especially the Church spire with the scaffolding around the top of it.

The Trail came out to the main path running from east to west, here the RA saw an old codger having a pee up against the information post, with a local map on it.  The Trail would follow the direction the dirty old man took as he turned to the right & followed his wife out on to the Baldock road.

            When Mr. X made it out to the CHK beside Norton road, he found Paul there with Winston.  They were for going over & searching the footpaths around the fields on the opposite side of the road, but Mr. X had his long distant eyes on & he could see a distinctive white mark on the concrete top of a drain cover.

While Paul went off over the road, the RA headed down over the A1(M) bridge & down toward Baldock Football Club, sure enough Mr. X found the Trail & he called “On!” but this may have been lost to the noise of the motorway traffic. 

The Dust was now leading back in to Baldock, which could be seen nestling in the bottom of the valley, it was along decent to the level & as the RA passed by the drive to the Equitation Centre [more stables to you & me! – Ed] then it was on by Baldock Football club, where he spotted a couple of motorcyclists having some lessons in the car park, he wondered if Pepé le Pew knew about this?

Anyhow, knowing the Hare’s trickery so far on the Trail, Mr. X thought that the Trail wouldn’t go straight back under the railway bridge, & it didn’t.  The last part of the Trail was to turn left by the railway embankment & head toward the sewage works, where the On Inn was found beside the narrow footpath passageway running through the bottom of the high embankment!

Once through the dark & damp, unlit passageway which had splendid acoustics to shout out “On Inn!” the Trail would led around through one of the fairly new estates behind the Church & on out beside the Church & to Sun Street.

The Pack slowly made their way back to the On Inn, everyone made it around to the ‘Back Bar’ which is a great bit of history as it hasn’t changed since the late 1950’s early 1960’s, with a black onyx Formica bar, red linoleum flooring & red leatherette seating it looks original, with exceptions of the modern juke-box.

A few up-coming Runs were sorted out, & Sludge raised the subject about having the Hares name on the Run List, like we used to?  The Hare’s name was taken off as there used to be an obvious drop in attendees as they associated the named Hare/s with setting Long Hashes.  Do you of the Pack want this back?  Does anyone ever look at the OS coordinates on the Receding Hare line? Let us know!

Flip Top was worried that the Horrors wouldn’t be allowed in, but the Hare had been in  to see the Landlord & everything was sorted.  There was a bit of a queue for service as the Landlord & his wife had to go out first thing, leaving the single Barmaid behind the Bar to admirably cope on her own.

Down-Downs saw the Hare reward for a great Run, Porky Pie was out for his hit for letting ‘Ginger Man-flu’ cross the species barrier when the RA caught it!

Lost property of Cam-rider beanie hat (Pepé le Pew), Cuff links (Ketchup) & the whole outfit of a Dinner Jacket, trousers, shirt, tie braces etc (T-B-T) which were left from Burwell house after the Herts Christmas Party.

Skip received his one for not joining the circle, the Virgins had their Down-Downs once Lynn was back from her phone call outside.  Though there seemed to be some confusion as to who she was & Kylie explained that they work together, this misconstrued at one point as it sounded like he said screwmate, but it was crewmate that he said. [Sounds like we have a Hash name already? – Ed]

Finally the Hashit went to Paxo for being a bit of a lothario, with an erect duster (Ooh-err! Pebbledash!) & taking the Virgins on a short cut!

Pebbledash was on form as the RA tried to announce where the next week’s run would be from the Plough at Tyttenhanger, “Where?” she kept shouting out as he repeated like lines as if they were from a bad Pantomime.