Run No. 1388               27^th March 2011

Venue:                          The Victoria

Beer:                              Hare Raiser, AK

Location:                      Ware

Hare(s):                         Pebbledash

Runners:                       6

Virgins:                          0

Visitors:                         0

Newies:                         0                            

Hounds:                        0

Après Hashers:           0

Total:                              6

Membership:                On the wrong side of the Solent

With many of the regulars away on the Isle of Wight, celebrating Fliptop’s 1,000^th Run, it was always going to be a low turnout for the home equivalent.  Pebbledash was outside of the Victoria with Spillage & Puddles when Sludge & Mr. X arrived, she explained that Crispy Bush had been seen earlier wandering up toward the High Street.  But he was no to be seen again that day!  Did he fall victim to the ‘Ware Triangle’?

During the weight for Ewok to arrive, Sludge & Mr. X were impressed when they heard that Puddles had played Rugby for her school & her team won, overcoming all the others in her age group.

Anyhow, Ewok was the last to join the small Pack.  The numbers made it the smallest turned out of the year, if you don’t count it as a joint Trail with those on the Isle of Wight!  Mr. X turned to Sludge & said that there would be a lot of running for the two of them.  Where were the other FRBs when you need them?

The a very brief circle was called before Ewok made it across the road from the car park, the Run number was one out to start with, but then corrected as the RA realised that there had been a Saturday Trail down on the Isle of Wight!

Pebbledash had said that there was a level crossing to watch out for, dogs, parts of Trail that may have been kicked out by local drunks & that was about it.  The Pack were then ushered over toward the Kibes lane car park, on crossing the road Sludge pointed out a bright white mark on the wall of a building down toward the roundabout, just before the start of the High Street, the Hare persuaded Sludge to ignore it & to carry on to where the car park was!

Dust was found & it led through the car park, then out the cut-through to the end of High Street, of course Sludge now ran by the Dust he had spotted from afar!  The Trail led over the pelican crossing, then on over the bridge spanning the River Lea Navigation, to a CHK by the tow path on the south bank of the water.

Sludge & Mr. X followed the Trail down the ramp & along the tow path to a T, at least the Falsie wasn’t going to be a long one, but it succeeded in keeping the Pack together as the two FRBs met up with the Harriettes as they started to make their way down toward the level crossing.

On the way by the ?? nightclub, the Pack could see that the level crossing barriers were down to allow a Train in to the station, the Pack didn’t like the idea of climbing the concrete stairs to go over the line, but disappointment turned to joy as the Train departed & the barriers were raised.  The Hare wasn’t that happy as she wanted to see the Pack take the steps!

The Trail led on around on to the Hertford road, heading to the west but Ewok & Sludge didn’t get far as Bar CHK soon put pay to that route.  So, it was back to join the rest on going through the iron gate in the green metal fencing by the New River, the Trail now led along the much more scenic way of the green strip along the New River’s edge.

It was a long trot down toward the old Pumping Station, but all of the Pack were running this bit.  Having made it through the front of the Pump-house grounds, the RA & Sludge continued out over Chadwell Springs but their progress was soon curtailed by another Bar CHK!

Again the Pack were back together as they all began the steady, steep climb up the hill of the Hertford road toward Chadwell Springs Golf Club, but the old Hash Hacker of Sludge wouldn’t make it to the Golf Club as the Trail passed through an iron gate in the railings beside the road, now there was a steep drop down the embankment to a CHK halfway to the level of the marsh land.

Sludge was first away as he followed the path running along to the west, which ran along halfway up the bank, he was soon on his way back & was full of delight, not after being caught out on a Falsie, but when he could point out to the RA that Mr. X was cutting through the other T on the triangle of paths that join to the one that descends to the lowest level of the wet lands.

The RA looked at one really great path, it ran through some really choice looking shiggy that looked deep & had pools of brackish water on top, but before he could reach this, Sludge called on & Mr. X joined the rest on their way over one of the raised paths out over the meads toward the New River once again.  By now everyone should be familiar with the History behind this waterway, how it was built in the reign of Charles I to supply drinking water to London, something it still does to this day.

The Trail led on to a CHK by a bend in the New River, Sludge was quickly on to the correct route as he remembered the Hare’s talk of crossing the Railway & care had to be taken.  The RA stopped to look at a large stone in the bank that had “Property of New River Company” carved into it, though you couldn’t see anyone being strong enough to steal this, I suppose you can’t be too careful?

The Pack all crossed the level crossing safely & now there was a long trot, starting by passing beneath the A10 fly-over, heading eastward toward Hertford.  The way crossed almost the rest of the meads, along  y another section of New River before crossing an old pack bridge & turning toward the Pump-house on the edge of the River Lea Navigation.

Sludge & Mr. X followed the Dust up to a CHK on the tow path, they held the CHK they found there as by now some of the others were flagging, in particular Puddles was lagging behind, seems the Rug by had taken its toll!

Now the options of which way the Trail would go back toward the On Inn were down to two, & the westerly option was not the favoured one as the path goes a long way toward Hertford before you can cross.

So, once the Pack were together, after Pebbledash encouraged her “Poppet” to make her way over the scrubby marshland, with green tuffets sticking up willy-nilly (Ooh-err Pebbledash!) the favoured easterly route along back toward Ware was fancied!

The Path was pretty busy this morning, there were plenty of civilians out & about.  Many of whom were getting their final miles in for the London Marathon in just a few weeks!  As the Trail was picked up once more, Ewok was keen to keep up with Mr. X & Sludge & along the way she let slip that she felt like a “Proper Runner” as they mixed in with the scores of would-be Marathon runners!

The Path along by the river is pretty scenic, with the meads to one side of it & the rolling countryside to the other, then suddenly as the Trail heads under the A10 fly-over the other monstrosity of Glaxo appears.

On the way back toward Ware, Mr. X explained that many years ago the Hash once crossed the Navigation at one point where it runs beneath the fly-over Ewok said that it would no doubt be too high for her.

Further along the way, to the right a small holding was found (Ooh-Err! Pebbledash) with some stables, this was pointed out as there were some fancy Cocks (Oh No Pebbledash) that were ‘strutting their stuff’ for the Hens.  The Trail continued on along the tow path.

Ewok & Sludge both looked on the wooden footbridge spanning the Navigation toward Glaxo City, but it was the RA who found the Trail as it continued on along the tow path toward Ware.  The scenery improved as it passed by Glaxo’s sports ground to the large weir & Lock in the Navigation.

Over hanging bay windows of the red-brick summer houses on the Lea, ducks & swans paddled about on the water & the trees all seemed to be coming in to blossom. It looked like a tranquil life on the few narrow boats that were moored up along this stretch of the Navigation. 

Ewok told how she looked at buying a narrow boat to live along there on at one stage, as the Trail came in to where the FRBs found the first Falsie, across the Navigation from the Saracens Head!

The Pack negotiated the roundabout system on the bridge & returned to the Victoria just around the Hour mark, but there was no sight of Crispy Bush when they entered the Pub.  Pebbledash was at it as soon as she met the Barman, she asked about his blocked toilet?  You can imagine what happened next when he said that it would soon be unblocked as he has “A long, stiff rod!” to deal with it.  “You can’t beat a long, stiff Rod!” was Pebbledash’s reply

The Down-Downs were left until another time, since there was no sign of Crispy Bush which only really Sludge & the Hare to Pick on award Down-Downs to, & Sludge had been pretty good on this very good Trail.  The Hare was relived of the Hashit, talk then turned to how she unexpectedly received it at the Sawbridgeworth Trail & had ‘On! On!’ written across her cleavage!

On the way out of the Bar, the RA pointed out the two upright poles keeping the building up, Pebbledash said that she had the wrong gear on to dance around these!  No doubt she was still dreaming of Long, Stiff Rod!