November 4th - Norfolk Arms, Shunter
T’was the night before Guy Fawkes’ and a pea soup fog engulfed the city as the committed made their way to the Norfolk Arms. Shunter was our man on point this evening, which begged the question of who would do the checking now that Skidmarks had left us?
Attendees of note included Captain Colon and his mate Nigel (potential new recruit), Search and rescue, long time no see and Pingu aka the Frog - all will be revealed later.
Fast Eddie’s realisation that he had forgotten his torch coincided with the arrival or Search & Rescue - problem solved!
A multitude of possibilities presented themselves at the first check, North, South, East, West, NE, SE, NW, SW, SN, EW, endless choices! As it was we crossed the road onto Sheephill road and found a nice path to follow - all very civilized so far!
Shunter then decided to test our grips and ankles and took us down a boggy staircase, being hashers there were no fatalities but there were nearly a couple of croppers on the bridge. We continued to head down stream towards Whirlow Brook, a good 100m of descent according to my map reading skills ☺. Squiggle Queen Ph.D. (of newly acquired Hash Stash Fame) surmised that we would also have to go up at some point and sure enough that point came.
At the turn Desperado decided he didn’t want to take the path and led a party of two, including himself, into the woods. Not soon enough did we exit the woods onto flatter plains. Whilst the lie of the land was easy going the stiles were abit slippy and one or two succumbed to the hazard. Thus far the general consensus was that it was a great run but the little piles of flour hidden behind posts, leaves and cow muck were annoying - it was easy to picture Shunter sniggering to himself as he placed his little piles.
The trail took us back to Ringinglow Road - mutiny anyone? Nope, checking ensued, flour was found, off we headed down the track towards the scout centre. A hash rest appeared somewhere around here and we were not disappointed by Shunter’s baking skills. Refreshed and regrouped we set off across Ivy cottage lane toward bluebell wood - the scene of past stumbles over tree roots. Around this point Captain Colon decided to head home and cheekily kicked out a few checks out on his way back.
Inevitably the Porter Brook came into play and the pace quickened for the end was nigh. A few of us at the front used our instincts and wit to get us to Forge dam Café and the same instincts and wit to ignore the check and carry on regardless. Fortunately CC was still about and lit the way for us to get back on trail.
We headed up quiet lane and left at the animal sanctuary, we surprised a couple of horses in the field who were having an evening natter about the foul state of the weather. Unlike the cows our equine friends had little interest in our antics and largely ignore us.
Soon enough we were back down to porter brook and talk of scaling Jacob’s ladder began, this proved not too impossible a task and pretty soon a line of head torches was snaking its way up the ladder towards the pub car park.
In the pub Captain Morgan made a run-less appearance, presumably to retrieve his stray glove. Shunter started to recruit for the Boston (Lincs) marathon and to date has signed two fools up. CC’s friend Nigel seemed fairly positive about making another appearance, so it was not goodbye but au revoir to him. The diary performed its usual tour of futility. Otherwise, drinks were had, crisps were shared, another fun Monday night was had!!
On on,
Sticky Shaft
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