Hash 1182

WE HAD SOME UPS, WE HAD SOME DOWNS
WE HAD SOME SMILES, WE HAD SOME FROWNS ...............( FRENZ)

Now Mike and Judy definitely don't do straight forward, boring runs and I think the above kind of sums up the mood of the troops at the end of a fine evenings hashing.

Remembered is the last time that messrs. M & J set a run from The Chequers, when the longs refused at the 17th extra loop which was when practically back at the pub and which had been gleefully added to the overall total mileage by Mike. Then there was that all time classic from Hyde Heath a year or so ago where the short was actually substantially longer that the long!!!

With these events in mind, and having managed to park in the weird shaped and non customer friendly car park, we dutifully listened to our Hare Pair who advised us that the short was 4 miles, whilst the long, six.

We set off from across the A.413 with an immediate long/short split – the longs setting off on a nice loop along the Misbourne, no water as usual I presume, whilst us shorts jogged off right before taking a left passing in close proximity of Chez Consden before slipping over the A.355 to disappear into the housing alongside, followed by a gentle jog across fields to arrive alongside and duly cross the A.413.

Now running to the lodges and assorted housing on the fringes of Shardloes, we hooked a right going through a woody bit and under the main road alongside a stream to reach School Lane. This was followed to Mantles Green where we went left up the long pull past Allen's Barn Farm to eventually cross the railway line and pause at Hervines Park.

After a short break to take the fine views and enjoy the glorious evening, we set off along an avenue of quality housing before dropping down back under the railway line and skirt Parsonage Wood.
It was along here that our hare and harette detoured us to the eerie monument of the Amersham Martyrs – six men and one woman who were burned to death at the stake in 1521 for their religious beliefs with the children of some being forced to set fire to their own parents.

Following Mike's enthusiastic and blood curdling discourse concerning this sad event, the mood was raised as we realised that it was all downhill from here. With the comforting sight of Tesco's in the middle distance we set off, finally crossing Station Road and heading ON INN.

All in all, an excellent and enjoyable 4.05 miles ..... but what about the longs I hear you ask.

It seems that Mikes cunning falsie up Cherry Lane, at the end of which he swears there was "a bloody great F" was, on the night without said clue, some kindly local presumably having rubbed it out. This subterfuge meant that the longs carried blithely on for quite a distance before realising that they had taken a bum steer and having to retrace their steps.

Well, all I can say is that something was definitely not right in the woodshed, it all having gone a bit wonky with the shortest estimate of the final run being 6.76 miles by ISGH who insisted that he did absolutely zero check backs.  Other people, especially those who checked further down the infamous "Cherry Lane" false trail, clocked up well over 9!  The general Hash chit-chat seemed to focus somewhat lovingly on the prospect of bringing back capital punishment for hares.

There was also some confusion as to whether the longs had gone up to Weedonhill Farm on another little bit extra which our hosts had planned before conceding that it was a bit too far, even for our fine band and the cry of On-On changed to Oh-No from here on – with added emphasis when it was discovered the trail took them on an extra loop around Hervines Park.  Surprisingly this seemed less than popular with some, although the arrival time at the pub was an acceptable 9.30, for some reason the longs all looked cream crackered.

Much mumbling and many furrowed brows were soothed by a fine catering selection pack of chips, sausage rolls and chipolatas ( baby sausages to you!) and I think all was forgiven – sort of.

Thank you Mike and Judy for another memorable hash – oh and Happy Birthday to Judy.