Hash 1417

We all gathered in excitement for the 1st ever Hash set by Fat Boy and 13th by co-hare Sooper (although it might be more as the stats only go back to 2010). Would Fat Boy have any new tricks up his sleeve we wondered? Any new and complex signs? Would the hash be measured in miles, kilometres, kenometres or bits? Did he like hills? Would he mound the blobs sufficiently or would we need our crystal balls to find the way?

This was our 5th hash from The Marlow Donkey, it had been a while, our last visit was Kezzer & Kamikaze’s 25th Wedding Anniversary run in June 2015. We hoped Fat Boy and Sooper would be cracking out the champagne like on that occasion, unfortunately we were to be disappointed.
It was a fine evening, we were glad we had broken the rain, sun, rain, sun cycle of the previous month. We clustered together in silence to hear what our hares had to say (OK I lie, we chatted, fidgeted and barked through it like usual!). As scribe, I made particular note that the long was 5 ½ miles and the short a mind blowing 4 miles (ouch!). But of course, we never believe what the hare says anyway, the short runners definitely hoped he was exaggerating!

A four-way check at the start had us flummoxed for a little bit, then the on on was called and we set off along Station Road, where we were nearly mowed down by a speeding cyclist. Through an alley way, left along Institute Road to the High Street which we followed to Marlow Bridge, which was closed for two months last year when it was feared a 37 tonne Lithuanian lorry had structurally damaged it. We paused on the bridge for the way to be found, then on on over the bridge and into a recently trimmed hay field. Then through a small tunnel under the A404 where we regrouped and Elvis had an impromptu mud bath. We entered Quarry Wood and even though it was still early, the headtorches started going on. Looking at the map retrospectively I see we did a big loop of the wood, at the time I was busy enjoying the lovely tracks and chatting to Sarah about Baby no 2, which is due in February.

Theoretically the shorts were to short cut up the hill towards Cookham Dean, whilst the longs did a sweeping arc towards Hurley. However, the shorts missed the left turn in the woods and carried on up to Grubwood Lane, inadvertently extending the quoted 4 miles to a blistering 4.7miles (nice!). Taking the track off of Quarry Wood Road flour was rediscovered and followed back over Marlow Bridge, right by the Church and through the pretty little back roads. At this point the first long out runner Helles Belles was spotted closely followed by Whipping Boy and Crazy Alan. In no time at all we were all at the very welcome On Inn.

Back in the pub which was dog friendly for our 5 hounds, we settled in for some liquid refreshment. Looking online nobody really knows why it is called the Marlow Donkey, but the name has been in use since the 19th century for the local railway line. Some say it comes from the train once being beaten by a donkey racing from Bourne End to Marlow. Or that it comes from the time the engine set off for Marlow without its carriages. Others say it is because it replaced donkeys that pulled barges along the river, but it's most likely that it comes from the use of a type of donkey engine that was used in the docks. Anyway, I digress. As we munched through the very tasty chip butties and shared out the cucumbers, (very appropriately) runner beans and strawberry plants, General Menace made his customary speech, and thanked our joint hares for a lovely evening. Many thanks, Fat Boy and Sooper Cooper