Outside the Wheel, and following a call for volunteers to write up the run, with Andy a couple of weeks ago and Sarah this week publicly outing me as having not carried out my duty to write up the hash report the week after my own run, here I am, doing the hash report. B*****????.
Initially everyone was called upon to put on their red jackets and have a photograph taken with the friendly publican of the Wheel holding a plaque, as it had been chosen as the highest ranking of the HWHHH 2016 venues. Roger took it upon himself to take the group photograph and after trying two devices, and receiving no little help from Jess, actually managed it, although numerous latecomers kept delaying matters.
Eventually Matt one of our hares for the evening gave us a briefing which included an on-back sign which looked like a hangman's noose to me but meant that those finding the sign had to run back calling cheers to everyone. Maybe this was something to do with the fact that our two hares Matt and Mick had already partaken of the Wheel's hospitality earlier in the day. The longs were forecast to do a bit less than 6 and the shorts 3.5 miles.
It had been pretty wet in the days prior to the run so I suppose it was obvious that we would head out onto Naphill Common, one of the shiggiest places around. From the survey carried out by the Friends of Naphill Common the geology of Naphill Common is more complex than the published geological maps would suggest. Rather than simply being Clay-with-flints overlying Chalk, there are three main lithological areas: Reading Formation clay (north and west), Clay-with-flints (south and east) and loess (central and overlying both of these older clay units).
We had done at least a mile of paddling on the level Reading Formation Clay (so now you know) with deep shiggy everywhere, when suddenly out of nowhere appeared a group of mountain bikers with their lights shining; they received a great cheer from the hash. We were still struggling along on the Common when we arrived at the long short split.
The longs headed off left and I understand had a party around some telephone pole until the hare sorted them out - some rumour that the hare had lost the way, surely never - with some longs managing 7.5 miles for the evening.
The sensible shorts, led by Mick headed on along the Common, then right, back across the road, and eventually down into North Dean with lovely views of the valley on the way. By now the weather had turned fine, so it was a pleasant ramble down the road in North Dean and then back across the fields and up a cliff in the woods to arrive back in Naphill, with a short walk down the road to the pub.
Back in the pub it was a long wait for the longs but to keep us occupied we were supplied with buttered bread and chips, lots of them. When the longs finally arrived, there were further helpings, so that everyone was well fed.
Roger announced the monthly Tosca award for Zac wearing his Magneto helmet (with several hashers trying the helmet on, apparently, it blocks out sound quite efficiently) so he can't hear the many comments on his efforts. Well done Roger and many thanks to Matt and Mick for a very enjoyable evening.