As I journey to the hash this fine, crisp evening - images of sugarplums dance through my head (or at least a long list of Christmas tasks before departing for the states on Thursday). Distracting myself, I miss the turn to Tylers Green and have my first on back for the night. When I arrive at the Horse and Jockey, the hashers are assembling and there are no car spaces to be found - On Back #2 to the Queens Head. By the time I have reached the group, the introductions have concluded and the trail has been spotted on left, up the hill.
After a few hundred yards we turn right onto the footpath and into the fog. Although I am accustomed to fog from my time growing up in Nebraska, this fog seems altogether more disorienting as my details from here oscillate between confusion and clarity - bare with me (as if you have a choice anyway). We make our way through Tylers Green and pass over the 474. As we enter Common Wood the hounds lose the trail and then find it again in several locations. Some of the longs appear to have found their trail a bit sooner than intended down to the right. While the pack heads left, I feel confident keeping near Roz in the middle of the two groups as clearly she must now the way being one of the hares. Several minutes into the confusion, Roz clarifies for me that the other Roz is the hare for the evening. Now things are making more sense. The two of us catch up with the early trail finders at an impromptu regroup where Simon is investigating some form of fungus and, soon thereafter, Sam and Ade catch up leading the contingent of the remaining Longs.
Continuing through the wood, we make our way down a fairly long straight stretch of wide path (the Chalk Track) with numerous checks along the way. During this time I was learning the downside of Helen's (who couldn't be bothered to join us this evening) advice on using the washing machine to clean the shoes after each run - my shoes shrink in the process. My toes, cramped in shoes that feel two sizes too small, are crying out for some relief. Maggie to the rescue! We reach a check where we can the Shorts ahead at the end of pathway that appears to be for amphibians. Time for a swim is Maggie's direction. Into the freezing water up to our calves we go with calls for mercy from all directions. As we reach the other side and prepare to cross over the 474 I am pleasantly surprised by a side effect from the freezing water - numb feet! :)
From this point on we made our way through a residential section twice joining up briefly with the shorts. Finally, with the smell of some delicious ales and a mysteriously reappearing David, we find our way on inn to the pub! Given that the GM, Gerry, Roger and Phil had all bagged us for the evening, Ade called us to order and Mike seemed to relish the opportunity to run us through the announcements and to bid farewell to Tom (from Denmark?).
All in all an enjoyable run! Thanks Maggie and Roz for laying out the route and for the delicious chips at the end.