Run 885 - Turville
Run: 885
Date: Tuesday, 4 August 2009
Venue: Bull & Butcher, Turville
Hare(s): Big Stiffy
Hounds: Golden Shower, Twitcher, Plod, Eric, Baldrick, Bootsy, Lonely, Hutch, Rubber Sole, B-Cider, S/Shoveller, Penelope Pitstop, Cabboose, Highlighter, K9-Hattie
Scribe: Plod
Turville is a long way out for all of us. And that was reflected in the turnout tonight. Though it does have to be said that a few of ther regulars are on their hols too. Anyway, being the filming location for The Vicar of dibbley, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and countless other period dramas, it is also one of our favourite venues. A valley with a ridge either side, plenty of woodland, and of course there is the wind-mill.
At 7, Big Stiffy was getting worried. There were only 4 of us and there was a real prospect of no hash, just a gentle walk up to the windmill and back down and into the pub. But, all of a sudden, cars started arriving and the 4 became 15. But no-one was very keen to get going, even the GM and Big stiffy again started to look worried. Why was he worried - all was revealed when eventually order was called and he was asked to brief the Pack - it was going to be a long one.
Unusually, the ON was revealed by the Hare. The track alongside the Church. And so we were off. Up onto the Ridge above the pub. Up, and up, and up. On a humid evening like this one, this was going to be a bad one. We stayed on the ridge and eventually came down into Skirmett, south of Turville. The Frog pub looked inviting - all that water lost as sweat needed replacing - but we turned off before we got to it and headed up onto the other Ridge. Into woodland. And so we followed the ridge, eventually dropping down into Fingest. We saw The Chequers. We also saw the church - and this was the subject of comment by one or two of our party because of the church tower with the twin gabled roof. Just beyond it we branched off on a track which which was mostly sheltered by trees but while in the main we couldn't see around us (we were below the top of the ridge), we knew we were homeward bound.
And so it turned out, as eventually we dropped down into Turville and the Pub car-park. I forgot to ask for the distance. Sorry. But Golden shower was standing there with a large tray and a gooey chocolate cake. gooey chocolate and an apricot (I think) marzipanny type filling. Yummy. There was enough cake there for two or three helpings each and still some left over. Thank you Treacle Tart.
Once inside, the chips were duly ordered and we settled down to replenish that fluid loss.
Of course, Pressganger wasn't there. Hospitalised. But she provided the entertainment all the same. A Get Well card was produced and of course all the wishes had to include a reference to her foot. Poetry. Drawings of flying shoes. You name it.
A cracking trail Stiffy, I'm sure ther were bits there we've never been on before. It did seem to be a bit on the longish side, but no-one was heard complaining.
Next week, we have yet another change of venue. The George & Dragon, Upton. The Hare will be Gnome alone. See you all there.
Plod