Wimpey saw Rubber Sole’s Buddy ahead and decided to follow her as she obviously knew the way to the pub.  It turned out that she did, but that she particularly liked the scenic route via Denton!  And who was going to be our hare?  There had been talk of Big Stiffy lending CS a hand – well, laying the trail for him anyway – but there was CS, trotting into the car park in his fetching white, knee-length socks.  Yes, he had laid the trail in them.  A brave man.  But maybe not as brave as Northern Soul who was not sporting his usual long running trousers beneath the Green Shorts!

A small, but beautifully marked, group was waiting for him at the pub.  Nicola was a virgin hasher, encouraged along by Rocket Ronnie and Big Stiffy.  She is a member of their walking group but was running well from the start, leaving many of us ‘old timers’ in her wake.  Big Stiffy played a blinder though, checking at nearly every check.  Where has his new-found energy come from?

Lemony took Tic from Eric while she changed her shoes.  They were parked on the road so she decided to take Tic back to Zorro.  On entering the carpark she was met by a picture of complete togetherness.  Rubber Sole’s Buddy and Northern Soul, both without trousers, their underwear peeping out in a rather fetching manner below their waterproof jackets, standing on the same, rather small, piece of carpet.  If only Zorro hadn’t been off in the field taking photos!

The landlord was very kind and allowed Professional Peach to bring her 60th Birthday cake into the pub, even providing paper plates and napkins.  It was an absolute work of art, depicting her in her Hash T Shirt, resting against a gate with scenes from her past depicted round the edge.  Her sisters had made it and it tasted as good as it looked.

We still had chips – although I am not sure we really had room for them.

There was only one Down Down vest to award and this had to go to Professional Peach.  The Green Shorts went to CS for wearing hip replacement socks which were still white at the end of the trail.

On On

Hare:  CS
 
Hounds: Rubber Sole's Buddy, Northern Soul, Wimpey, Lemony Snicket, Big Stiffy, Rocket Ronnie, Zorro and Tic, Eric, Ringer, Gatecrasher, Professional Peach, Bootsie and Nicola
 
Date: 23 February 2014
 
Distance: 4.5 Miles