At the briefing Wimpey explained that, being Didcot Hash, we had to visit the town some time during the year, and this, unfortunately, was the week.  The trail could not be described as interesting or beautiful but there was one Hash View on the agenda.

It was great to see FBJ again, although he had only come along because football practice was cancelled and he wants to come to the BBQ next Saturday.  Even better was to see Twitcher again, looking well and definitely on the mend.  Welcome back, mate.  More disappointing was that Rubber Sole stayed at home as she did not have a shower room to use, and Henry V went round for a chat.  There was a promise to see us at the pub but she never materialised! 

We set off to the footpath beside the shops and everyone seemed to decide that the trail went right and set off.  Their excuse was that they missed the check but I think they just wanted to run round in a short loop back to the pub as the prices are so good.

Eventually, having given Ringer and Dingaling a chance to put their trainers on and catch up, the hares called the hounds back and we set off left, then right, and then up onto the mound from the other side.  We weaved our way along various tracks heading in an Easterly direction, crossing over the railway by the bridge.  Here the path became almost rural, much to the surprise of non-residents.  There was much talk about vantage points to watch 3 of the towers fall the previous Sunday morning as we ambled along.  Past the mobile home park we went, and up to the roundabout with the entrance to the power station.  We had intended to run over the park land but, as it is private property, decided to be obvious in our approach to view the rubble that was the cooling towers, and just walked down the road and up to the fence.  A photo was taken for posterity and then we returned up the road.  At this point a very nice security man stopped us.  Wimpey explained our purpose and showed off the DH3 symbol on his running shirt and the chap invited us to go down to the gate to get a better view.  We thanked him but declined and headed back towards the town.  We did a number of devious loops round the houses before crossing back over the railway via Cow Lane.  Then back into Ladygrove and a loop round the footpaths before cutting back to the pub.

Once there CS, who has given up being a vegetarian with as much gusto as he does everything, had a 20 oz steak.  The rest of us made do with chips.

A Cruel Joke was pleased that the green shorts survived his wearing but proclaimed that they should only be worn by skinny people.  So they went to St Bernard. 

The paddle re-appeared and went to FBJ for turning up, purely for a ticket to the BBQ!

On On

Hares:  Wimpey and Lemony Snicket

Hounds:  Epic Fail, Dancing Queen, Dingaling, Menstrual, CS, A Cruel Joke, Ringer, Wilson, Gnome Alone, Big Stiffy, Hotlips, Professional Peach, Rear Admiral, St Bernard, FBJ and Twitcher.  ABH and Wee Joker joined us at the pub

Date: 29 July 2014

Distance: 4.5 miles