We arrived to find only Henry V in the car park.  A Cruel Joke was out re-laying the trail for the third time after the torrential rain but would meet us half-way round.  Ringer was late again but said it was because he was stuck behind a cyclist (Mismatch).

Henry V couldn’t be bothered to explain the markings to Nicky but we knew the walkie-talkies would make sure she picked it up and stayed safe.  “Well, I’m not listed on the website as a hare.  So, if you like the trail add me in, if you don’t leave it as it is.”  She did, however, tell us of a new symbol to look out for.  A “W” on the trail.  “This is a cooee check.  To keep us all together the runners can’t continue past one of these checks unless they can cooee to the walkers, AND, receive an audible reply.”

The trail led east from the pub, straight up that hill!  What a way to start.  We were all out of breath.  Lemony checked left only to be called back as we continued through the wood.  At about this point Epic Fail caught us up.  He was totally shattered having run hard to catch up.  He then proceeded to hug people – before the watershed!  What has come over the young man? 

We seemed to go up and down hill for the whole run.  We turned south onto a footpath that ran parallel wit the road and then West down a lane which turned into a track.  This led to Well Place where a number of the mums reminisced about bringing their respective offspring to the zoo that used to be there.  It was somewhere along here that Mismatch was caught texting her neighbour about her cats!  On we went towards Handsmooth Farm (where does that name come from?).  We had a re-group here to look at the monstrosity that is Rowan Atkinson’s new house.  How much land does one chap need?  He certainly won’t be bothered by the neighbours but the modern box structure was rather unsympathetic we felt.  We shall have to come back in a few months to see the finished article (if only to ensure the footpath is continually used) .On we went to the next junction where we met A Cruel Joke and turned north, going up hill steeply through Fludger’s Wood.  Fludger is an old Wallingford family name.  Or a Fluger is someone who spends too long in the loo!  Out into the open and down the other side before turning back towards the pub.  A reasonably level leg across the common followed before a final climb through the woods and decent to our goal. 

There was cake in the car park.  Lemony had made it as an apology for having left the salad and dressing she made for the BBQ the previous Saturday – you’ve guessed it, at home!  We sat outside the pub and talked about Ringer while he sat on a distant bench by himself to smoke his cigarette. It grew colder so we tried to hurry Hash Words along a little.  

There was only one Yellow vest to award (which Hutch had been wearing).  It went to Rubber Sole who was so keen to have one that she had been wearing it around the house before they came out.  “I thought it had been awarded to me” was her excuse but we know better.

Foot Note:  For those of you that care, Rear Admiral was not drowned last Saturday but had to run an errand to the airport for one of his offspring.  So it was for the best that we didn’t bother to send Ringer in his swimmers into the Childrey village pond to dredge it for him.

On On

Hare(s):  A Cruel Joke and Henry V (if you liked the run!)

Hounds:  Spot, Epic Fail, Dingaling, Big Stiffy, Hotlips, Wimpey, Lemony Snicket, B’Cider, Rubber Sole, Hutch, Mismatch and Ember, Rear Admiral, Professional Peach and Nicky

Date: 5 August 2014

Distance: 5 miles