Following the sat nav was not the best way to find the pub this week as it took you straight on into the village, bypassing the pub altogether!  Luckily Zorro was standing at the entrance to the car park to shepherd us in.  The sun was shining but Milo was wearing his wonderful dinosaur wellies.  Very sensible as there were large puddles about.

We were gathered for the briefing at the car park entrance when CS decided to join the circle – in his car!  Late again.  Rubber Sole’s Buddy was asking everyone if they had a pair of gloves.  The sunny morning had tempted B’Cider to drive with the top down – ON HER CAR – and RSB had got so cold she had to sit on her hands!

We turned left out of the car park and headed for the common.  The runners had gone ahead looking for flour when Zorro pointed them on saying “You go over there.  I’m just going this way to lay the trail.”  New hares note – hounds love these little clues.  It was at this point that Piscine Down started relating “The Story of the Lost Key”.  Zorro had arrived early to lay an extra loop, parked up on the heath…and dropped his car key. ,,, to be continued!

The trail cut across the heath and met Shakespeare’s Way.  It was here that Abi, Piscine Down and Lemony met up with Dancing Queen and Milo.  “Why don’t you walk with us and let Daddy have a little run?” Abi asked.  Milo agreed and Dancing Queen was able to stretch his legs.  We turned East through the gateway and headed back towards the village.  We then turned north and into Doyle’s Wood and the first of the hills.  This was a steep one…and so was going down the other side.  But Piscine Down reassured us that there was worse to come.  The sun was shining and the leaves were turning.  What a wonderful place to be. We crossed the open space to the next wood and turned East up the next hill.  This one was no steeper but a lot longer.  Milo was getting a bit tired but made it to the top and earned a piggyback.  South again and back into Doyle’s Wood for the final push upwards before heading south round the edge of the village into Maidensgrove Scrubs.  This is where the walkers got lost.  We carried on South on what we thought was a level trail looking out for a turning off to the right.  After some time Abi (being a young thing) produced her phone which told us where we were and we realised we had to turn back.  This was when we discovered that the path had not been quite as flat as we thought.  Milo climbed back onto Abi’s shoulders and Dancing Queen’s name was mud.  We found the trail but decided that the final loop was a loop too far.  So we went up the road and onto the common again.  A few hundred yards ahead the runners were on the trail too making their way slowly towards the pub.  “The Story of the Lost Key – Part II”.  On reaching the junction with the path to Russell’s Water Piscine Down and Lemony spent some time searching at the rear of Zorro’s car for the missing key and then walked towards the pub with their eyes firmly fixed on the ground, stamping down tussocks and looking in ditches.  This is where two unpopular gents met us.  Dancing Queen took over care of Milo who seemed to have a new lease of life and Zorro informed Piscine Down that he had not lost his keys on this part of the path but on the extra loop that he had laid.  Even more ironic - the runners had seen the On Inn and headed for the pub, been called back by Zorro for the extra loop and decided against it!  They had, however, spent 30 minutes looking for his key though.  A good way to cool down.  Maybe other pointer to add to the Guide for Hares.  There followed a long discussion on how Zorro would get home to collect his spare key, collect the car and get back to Abingdon in time for Sunday tea.  Piscine Down said she would drive him but would complain about the episode for a week.  “Only a week.  I’ll take that happily” he decided …. To be continued.

The pub garden was sunny and warm.  Big Stiffy and Lemony had a roll on the grass and were joined by Noddy – as the photo on Facebook proves, he was kindly demonstrating a stretch for sciatica.  Not sure what Noddy was doing but then she is full of surprises.  Although the pub had been primed to expect us they refused to serve chips as the kitchen was too busy.  How rude!

After drinks and chatter our glorious club officials were ready to do Hash Words.  “The Story of the Lost Car Keys – Part III”.   How could they thank the hares for the wonderful trail when Zorro was glued to his phone trying to direct the AA to the pub.  And, yes, he gave them the post code!!! 

A new rule was announced – a free drink for the hare.  This was considered a great temptation to lay trails in future!  Was anyone desperate enough to give up 2 days of their life for a pint?

Ringer was tempted to award the Yellow Shirt to Wimpey for checking in the car park because he was sure the trail went that way and went into melt down.  But, as he didn’t lose his car key – the shirt had to go to Zorro.

The Green Shorts went to Piscine Down – the new athlete in the group – for running her first ever Parkrun the day before.  Well done.

Big Stiffy stood up to award the Paddle of Rebuke.  Well he could only sit for short spells after he and Hotlips had perfected the botty slapping technique during the week.  He decided that, after the fun he had had, the paddle should only go to couples – and awarded it to Wimpey and Lemony (what, with her back!)

We all dispersed.  B’Cider still with the top down.  I wonder if Zorro and the AA ever managed to rendezvous?  Or is he still there?

On On

Hares:  Zorro and Piscine Down

Hounds:  Lemony Snickett, Wimpey, Big Stiffy, Hotlips, B’Cider, Jethro, Noddy, Eric, Weirdo, Rubber Sole’s Buddy, Twitcher, FJB, La Crease, CS, Dancing Queen, Abi and Milo

Date:  30 September 2014

Distance: 4.8 Miles