Glorious sunshine and a public car park.  What more could a group of disparate (should that be desperate) characters want?  Maybe a hare to explain the evening’s entertainment?  But our CS is never on time, even for his own trail.  The excuse was that lots of it had been kicked out – I thought Goring residents were far better behaved than that.  Maybe we are better off in Didcot after all!  He did promise goodies after the run though.

Because the routes are a little limited in this area the walkers waited behind to be pointed on a short cut while the runners were directed out of the car park and right.  Epic Fail still didn’t trust the hare and checked up the lane instead.  Wimpey was off like a rocket checking to the right – could it be that he had seen the check while driving to the pub?  Surely not!  The trail went left along the road and then took the left fork to get to the river. 

Apart from a fish hook or two and the odd false trail, we ran straight along the river for what seemed like miles. It was beautiful - sunshine, water, trees – and flat. Lemony, who never knows where she is, was actually believing that there wouldn’t be the usual hills that Hutch takes us up each time he lays a trail from The Catherine Wheel. Poor, misguided (or should that be simple) soul.

We turned in land by Gatehampton Manor and met the walkers – and Northern Soul and Rubber Sole’s Buddy who had got caught behind the circus coming to town and arrived late.  We continued East in sight of the river again before turning left up Hattnonhill Shaw.  What a climb!  But what a view.  Lemony and Gnome Alone stopped halfway up because they thought the scenery was better from there - a less acute angle.  Or were they just catching their breath?  Mind you, it was blinking windy at the top of the hill.  Worth making it at the front of the group though, if only to watch RSB run down and push Ringer up the last few feet. 

From here Zorro and Gnome checked the two paths off to the East.  Zorro called On On but was wrong.  Lemony went to call him back and joined Gnome in admiring the field of orchids.  “Don’t worry, Zorro will photograph those on his way back.”  No such luck he was so far away he had to sprint down the hillside to catch us at the next but one check!

By this time we were setting off up Primrosehill Shaw when we came to a check by a gate on the left.  Many ways were explored before the hare had to call “On” up the East side of the field.  “Don’t bother coming up here” he said to Pressganger and RBS “it’s a fish hook”.  Then, when he was halfway up he added “Only joking” so they followed us.  And this one was really steep.  Guess what, it was a fish hook.  Cheating gave up at this point and set off home.  The rest of us went back down the field, through the gate and up Primrosehill Shaw on the road!  Over a style and rightish took us into Great Chalk Wood which was beautiful.  It was somewhere in these woods that Gnome Alone set off to check a trail that wasn’t even marked.  He still called “On” so was followed by a small group who had been waiting at the check.  We later discovered that he had declared a Nipple Check!  Luckily the ladies made it away safely. We turned left and continued on to the edge of the trees where we had yet another hill to climb!  “There’s a beautiful cemetery at the top here, but it feels a bit odd walking through it at dusk” said the hare.  Yet again, a red herring as the trail continued straight past before turning left towards the town.  Down hill from now on!  The trail went across the playing field and through a housing estate before going onto the station platform and over the railway bridge and left for the On Inn.  Somewhere along the way a runner found the Terminal Check – a new marking for where the hare has gone completely wrong and the pack has to go back the way it came.  I’m not sure where as I completely missed it!

A wonderful run and then there was fizzy and fresh fruit salad with crème fraiche or cream to enjoy.  He does spoil us. 

In the pub there were two namings.  Kay and Charles became Baby Slapper (she is a midwife) and Tank Slapper (he likes motorbikes). 

The yellow shirt went to Jethro for a number of reasons – one probably because she was still giggling about Gatecrasher falling over last week – but mainly for talking through Hash Words.  And Charles, sorry Tank Slapper, awarded the Supergirl Pants to Ringer.  A good choice as he had been with the smaller walkers group so had not had much opportunity to spot misdemeanours. Bu this aim left something to be desired as they nearly ended up in someone’s dinner!

On On

Hare: CS

Hounds: Lemony Snicket, Wimpey, Big Stiffy, Hotlips, Noddy, Jethro, Ringer, Dingaling, Zorro, Northern Soul, Rubber Sole’s Buddy, Gnome Alone, Epic Fail, Pressganger, Cheating, Henry V, A Cruel Joke, Kay and Charles

Distance: c6 miles

Date: 12 May 2015