This was the first ever bald hash for Didcot – no hares!!  Gnome Alone had laid the trail but gone away for the weekend.  But he had sent Pressganger a map of the route and asked her to take charge.  The trail was laid in sawdust which would normally be brilliant but the winder over night had dropped quite a few leaves on the footpaths so there were places where we couldn’t find a thing.

It was a beautiful, sunny morning and a large crowd turned up including 4 new people.  Two had found us from the web and the other two were friends of Call Girl.   

The trail went right from the pub and down the alley before heading south through Sheephouse Farm and left along the south side of Roundabout Hill until we got to the stream.  From here we had to cross the bridge and climb up the very slippery hill.  Ringer proved himself a gentleman by helping ladies up to the top.  

We then turned south again above the stream and then crossed back and came into West Ginge.  After a run through the village we ran along the road until we got past Betterton House.  Then a quick right and left brought us back out onto the road again for a short while before we turned right towards the church.  Scott, Hailey, Rob and Pete all proved to be front runners and Scott was a natural at spotting the sawdust.  But here there was a little confusion.  We crossed the stream on the little bridge and ran up the path towards the main road.  This was when we realised that we were on the wrong side of the lake.  Rather than go back, we continued to the road, turned right and went through the middle of East Lockinge.  A very picturesque detour.  We turned right, back on to the correct path, and then quickly left and back into Ardington.  Crossing the road we made our way to the Millenium Stone Circle, right through the woods and right again back to the church.

Back at the pub we sat in the garden and the staff brought our drinks and more chips than we could eat (well, nearly).  And Ringer modelled the CAMRA T shirt.  What more could we ask?

There were lots of comments about Gnome being missing such as suggesting that he was bang out of order!  No fines to issue either.

On On

Hares:  Gnome Alone and Pressganger

Hounds: Lemony Snicket, Wimpey, Buzz, Ringer, Professional Peach, Hotlips, Noddy, Big Stiffy, Pressganger, Penny Pitstop, Miss Whiplash, Eric, Wierdo, Dingaling, Cal Girl, Scrubber, Baby Slapper, Henry V, A Cruel Joke, B’Cider, Hutch, Hailey, Scott, Rob and Pete

Date: 1 November 2015

Distance:  c5 Miles