| Date | Hare | Scribe |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Feb 2024 | Viv & John | Kevin |
Julie and I arrived at The New Calley Arms around 10:45am to see David, a solitary soul, standing by the pub entrance waiting for his fellow hashers to turn up. Kathy was early but decided to stay in her car utilising the functions that her iPhone had to offer. I was thinking at this point that no one was going to turn up for Viv and John’s hash as the weather although dry was overcast and the wind was chilly and even Viv and John were nowhere to be seen. I needn’t have worried as soon enough another 18 KVH3 souls, 23 in total including Viv and John, joined us for today’s hash.
KVH3 have hashed in and around Wanborough on many occasions, our last outing being July last year, so it would be interesting to see what trails Viv and John would lay considering they took on this hash at short notice. Viv mentioned that Nigel and his dogs joined her on setting the short trail so he could find out what was involved in laying a trail, Maybe Nigel will become a hare in the future!
Viv and John gave their briefing, the short was just over 4 miles and the long nearly six with the long short divide about three miles. Viv mentioned that with Nigel accompanying her she talked so much that she didn’t put much flour down, that would give David something to comment on at the après. Viv mentioned rare sheep – not undercooked lamb that might be on offer for lunch in the pub but Valais Blacknose Sheep that we would come across on the trail (see below).
On! On! We all set off, runners ahead but not for too long as there were plenty of check marks on the outward route to Hinton Parva, so many check marks that the walkers were able to keep up with the runners for the first couple of miles. Viv and John’s trail would take us out and around Hinton Parva where the short/long divide was located by the telephone box, the short trail would take most of the walkers back up Callas Hill and The Croft back to Wanborough, and the runners and a few hardy walkers comprising myself, Julie, Caroline and Chris would return to Wanborough via Foxhill, the Ridgeway and around the back of the PGL centre passed King Edwards Place. Both trails included plenty of hill walking which is to be expected in this neck of the woods! I don’t know if it was Viv and John’s strategic planning, something that was remiss of me asking, but after two hours of walking those walker’s who did the short and long trails got back to the apres at the same time!
As usual The New Calley Arms allowed KVH3 to use the side room at their pub for our après, which is very appreciated, and it became quite cosy as we all squeezed in to enjoy the social side of our hash today. David, as usual ordered chips for us all which came out from the kitchen piping hot which were enjoyed by all. GOM thanked Viv and John for laying the trails and although the flour marks were far and few between we all did return safely so there obviously was enough put down. The bags were handed over to Viv from Julie B because Viv doesn’t like the sound of the bells, and Mike did bring the horn to the hash but left it in the car. At least the horn is getting closer to a hash venue – maybe Mike can award the horn to someone at the next hash, assuming he travels there in the same car!
A last thanks again to Viv and John who volunteered to do this hash at short notice and used their local knowledge to lay two trails that although looking familiar were challenging.
