Weather was better than it has been, temperatures above freezing but hazard warnings about ice-covered paths and water-logged football pitches issued by the hare before the start. A well-formed pack of 8 plus the hare set off into the hashing unknown, well equipped with torches. Less than 1 mile into the hash, checking down an unlit country path, and my left foot had already sank into deep cold icy water. Paths through a parkland area zig-zagging down a slope, the hare using teasing checks that if it was daylight could have easily been sorted with a few shortcuts.
The path up past the Ski Slope (yes Midway has a ski centre!) perversely had the snowiest/shiggiest part of the run. It was noted that neither Dobber or Lionel were to be seen on this part of the hash. The pack was keeping well together with Gobalot, Oriface, Malteaser and Goblin actively helping the more established FRBs (yours truly and Pigeon Hole). I thought Midway had a lot of shops for a small town, Malteaser informed me this was Swadlincote, our administrative centre for South Derbyshire.
I thought I'd sussed the Hare's strategy after correctly choosing the right way at five consecutive checks. Getting the next five wrong brought me down to earth and back to the rear of the pack. How did the hare find that footpath through a narrow hole in the hedge and what about those back passages and alley ways that even Butt Plug would struggle find? After nearly one-and-half hours, I spied the pub - rule 15(b) applies, ignore the trail and head for the pub. I wondered why I was the first back, Oriface and Gobalot religously followed the flour in a quarter mile loop around the pub. Malteaser was heard to say she thought about heading for the pub but couldn't do so because the hare was with her.
Dobber led the circle and there were DDs for all, in particular for Bugger for a well laid trail. This was the way I ran it - the Durex version of MH3 Run 224.
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