Drizzle in Derby. It wasn't looking good for a Hash. Andean Sex Beast, Mamma Rose, and Non Runner had made their excuses for not coming, and Malteaser had chosen the alternative route on the Tom Tom to find our way to today's hash at Ye Olde Royal Oak in Wetton (hare Skip Rat). The alternative route took us along roads classified less than "C" roads, we were on flour part of the way, and by the time we arrived it had felt as though we'd already done a hash. The scenic drive via Ilam had already prepared us for a very scenic hash trail.
Despite noted absentees there was a good pack gathered as Horse's Arse conveyed the hare's instructions/excuses (Skip Rat was said to be out on the trail). This included newcomers Jim, Jill, Ben, Sam and Sheila, clearly dressed not for running. Plenty of fish hooks kept the pack together though in the absence of the hare (the usual target for front runners to return to at a fish hook) the RA and GM ruled there was no need to run back too far. This rule was only introduced after the first fish hook at which, unusually, neither the RA or GM counted in the first six to qualify for the fish hook. That honour went to You're in Trouble and his offspring.
Not surprisingly for the Peak District there was a lot of up, down and sheep. Ellie (no hash name?), Fast Fall, Strawberry Foreskin and Horse's Arse were the early FRBs with the latter fading at the half-way point leaving me to get on with most of the checking, largely successfully. A greasy downhill slope on the mainly bare polished limestone (the shame of it, Malteaser called it granite - I'll have to give her extra tuition) brought us into Milldale but alas no pub called the George, site of the promised beer stop. Ellie and I did four of the five false trails before anybody else arrived. The fifth trail being the correct route up a steep road to Alstonefield, and at last to the George. We were passed on the hill by Skip Rat in his car with pick-ups Road Kill and Wriggle who, much to our disgust (envy), had found a quicker way to the beer stop.
Beer stop at 5.5 miles and there was still more to come. Legs seized up whilst drinking a refreshing pint. The weather had improved and the sun was beginning to shine. Totum Pole, Lean Over and Flying Bottom arrived at the pub sometime after the newcomer walkers. They must have declined the hare's offer of a shorter route. We decided to leave just as Wheelchair got the drinks in for himself and Flying Bottom.
The road sign at Alstonefield said just over a mile to Wetton, but of course that wasn't the way most of the hash returned. I did another 3 miles before we got to the ON-IN, I'm glad the hare had decided to opt for a shorter version of the trail! Still, I suppose with good weather, and a good scenic trail, you can't get enough of a good thing. Well done the hare for a good trail.
The circle was held in the pub garden though several of the noted sinners had already left. Five pints were distributed amongst those remaining by the RA who was himself awarded a DD for getting the weather right for the hounds if not the hare.
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