QH3 Run 874. Conkers Waterside nr Moira

QH3 RUN #874
Date : Sunday 19th July 2015 (11:00)
Location: Conkers Waterside (nr Moira) (DE12 6BA)
Hares: B*gger and Goblin
Weather: Wet for the hares laying the trail, sunny for the rest of us
Pack size: 14

A change from our usual format starting not from a pub car park but the National Forest Conkers Waterside. As the name suggests, there's lots of woodland and water around here with a maze of paths so B*gger was in his element. A trail that never got more than about 1 mile from the car park but with many twists and changes in direction that meant some of us ran over 5 miles (see GPS map trace below). 
It was a good turn-out for a trail in the far corner of our hashing area with a few minor hashers away at the Euro Hash. Who needs an RA anyway? Although the hares got a right soaking, what mattered is the pack ran around in sunshine.
After getting the first few check wrong I had to adjust my brain to the fact that B*gger and Goblin set this trail so when presented with multiple options at future checks I always chose the least likely. That worked, most of the time.

Dope zipping along

Sausage on a saucer

 Some noted features from the trail:
1. Underlay was seen doing a check!
2. A holding check was placed in a park area of physical activity apparatus. B*gger noted that people on boot camps pay to come and do this sort of stuff. I pointed out that we also paid £1.50 (most trails) to run a hash.
3. A difficult floating log bridge crossing of the smelliest small stream you could find resulted in three hashers down in the mud. Wallington beat Dope and Lincolnshire Sausage for the most spectacular mud dive.

What short legs you've got Wallington...... and did
that shiggy smell!!!

4. We had a cultural stop at Moira Furnace.
5. Newcomer Stacey fancies the job of deputy hash flash - see the QH3 Facebook page for her photos.

Cpt Oates pointing out Moira Furnace to
those that might have missed it.

A quick circle was held at the water's edge watched by swans and cygnets hoping to get something more than a beer. This was provided from B*gger and Goblin's reject drinks cupboard, including two cans of Carling found in the park earlier in the morning.
Hare's were dealt with first - a 42% good run was awarded for a trail with many checks and 'features' that kept the pack together. Thanks again to Goblin for the lovely shortcake feet. Underlay's offsprings, Brad and Stacey were welcomed to the hash in a traditional manner, and Wallington, Sausage and Dope rewarded for their entertaining performance crossing the smelly stream. Underlay got a DD for 'virgin checking' and Butt Plug got one plus a bright orange T-Shirt (Captain Oates special) for his part in organising the camp-out a fortnight before.

That's the way QH3 Run 874 went....On On...Durex

Trail as done by the Durex