Brownie teamed up with Graven & Banks for another threesome, and this was a run that I really, really enjoyed. We know the trails around Maejo, and they are great hashing trails. We just don’t know which combination the hares will come up with.
Setting off I hit a few checks right, leading the way up the hill. After that there was a constant cycle of leaders as one by one the hares thwarted us. Chuckie took the lead, and promptly got the next check horrendously wrong… Piggee too the lead and sure enough he got the next one badly wrong. From the Tigers head we made our way down to the square lake, and around it. I got one wrong, but managed to cut my way back across to rejoin Sloppy as we found trail heading back towards the square lake – the trail turned right, and we chatted away discussing how certain we were that it was a false trail. Sure enough, we had to turn back.
Robin Banks out on trail was grinning smugly – of course you know the fucking way – you’re the hare ffs!
The trail meandered its way over to the road and a circle check there had everyone checking across the road – everyone except me. I zig zagged back into the woods and sure enough there was the paper! Ahead again, and this time I was confidently 200m+ ahead. I called and pressed on to a V check. Turned right, and after 100m or so I found a check back. Every bone in my body said, screw it – carry on, noone will know, just turn left up here and you’ll be back on trail in no time… Damn you strava!!! Strava is keeping me honest(ish)!
I turned back and carried on correctly. Somehow None of your Business got ahead. You have no idea how unpleasant a ride home is if NOYB manages to “win”, or get to the beer before me. It doesn’t matter if I was to be carried in on a stretcher he would still be there gloating. I won’t give him the pleasure easily. I pressed on, pushing until finally he got one wrong. Strava evidence proves that from there he gave up and just jogged home along the road…
I was up front with Turkey & Sloppy. We were almost certain we were right at one of the last checks. So sure that we checked the extra distance, and sure enough found paper. Sloppy went back to do the right thing, while Turkey & I continued intercepting NOYB & Chuckie at the camp. WTF? CW? Where had he been? Where did he come from?
I edged ahead as we past the OnIn, only to take a memorable tumble. So we walked up the road together. Chuckie, Turkey & I, all of whom had honourably found our way to the end. We’d met the hare’s challenge and survived. Jubilant and united. As I smiled to my left I caught a glance over my shoulder of NOYB running up the hill, a determined look in his eye. I have to stamp that out. Lets run it in boys and teach the young whippersnapper a lesson. While we still can…