With the light disappearing quickly in the evenings, it was decided to meet at 6.45pm instead of the usual 7pm. A route was planned with open ground in mind. Another good turnout, 15 in total, not going to list you all, you know if you were there!
Good run, quite short compared to normal standards but a welcome change. In consequence we didn’t get the usual complaints, just cries of delight when we realised how close we were to the pub and we were not being lead off on one last loop! Despite the shortness of the run, Jules was obviously keen to test our off road skills and lead us through an interesting wood, where the terrain under foot was less than ideal and stinging nettles particularly vicious! That’s the last time anyone questions your map reading abilities, Jules! Promise!
Once the wood was negotiated the rest of the run was fairly uneventful and we all arrived safely back at the pub. Conversation around the table was varied. With Gullane about to start certain elements were getting quite excited, so much so that Chris was not even drinking. Jerome was the hero of the day, having had, a rather good game of golf, but he could have now peaked. There was a certain amount of debate about who was doing the Rowers Revenge this year, an investigation into who had actually put in an entry form and who had not, even though they said they were going to! You know who you are!!
With numbers decreasing and more alcohol being consumed the conversation took its normal nose dive, not helped by me! All I can say is that when not given a full explanation of why an individual has a nickname, one is forced to make ones own conclusions! My apologies to ‘Klit’. On further discussion I can reveal that I was not alone in misunderstanding, others had thought it was to do with his sexual preferences.
Next week is our final week and as with usual tradition it will conclude with a curry but this year from the Mowchak, Stokenchurch. We hope to have a 6.30pm start due to light conditions. I believe Susie might be sending out an email about the curry asking for numbers?
Have a good weekend, see you all on Wednesday! Could someone maybe contact Brett and Richard?
I hope there are not too many grammatical errors, David?
Kate
Friday, September 15, 2006
Friday, September 01, 2006
Hare & Hounds, Marlow - 30 August 06
Not a bad turnout for Fred & Jerome's suggested venue of the newly revamped Hare & Hounds which has seen a few transformations since my early years in Marlow drinking with the Marlow Mafia, one of whom it turned out is now running the place.
Amanda, Kate, Fred, David, Doug, Duds, Jerome, Jules, Steve (Spider), Steve T and myself assembled ready for the off. Dougy made a welcome return to the throng looking well stocked up on calories from , we were told, a diet of Guiness, cider and Irish potatoes. We duly set off up the Happy Valley route out towards Marlow Common. As we headed through the woods towards Danesfield the sensible group kept to the higher ground while some of our more enthusiastic members for some reason contrived to run up and down a few more contours. David & Dougy seemed to be a little concerned as to how far we were running away from the pub while Fred was giving instructions to turn right to do an extra loop when she really meant left. Luckily the leading group hadn't heard her anyway. After skirting the ex-RAF housing estate at Danesfield and dropping down steeply through the woods, we turned sharply back on ourselves, heading off towards Bockmer End. At his point David & Doug decided to graciously accept Jerome's instructions as to an alternative shorter route home while the rest of the group ploughed on to do that little bit extra. All in all quite a pleasant little circuit past Bockmer End Farm, eventually to return along the same footpath that we started on down Happy Valley.
The girls seemed to be very impressed with the trendy new interiors of the Hare & Hounds and were soon busy arranging when they were all going to meet up there for a girlie get together. The boys were more intent on the practicalities of arranging the excessively high tables and chairs together and wondering whether the beer was going to be OK. Turned out the beer was OK, except that is for Jerome's lager, which was a bit on the warm side. Unfortunately Duds must have had a sudden giddy turn on his high perch and managed to knock Spider's pint over whilst reaching for the Cheese & Onion. John the landlord duly appeared to politely mop up his brand new tables and was probably quietly regretting that he hadn't gone for the spit & sawdust look instead. Luckily he failed to recognise me amongst the mob, so I kept a low profile.
Amanda thought that the place might be good for our end of season run, though I'm not sure whether that's a definite or not. Fred mentioned that she wanted to book The Frog again for our Christmas bash.
Next week we're going to try a new venue - The Flowerpot at Aston.
It's on the other side of the river, so to get there, take the A404 and then the A423 towards Henley. After the turning to Hurley on the right hand side, about 3 miles further on, turn right where signposted for Aston. The pub is about a mile down this road. If you want to, you can park on the north side of the river at Mill End, then cycle (or run) across the weir & lock to the pub. It's difficult to park at Mill End - there's a public car park half amile along the road to Hambleden on the left hand side.
I've volunteered to plot a route, which Jules says must include some hills, so see you there.
By the way, because of the failing daylight, we will start the run at 6.45 pm.
Amanda, Kate, Fred, David, Doug, Duds, Jerome, Jules, Steve (Spider), Steve T and myself assembled ready for the off. Dougy made a welcome return to the throng looking well stocked up on calories from , we were told, a diet of Guiness, cider and Irish potatoes. We duly set off up the Happy Valley route out towards Marlow Common. As we headed through the woods towards Danesfield the sensible group kept to the higher ground while some of our more enthusiastic members for some reason contrived to run up and down a few more contours. David & Dougy seemed to be a little concerned as to how far we were running away from the pub while Fred was giving instructions to turn right to do an extra loop when she really meant left. Luckily the leading group hadn't heard her anyway. After skirting the ex-RAF housing estate at Danesfield and dropping down steeply through the woods, we turned sharply back on ourselves, heading off towards Bockmer End. At his point David & Doug decided to graciously accept Jerome's instructions as to an alternative shorter route home while the rest of the group ploughed on to do that little bit extra. All in all quite a pleasant little circuit past Bockmer End Farm, eventually to return along the same footpath that we started on down Happy Valley.
The girls seemed to be very impressed with the trendy new interiors of the Hare & Hounds and were soon busy arranging when they were all going to meet up there for a girlie get together. The boys were more intent on the practicalities of arranging the excessively high tables and chairs together and wondering whether the beer was going to be OK. Turned out the beer was OK, except that is for Jerome's lager, which was a bit on the warm side. Unfortunately Duds must have had a sudden giddy turn on his high perch and managed to knock Spider's pint over whilst reaching for the Cheese & Onion. John the landlord duly appeared to politely mop up his brand new tables and was probably quietly regretting that he hadn't gone for the spit & sawdust look instead. Luckily he failed to recognise me amongst the mob, so I kept a low profile.
Amanda thought that the place might be good for our end of season run, though I'm not sure whether that's a definite or not. Fred mentioned that she wanted to book The Frog again for our Christmas bash.
Next week we're going to try a new venue - The Flowerpot at Aston.
It's on the other side of the river, so to get there, take the A404 and then the A423 towards Henley. After the turning to Hurley on the right hand side, about 3 miles further on, turn right where signposted for Aston. The pub is about a mile down this road. If you want to, you can park on the north side of the river at Mill End, then cycle (or run) across the weir & lock to the pub. It's difficult to park at Mill End - there's a public car park half amile along the road to Hambleden on the left hand side.
I've volunteered to plot a route, which Jules says must include some hills, so see you there.
By the way, because of the failing daylight, we will start the run at 6.45 pm.
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