By Alice;
Just when you thought it was safe to return to MaeJo after the Cuckold/Sticky Wicket drama, Graven returns from hillbilly Eastern Oregon to pile on more pain in the collective psyche.
Sporting a very fetching orange pumpkin hat and black hash t shirt, Graven warned walkers they wouldn’t like it much and informed the pack he’d dropped his secateurs. Prize for the finder!
The first part of the trail was overgrown paths that made Shiggy look pleasant. Jesus H Christ, and this was after secateuring. After a km or so, Chuck bent down on trail. Hello? I thought as the metallic glint of steel disappeared into the lanky Sandgroper’s pocket.
Browny and Angry were busting guts checking ahead, sweat began to pour off us all. Cuckold was also working hard in the early section but had issues hearing On calls. Up we started to go on lovely stoney, forest trails and up we continued to go. And up. Not Pigshit up, but hard enough. Good practice for my new Salomans and old legs and lungs. And more up.
On flatter stretches once we’d attained some sort of wooded ridge line, we’d jog, Byte, self, Poo. I saw Browny, Chuck and Piggy up ahead, glimpses of colour and movement through the trees.
A powder V was missed by some and then the stony, steep descent began to test further straining limbs, knees and groins. Down, down, down we went, Angry faster than is perhaps sensible, much to Browny’s amazement.
In the forest at the bottom, the hare appeared on trail, a dark portent. The FRBs crossed a stream after a circle while the hare marked a W ON and arrow pointing out of the forest and a longer but easier way home.
It was trying and a tad confused in stretches as we jogged in zigzags through thick woods on thin strips and wet powder splotches. Finally a road. Piggy checked ahead on a mud path. Angry went right down the road after starting left and Byte, shoe sole flapping, followed Angry. On call was slow coming but Angry found powder at 101m, having given up at 100m according to BMY! Down the road we ran, and finally the A after +/- 7.5km and 75 mins of hard yakka. That was a workout, thanks Graven. Work on the hash signs next time please.