#1215 Ellerhayes Bridge - Paperwork & Sorepoint - 13 July 2025

It was always going to be a hot hash! Hence why the WhatsApp message went out yesterday from Sorepoint to park on the mill side of the bridge in the shade. Except I didn't read it, and wondered why nobody was there. Parking on the road first, because the car park is always packed. And then realising that the car park wasn't packed, so moving into there. And then seeing Spocky who told us to park on the other side of the bridge. 

Anyway once all parked up we heard our instructions from the hares... 2 miles for the short, 5 for the longs. F**k that..., it's too hot 🥵 😁. But we were told that there was a treat for those that did the last long... Thinking this was probably not anything involving food or drink, it was always going to be water, so grabbed the waterproof bag for phone and keys! 

I walked at the back as we headed off with Paperwork along the old railway line from the mill, while pumping down the waterproof pouch, telling him how good the bag was too. And then how I'd never been this way before, and he told me that he wanted to see where it goes... Chatting away, I looked across, he'd disappeared... So I was talking to myself... because it was a haha.

Back to the car park then, and Tampa and Fancy Liquor had joined us... Not unexpected that Tampa was late, but we haven't see FL since 2019!!

The trail then went into Killerton estate, and it's beauty really shines with clear blue skies. But it was hilly and hot, and I ended up longing for more in the shade of the trees because the trail in the open meadows was hard work! 

Thankfully the sweetie stop was in the shade, where the old photo frame used to be. Thanks to the dog walker (who Bollards knew!) for taking the photo, and who seemed to know a lot about hashing!

We continued on on, bit with the heat, I took the shorts, and then forgot about the special treat on the final long!! So got back to the car park, and then assumed the longs would cross the river, dragged XBitz into following me. And yes we found them, in the river, but no way to get to them because of barbed wire and a steep drop! So headed all the way back, over the bridge, and along the bank to find them. And we enjoyed a good oool off! 

Next week we're at the Glory Hole in Exminster (EX6 8FG). Beer and soft drinks, plus food provided. Please bring a pudding! 

Now the only thing left to do is find Son of the Bitz's shoes which he left on the car park...

#1214 Matford - Bollards - 6 July 2025

Bollards laid the trail with the help of Rocky, who had promised to assist, but had only got in at 5am. So a 8.15 wake-up from his mum was not appreciated. But after some persuasion, he did help, but then turned to bed for the rest of the day.

It was good to welcome back Gripper and Hansel, for a trail around ridge top park. But after a long loop at the start, the trail surprisingly took us into Marsh Barton, around the nature reserve and then via the industrial estate, coming back out by the Devon Hotel. Then right towards the M5 then into the new build. Another long short took us around the houses and did some of the trail backwards before noticing, then back on to the old Trood Lane and into Ridgetop Park.

The trail took us up to the viewpoint where Spocky had disappeared. He'd got ahead and then tried to loop back to find us, but ended up on a very long loop. We waited and he eventually arrived for the sweetie stop and hash flash.

From there, we were nearly two thirds of the way around the trail, and headed past the transmitters for yet another long-short around the meadow, with the shorts enjoying a moment with a scarecrow. 

On home from there, with Bollards getting a down down for child abuse (getting Rocky out of bed) and Paperwork getting a down down for waiting at a fishook. 

On on to next week, when we're at Ellerhayes Bridge. 

(Thanks to Spocky for photos)

#1213 Dawlish - Double D - 29 June 2025

Just a small pack this week, which was to be expected given other events going on..

 Weddings and festivals and more!  But numbers were bolstered by Brillo appearing at the car park after as we returned from the trail, having marched himself up the hill from the station. 

Double D promised history, off road, and pass weed never been before, and we weren't going to be disappointed. And 6 long shorts too... although we all skipped the last one behind the Smugglers Inn... Anyone who knows that footpath will understand how it's not a favourite thing to do once there are already 5 and a half miles on the clock!!

The first part of the trail took us around the houses and down into Dawlish centre, winding ourselves back up some very steep streets. We ended up at Oakland Woods, and emerged on to the huge field midway to Holcombe for the sweetie stop. Then around the borders of the field towards Teignmouth Road, and returning through the houses across John Nash Drive and working our way home. 

Good to see Brillo at the end, where he admitted that he'd forgotten to set his alarm after a late night.

Thanks to Double D for a superb trail, laid almost entirely by herself in the morning, and sorry not to do the final long!!