# 1033 Starcross - Hotlips, Zoot and Coatcheck - 3 Dec 2023

Not long now until the the of the year, so please for your votes in for Rate the Hash,  https://forms.gle/Hzad75R1zy4WevKV9 Visit the website to remind yourself of many of the hashes, www.cityofexeterh3.org.uk. 

Rosie's first hash was not as cold as I'd feared, but she was still shaking!  We all said hello to her, wrapped up like a baby.

Wide welcomed the pack and the trail set off towards Powederham. A couple of fish hooks, and with Mad Max near the front, he had to join in the fun (I had to attend to my laces). 

Then into Kenton, down pass the village hall, and along the lane, where the marks seemed to disappear. Someone must have kicked out the marks as the check was a mess too; in fact Bollards, Wilf and I thought it was the sweetie stop. But instead, once Zoot and Coatcheck had caught up, it was along the brook and back to Fore Street where we did have the SS:  the lamma chews were great! 

The second 'half' of the trail was much longer for us longs. We took the back lanes all the back and beyond Starcross, up an almighty hill and down the other side. 5.5 miles in total and we enjoyed the special treat of John Smiths afterwards thanks to a Sainsbury's substitution.

Next week we're at Kingsteignton for Tight and Sorepoint's birthday at Blindwell Farmhouse

#1032 Twisted Oak - Stix and Bollards - 26 November 2023

Bollards and I laid today's trail, and we entertained Oxford H3 on their weekend in Devon. We arrived back from laying to find most of their pack, including GM Dipstick,  already in the car park, and we're soon offered danish pastries, beer and ferrero rochers! 

Wide introduced the pack abs welcomed our visitors, and handed over to me and Bollards to confuse everyone with our chalk talk. In particularly with the titty stops, which were - as it turns out - very confusing to all those little hasher-minds!

It was a trail of fish hooks, but before we got to the first one, the longs set off on a loop in the opposite direction to the shorts. The shorts went along Doctor's Lane, and under the A30. The longs had caught to by now, with the trail heading right, up what I now know to be called Scratch Face Lane!!! There were certainly some brambles across they path! And lots of fish hooks!

It's a really long haul up that track, but there was relief as we turned left at the top, back down again. Eventually we found one of those really confusing titty stops with the longs and shorts heading into the community meadows, and then the sweetie stop... a new experience for our Oxford friends!

From there, it was straight back home for the walkers, but the rest of the pack had a loop that took them half a mile along the lane, before a length of the trail along the old railway cutting, still decorated with Halloween decorations.

Down a steep slope and back under the railway line, and we had returned to where we were 20 mins earlier. By this point I had cut short to add in an extra fish hook, and a long-short loop. 

Then back through the village, over the A30 and on home, with beer and pastries, and down downs.

Next week's trail is laid by Hotlips and Zoot from Starcross Car Park (on A379).

Don't forget to rate this week's hash. It's nearly Christmas and nearly time for our awards so make your votes count. You can vote for any hash this year. https://cityofexeterhhh.blogspot.com/p/rate-hash_3.html?m=1

26th November - Sunday lunch?

On the 26th November we have a joint trail with Oxford H3. I will lay a trail from the Twisted Oak, Little John's Cross near Ide, and have booked a table for Sunday lunch afterwards. Please let me know within the next few days (definitely by Monday) if you would like to eat with us. Email me, WhatsApp or Facebook.

Thanks

On on

Stix

#1030 - Liverton - Hotlips & Zoot - 12 Nov 2023

As I laced up my running shoes and put my gaiter on , I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation in the air.

It's always hard starting a circle when our first thing to do was pay our respects with a 2 minutes silence for the fallen in all wars. 

11 of us gathered in a tight circle and received instructions from our hair is Zoot and Hotlips. 5 miles for the lungs and about three for the shorts, and it will be very beautiful. 

The sky was overcast, and as we began our hash, it started raining, with raindrops slowly gaining intensity, tapping against the leaves and creating a soothing rhythm. It was a perfect day for a run in the beautiful woodland around Rora house, where the trees were ablaze with the fiery hues of autumn. The crimson, gold, and auburn leaves seemed to shimmer in the soft, muted light, casting a warm and inviting glow over the trail. Speedy and I had a conversation about the Christian retreat. We were soon joined with Bollards and Stix.

The path ahead was punctuated by large puddles, evidence of the recent rain shower. My heart quickened with excitement as I approached one of these muddy obstacles. With a leap and a splash, I bounded through the puddle, relishing the sensation of water and mud splattering around me. The earthy scent of wet soil and decaying leaves filled the air, heightening my connection to nature. I enjoyed running with Blue, Bell toll's dog.

As I continued my run, I encountered a few rolling hills, nothing too massive, but enough to provide a satisfying challenge. The ascent was demanding, but the reward came when I reached the summit, where I could take in the breathtaking vista of the autumn woodland below. It was a moment of pure serenity and appreciation for the natural beauty that surrounded me. The rhythmic pitter-patter of raindrops on my skin and the vibrant colours of the forest in its autumn glory, all while it started raining, made this run a truly unforgettable experience.

After the Hash we were back to the Star. Tight, joined us, and we had a lovely roast dinners and conversations.

Wide

Next week's trail is at Blackborough Woods, joint trail with Taunton