Friday, February 27

22nd February - Frying Pans CP - Spocky Bitz

Thirty eager hashers gathered in a circle awaiting the arrival of our hare, one Spockybitz. He then expained the trail etc before landing a bombshell upon us, it was one and on. Well we know about the banking crisis, but a flour crisis is a shortage of the white stuff. Perhaps not for he, Spocky then drew a rather lovely large circle in the middle of the car park and echoed those famous hash words, check it out. Well there were hashers going in all directions looking for the first blob, it seemed like forever until a lone hasher put us all out of our misery. However more hash misery was to follow within five minutes as we found our first back-check. This time the hare made it a little easier to find the trail actively encouraging us to go forth, go forth into thick gorse. No time for a risk assessment.For those of us wearing shorts this was no short cut, only plenty of short cuts on the legs, with little care for us injured hashers being shown by the hare.
Soon after the gorse we crossed over a road and into woodland, this is very pleasant one female hasher was heard to say as she gasped for breath only seconds later to do a wonderful dive on to the pleasant woodland floor via a tree stump. She soon gathered herself together, knowing that the sweet stop was close by. There was, so I was informed by one of the hash moles, hash violence over a packet of sweets involving X-bitz and another nameless hasher, they were engaged in a type of tug of war with packet of offending sweets, the hare soon took control of the situation and gave the sweets to guess who.
Within seconds of leaving the sweet stop we encountered another check but having been fed if not watered we searched with a new detemination for this first blob, once found we set off like blood hounds except one of our number suddenly disappeared, only to re-emerge seconds later looking slighty different, Fruity-Bitz had in fact done a dive only this time she chose a firmer surface, the net result being several cuts. The Sheriff ,Odd-Bitz, nursed her back to health and she was away again. I'm not sure if she was looking for a new place to fall over as rumour has it she enjoyed being "nursed" by the Sheriff. What a kind man our Sheriff is!
Finally after suffering two stretches of trail with a cocktail of mud and water in which several hashers got both wet and muddy we arrived back in the Frying Pans Car Park. Whilst enjoying a drink and hanging on to the Sheriff's every word a car suddenly appeared in front of us. Out of the car stepped two figures, Tuned-In and Radiohead sporting their new NZ gear, and very smart they both looked as they glided towards us. We've come for the hash, then that word "but"was uttered, we were locked out of our house and the car wouldn't start, jet lag or time difference were not mentioned. The Sheriff welcomed them in his own way by a fine for each of them for being not just late but very late.Slipshod received the pink handbag for doing too many fish hooks ,only difference being that his were to look for his dog.

NEXT HASH SUNDAY 1 MARCH AT OBELISK CP MAMHEAD

How to get there

From Exeter take A380 towards Torquay,once at the top of Telegraph Hill turn off left before over bridge.
At next T junction turn left and continue down this road for about 2KM ,turn right at next
fork continue to crossroads.
Go straight over crossroads for further 1KM until you see car park on your left.Meet in car park.

Monday, February 16

15th February - Valentines Hash Fruity Bitz & OddBitz - Lympstone







Love was the theme for todays hash with no fewer than thirty-five love struck hashers hoping that something or some one would cause their hearts to flutter.

The hares Fruity-Bitz and Odd-Bitz informed that all checks today were heart shaped and that any hasher confronted by a back arrow would have to run back to the hare and plant a kiss on their personage to which the pack murmured with one or to ah's. Kissing at all the kissing gates was actively encouraged, but only with the hasher behind you.

It was indeed a lovely day as we set out looking for love, with a spring in our steps the pace of our heartbeats was overwhelming. Rumour has it that Tail Lamp was inviting female hashers to feel his pulse.
Several hashers were indeed jockeying for position as we approached the first kissing gate with Ex-Bitz hanging back before making her move. Everyone tried to keep well away from Tampa while Blobhoblin appeared to go weak at the knees after the kissing gate - perhaps he wanted the "kiss of life". He soon recovered upon hearing that there were more gates of the kissing variety on the route.

So we reached a long short split in the play area within a large field and whilst the longs trotted off, the shorts trundled over to the play equipment for a play session. Bring on Groucho's standard hash injury when he fell off the balancing beam. No surprises there then! Next it was on on to another kissing gate where upon more strange positioning behaviour was observed - even in front of children!

We then encountered another hash check (heart shaped of course) only to discover that the hares had become heartless when the shorts, including women and children, were subjected to wading up a freezing stream for what seemed to be forever.

Once we had all reached dry land our hares gave us a sweetie stop featuring love hearts and heart shaped chocolates along with wine gums etc. However disaster befell Scarf Face who upon planting a wine gum into her mouth managed lose one of her nashers within the said offending wine gum. She responded well to some TLC afer all it was a Love Hash.

We set off once more but within minutes we encountered another long/short split only difference being that the shorts had to double back on themselves fthrough yet another kissing gate and into a very muddy footpath, which reminded some of us of the previous weeks hash.

Once back in the car park refreshments were served care of Tampa and the hash choir (aka the cats chorus) give a lovely Happy Birthday song to Ash followed by a naming for Fruity-Bitz's daughter, now known in these parts as Tall and Fruity.

Finally if anyone knows of a hasher called Jamie could they please contact Chesty as she was heard to repeat his name several times, perhaps she's Love Struck.

Next weeks hash at Frying Pans Car Park Woodbury Common.

Tuesday, February 10

Sunday 8th February - Exeter Arena - Blobhoblin and TwinPeaks












Twas a very brrrrrrrrrrrr morning as hashers,18 in all arrived at the venue,just like penguins we huddled around in a close hash circle for warmth. One hasher however, Miss X-bitz went for bear hugs from any male hashers who had been abandoned from the circle,What can we say ! Next our two hares appeared, Twin Peaks and Blobhoblin, and it was noticed that Miss Peaks had a radiating smile on her face whilst Blobhoblin was a whiter shade of pale. One hasher could be heard to utter "look at the state of them, where have they been and what did they do"?

Anyway, the hares give out the usual instructions along with a new sign, an Ahh stop -more later. We set off from the car park only to face the hazards of Shag-Pile and Swooner arriving, late of course. In true hash style we carried on leaving them to catch up which didn't take long. Within five minutes we encountered mud, glorious mud followed by water. How thoughtful to return to having clean trainers even if it was only for a few minutes.

Suddenly we were scaling the dizzy heights above Pinhoe in snow and also looking for flour marks - or green flour marks to be more accurate! Soon, still climbing, we entered a snow field. I remember seeing pictures and reading about snow fields in the National Geographic. This scene high above Pinhoe though was some what disappointing.

Leaving the snow field behind us we continued climbing up the snow covered Devon Alps until at last we reached the "AH" stop. We all looked but could not find anything to AH about until Blobhoblin told us that horses came to the gate to see them as they laid the trail. Maybe the farmer had seen our two strangely clad hares and removed the horses so as not to scare them when more strangely clad hashers arrived later.

Before leaving the AH stop, Miss Peaks (being one of Devon's more considerate hares), informed us of ice on the next part of the trail. When asked if she had done a risk assessment the hashers got the following reply: "If you don't fall over you're alright. If you do fall over its your own bloody fault". Well you can't have it fairer than that!

Referring back to the AH stop, we agreed that ah was more appicable to the ice ridden surface on which we were now running... or was it skating? I'd never taken part in "Hashing on Ice" - a truely different experience. Once clear of the ice the hares rewarded us with a sweetie stop and three varieties of sweets to choose from. That stopped the moaning!

Next came what can only be described as "Mud Bath Alley" with the only difference being bath tubs are on level ground. This particular bath was angled at forty-five degrees and not in our favour! It was like climbing up a well greased conveyer belt. Once at the top there was a very welcome hash halt where we were all able to recover from our climb of the Devon Alps.

It was at this point where several hashers (three muskateers), took a non hash route otherwise known as a short cut. It was reported that one the said 3 having come on the hash with a map.

When we finally arrived back home Spockybitz informed us that we had been on a mini A2B to make up for yesterdays cancelled A2B and that we had covered over 8 miles.Then horror set in as may hashers noticed the lack of the beer meisters car!! Tampa, one of the short cutters, has gone home we wailed. Then, as if by magic, his car zoomed into the car park with Emerald armed with a tin in which was sliced up cake.

Soon all was well again with by now happy hashers digging into cake and swallowing beer. No hash is complete without a naming ceremony and we are thrilled to announce that Rob is no longer Rob but is delighted with his new hash name of "Shag-pile". We will leave you to wonder why??

Next weeks hash is at Lympstone Village Car at 11.00hrs

Monday, February 2

1st February 2009 - Core Copse, East Hill Strips - Howling Wilf + Slipshod


A record turnout today despite the bitterly cold wind, 34 hashers in total as well as our 4 legged friends. No time was wasted at the hash circle as Howling Wilf gave us the run down, which included 'no fish hooks because I disagree with them'!!! Oh really????? Today, he had been ably assisted by Slipshod, a virgin hare. Off we set en masse over the road. With all the rain of late it was a bit boggy underfoot. We quickly arrived at the first long /short split, with the longs running down a long track, loop round and back up another long track, well you can't complain you hadn't warmed up.
Along the track led us to an arrow where we had to negotiate a steep bank that climbed up and up and up for a fair old while. Lucky our lord and master Groucho wasn't here today, he'd definitely have gone arse upwards! As it was, Chesty took up this mantle today and despite warning from Stat Nav of 'mind the branch', slipped forward and ended up on the ground!
On to a regroup at the top of the hill before we were called on on over the road. This led us onto a nice long stretch before another regroup next to a frozen puddle. This was where Pony Wire and Flour Power decided to try and jump over the puddle........they didn't make it! Both ended up with their feet getting a dunking in the middle of the puddle.
From here we headed down towards the firing range....yes the shots were getting louder by the second, I'm not sure if the hares were setting a booby trap for us???We arrived at a small track where there were some very dodgy looking 'youfs' sat in their vans/cars engines running, fumes pumping out. All looked a bit suspicious if you ask me.....never did figure out what they were up to? Mind you, I expect they wondered what on earth was going on with a crowd of adults, children and dogs wandering around looking lost, as we did for about 5 minutes until the hare came to our rescue and called on on.
Down the bank we went onto the lower track where we had another long / short split, though by now the firing seemed to be so close, Dirtband commented it ought to be a long / shot split! The long consisted of running down the huge hill only to find a back check at the bottom.....harsh, very harsh.
We met back up with the shorts to arrive at the sweetie stop. It was here JC decided to set the cat among the pigeons, or the jack russells among the hashers. As a dog walked by with it's 2 owners he and JC had a bit of an altercation. The owners got all stroppy and tutted and made a point of checking their dog over when they'd got past us. Bunch of pansies, there was nothing wrong with the dog apart from having a pair of po-faced owners! You tell 'em JC!
Off we went up the hill where needless to say there was a back check at the top. The trail went off up the bank to the side, another very steep one, I think Chesty did ok this time! On the track at the top we managed to acquire an extra hash dog, a huge fluffy looking thing. He was having a whale of a time.
It was somewhere around here that that a fish hook was found....remember.....those things Howling Wilf doesn't agree with???
Anyway, on we went through the forest where Emerald found herself a perfect little perch. One of the workmen obviously with a lot of time on his hands, had carved a tree stump into a little seat, see blog photos. From here we found the on home and all arrived back at the car park.
Only one fine was handed out to Ringpiece for a very out of character(!) stupid comment to Fruity.
On On to next week at Exeter Arena, Whipton.