24th October - Brains Birthday Hash, Clyst St Mary - Tampa

Well this was indeed Brains birthday hash and what a fan base of hashers she appears to have. The rumour mill informs me it was over fifty, whats going on ! Anyway Brains other half, the one and only Tampa, laid the trail or was it a trial before us eager hashers. However our hare then realised that the size of todays pack out stripped the supply of sweets at the "sweetie stop", so as if by magic Brains was sent off to increase supplies.
We were off to a great start with a long/ short split the shorts seeing the longs within minutes, only difference being that at least ten hashers took a non trail short cut known as a short short I believe. They crossed a main road and not via a footbridge but our trusty sheriff had them in his sights, they were of course fined. We then thread our way through Clyst St Mary towards open countryside, where upon hashers were actively encouraged to get their leg over, in this case over a wall to gain access on to a footpath. There a large number of hashers using a vatiety of methods to achieve this leg over exercise. I am pleased to report that everyone made it although several hashers chose a different section of wall to gain what best be described as a lower leg over, see Fruity-Bitz or Baglady for more info. Now we were on flat grassy land the pack now spread out yet some where some how our hare, Tampa, in case you have forgotten had laid a cunning series of back arrows resulting in several groups of five returning to the back of the pack, most encouraging for us back markers. The sweet stop came after about half an hour of hashing, in the hamlet of Sowton, some of the locals passing by looked a little confused to see such a large number of odd people, the pack, all busy munching sweets, not a pretty sight. From the sweet stop came another long/split the longs heading for Somerset I think, it was ages till they were spotted once more. Emerald got the shorts confused in a small wooded area, most unusual for her with her orienteering skills, but she put us on the straight and at times very narrow. Boot led the longs as usual where that boy gets his energy from we don't know but we all what some. Woodpecker did his rear guard pace making sure he was last and bless his cotton socks he was, he did all the longs and Mrs Woodpecker should be very proud of him. Once back at base the fines were collected and happy birthday was sung by the "cats chorus" and then we all went home, some for a long long snooze, especially Stat-Nav who rumour has it watched the rugby at 17.15 Saturday yet got to bed at 04.00 Sunday, some rugby match !

Next hash on Sunday 31 October at Keepers Cottage Newton St Cyres, from Exeter take
A377 towards Crediton at Newton St Cyres school turn left stay on lane for about two miles until you reach log area at a dead end.

17th October - Uphams Plantation - Stat Nav

Well it was 11o'clock and the hashers were ready to circle up. But where was the hare?
Radiohead - the original hare was in London - hare duties hand been handed over to Stat Nav. But where was he? In the nick of time he appeared. Apparently, he had got lost on his own hash....why do they call him Stat Nav?
Anyway, circle over it was On On to the first check. A little bit of confusion later, well cunning back check, and it was On On through the woods. Soon the hash came upon the first long - short split.
The longs went racing off but the majority of people decided to undertake the shorts. The hare followed the shorts but went back to ensure the longs were on trail..."who's behind Spocky?" asked the hare. Dr Jeckyl and Woodpecker he replied. So the hare went back...and found Woodpecker...but where was Dr Jeckyl?
"Don't worry about me" said Woodpecker. So Stat-nav ran on. On until he caught up with everyone else. Luckily, the carefully placed re-group brought us all back together. But it also meant the Hare could see how many hashers had been lost so far. Well it didn't take long to identify that a couple of hashers were missing in action.
Woodpecker....ok the hare had gone back to find him......and...Dr Jeckyl...she was missing! A worried Stat-Nav asked the group when they last saw here. "You've lost my best friend!" exclaimed Up Yours. Martial farts did not seem quite so concerned..."where's the dog?" he asked? Thankfully this was no reference to his Mum...but the four legged family member.
Just as Stat-Nav was turning pale, Dr Jeckyl appeared...On On, and on to the mud pools of the commando challenge. The hare, still concerned about Woodpecker, was quite surprised to see our senior hasher ahead of the group a few minutes later. Cunning fellow that Woodpecker.
Up the hill to the sweet stop.
After the sweet stop, the hash encountered a cunning back check before going down hill, then up to a Long - short split. "how far is it?" asked Dr Jeckyl. "Well, I am laying it on behalf of Radiohead" said the hare. This did reduce the numbers on the longs but it has to be said it was a good run. The weather was perfect and from the top of the hill the hashers could see Portland Island. What a clear day!
Soon it was on back to the car park, beers and nuts, and fines! Birthday songs were given to Flour Power, Groucho and Twin Peaks. Next week, we meet at Clyst St Mary...Tampa's hash....Brains birthday!

On On!

10th October - Bellever, Dartmoor - Chip Shop

After the fun and frolics of the hash weekend, those of us from Pixies Holt set off to the hash venue where we met up with the others that had come for the day. In true hash fashion things started off in a confusing manner as cars were all coming back out of the original car park as it was pay and display and reconvening just inside Bellever Park.
Unfortunately Chip Shop hadn't been blessed with the weather and it was very foggy. We circled up and set off down towards the river where we promptly all got totally lost and confused eventually finding the on on back up the hill. Those silly FRB's got caught up with the first fish hook of the day and had to come back down the hill again.
At the top we had a regroup then set off again down to the scene of our first ever hash weekend. Shortly after this the hare was heard to whisper, "I won't be very popular in a minute", as we all headed up a very steep hill. 3 fish hooks later we reached the top!!! The view, had it not been so foggy, would've been beautiful, however, it was foggy, so the view wasn't beautiful! But we stopped for some sweets then set off in different directions as the words 'runners long' made most of us promptly head 'short'.
The rest of the trail was a fairly civilised stroll along the track heading back down to the car park eventually. After the hash circle, the leftover goodies from the hash weekend were handed out then most of us headed of into the pub for some lunch where the fines were handed out.

3rd October - St Loyes, Exeter - Blobhoblin and Tail Lamp

Salmon Pool Lane was the venue and no fewer than 20+ turned out even though the weather several hours earlier was very wet and wild. As luck would have it our hares, Blobhoblin and Tail Lamp, had influence with the weather and it didn't rain for the whole of the hash.
When we finally got under way confusion reigned as the pack reminded me of a block of butter, well spread. Eventually the hares had had enough of the chaos that they were witness to and guided us all on the straight and narrow for about 50 metres. A long short split soon appeared the longs almost running around the perimeter of a football pitch.
With the pack back together things were straight forward for about two minutes, when we noticed that two of the pack had suddenly disappeared, then rustling was heard coming from some bushes and out emerged Sore Point. Sore Point then gave us a story of food in Tunisia from where she had just returned, work out the rest.
Next we came to a golf course where again the pack were seen to wander all over the places, hares to the rescue once again. Having left the golf course behind us we came to a small foot bridge where a photo opportunity was taken.
Whilst on this bridge Blobhoblin informed the pack that we could have not used the bridge if the stream wasn't so swollen, he did a good risk assessment and considered elf and safety.
We all faced the climb up to the summit of Ludwell Hill, known by many as Cardic Hill. From the summit we witnessed the view that was City of Exeter in all its splendour where we all munched on a very fine selection of confectionery.
From the peak we were offered a long short split, most of the pack choosing the latter. Now we enjoyed the downhill bits mixed with flat terrain. However to our surprise we re-visited the golf course then came a grave yard, what was the hare trying to say?
Finally we were home to a nice beer/refreshment stop. Stat-Nav was the acting Sherrif, and did his job with his usual sense of humour.