Friday, February 24

Sunday 26th February 2012 Hash Aylesbeare Inn

Note this weeks hash will start from the pub and not the village hall a very good choice i think.The pub is an excellent example of a traditional village pub and it is hoped some hashers may pop in for refreshment after the trail.The map of where to go can be found by clicking the link below
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=303754&Y=91845&A=Y&Z=120

12th February Bridge Farm Stoke Cannon-Groucho

Groucho must be lacking confidence.  We turned up at the venue and it looked like there weren’t too many hashers there.  However, Groucho said he thought there would have been even less so there may not be enough sweeties to go round (there were).  Poor Groucho was having a bad day but it gets worse.  However, he was ably assisted by um um was it Blob or Taillamp – note to self – do the blog same day.

Anyway, onon to the trail.  But wait, Groucho is explaining – “There’s a check just there look, but ignore that one.  Onon up there look, there’s another check, you can ignore that one too, just turn right” (Groucho indicates by pointing to the left).  Ok, so it looks like we are on our own then.

Onon to very icy puddles broken open by the dogs and then a check that took some time to sort, with hashers in every direction across fields.  Eventually, a distant shout of ‘onon’ could be heard from FF. This was very much the theme, with checks and even fishhooks in the middle of large fields.  Hashers spreading out like a fan.  No wonder the hare was showing signs of stress, this is awesome gambling for trail laying especially with us lot.  It worked well though, clever haring I say.  “What’s going on?” I can hear Groucho calling.

We eventually reached the sweet stop and had a break and jolly refreshment.  Onon to the second part of the trail and some good tracks, fields and views.  Coming into the final half mile and clambering under an electric fence, there was a very noisy Woodpecker during a customary fall.  Most of us went the wrong way not realising/believing that Groucho had secured permission to go through someone’s private bungalow – didn’t it mess up their carpets?

Back at the Farm, mud was washed or scraped off, fines (of which there were many) were awarded, Oddbitz was awared the pink handbag for a rubbish joke at the sweety stop, a bit more banter was exchanged and everyone drifted off after what turned out to be a really nice and refreshing trail.  Thanks Groucho and um um.

Monday, February 13

Sunday 5th February - Four Firs, Woodbury Common - Tampa

Our gallant hare in the shape of Tampa took a fair maiden to help him lay,
to lay the trail I should correctly say.
Rumour has it he gave this maid lots of tips
plus of course a few dirty tricks.

She in turn was very impressed so I've been told
by the wonderful trail that began to unfold.
This maid was given all the signs by her tutor
signs on the trail that is,
long/short splits threw her a bit
But Tampa our hare made every thing fit.
Fit into place these the blobs of flour did do
even though our maiden didn't always have a clue.

The route over which this maiden did go was tiring she did say
I seem to have been on Woodbury most of the day.
With cunning plans Tampa did reveal,
reveal that a successful hash its more of a sprint, or was it a dash.
Well done to tutor Tampa, standing tall,
whilst our fair maiden Freeze-Frame survived to tell us all.

A poem cobbled together by What the Dickens Productions

WELL DONE BOTH HARES

Tuesday, February 7

Directions to this weekends hash - 12th February at Bridge Farm

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=293970&y=97400&z=120&sv=293970%2c97400&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=853&ax=293970&ay=97400&lm=0

A big well done to Spocky and Radiohead

Spocky took part in The Four Trigs on Sunday 5th February and completed the 17 mile cross country route in 3hrs 17mins, also a PB for him, well done.

On Saturday 4th February, Radiohead took part in the Moonlight Challenge (yes, at night....wierdo!) which was 32.75 miles on various terrain which he completed in 5hrs 7mins and came in 2nd place! Well done.

Sunday 29th January 2012 - Harcombe CP off Haldon Hill - Woodpecker

It was one of those horrid mornings when all looked so grey; so cold; so uninviting to leave the warm sanctum of home, specifically bed, to go hashing. However, the warming thought of Woodpecker’s first trail of 2012, and that he was our newly awarded Hare of the Year 2011 would make the effort all so worthwhile. That’s what PP said anyway. I was still asleep!
First thoughts were correct though as it was so grey; so cold and so uninviting. The biting wind and chill up on Haldon Hill were extremely evident on leaving the car. 20 or so hardened Hashers of the ‘Woodpecker Appreciation Society’ braved the elements. Tampa, Brains and Coffin arrived late, which led to a family domestic later on as to whose fault it was when as acting Sheriff I issued fines their way. 

There was a fascinating discussion between Freeze Frame’s and Julian’s son Henry and Spocky all about cars; ‘CARS’ the movie. The fact Spocky knew as much about the movie as young Henry was rather worrying, yet also unsurprising. Without much hanging around the trail was briefed, 3 and On, Fish hooks for ‘N’ (everyone) and that the Sweetie Stop was approx 70% of the way around, so no need to panic if we felt the trail had gone on too long. The only ‘Long / Shorts’ were the ones Woodpecker was wearing!! 

On On and off we went, through the woods, bogs and shiggy. Skippy and Dobbie, like son, like father, led the pack, but soon copped the fish hooks which brought them back into the fold once more. Woodpecker was always pleased to see PP when she was ‘fish hooked’ as he always got a big hug, rather than the usual ‘high 5’. At times the trail proved elusive, but that was more our fault for not looking / checking, rather than our ‘Hare of the Year’ not laying another ‘Hare of the Year’ worthy trail. The cold must have affected out eyesight – it was there alright. 

So, at the estimated 70% trail completed stage lo and behold we were at the Sweetie Stop. Being there first, Skippy found the sweets, and it wasn’t long before the whole pack had arrived. I say whole pack; those walking had yet to show. PP went for a PP, and Spocky needed one as well. I pointed out to him where PP was using the ‘Ladies’ tree’, but where Spocky wanted to go he nearly found PP anyway. Was she using the ‘Gents tree’? Someone was using the ‘wrong tree’.

Sweets duly consumed, Woodpecker was rather anxious as to where the walkers were. Spocky decided to hold 10 seconds silence in memory of those ‘lost’ walkers, and to hold some sweets back for them. Skippy then decided to reveal that the sweet bags were already open when he found them. Woodpecker was saved from the brink of further anxiety, as it meant the walkers had been there and gone. Panic over, on we went for the final 30% of the great trail and On Home. 

Being that Twin Peaks was away, third week in a row – got Stat-Nav-itus possibly??? something Sheriffs seem to get at C of E H3, I stepped in as acting Sheriff.

Fines went to Skippy for the Sweet Stop incident, Dobbie for use of nerd names – calling someone ‘Tim’; EJ, for responding to the nerd name ‘Tim’, Tampa for being late, Coffin for trying to blame Brains for their being late, Spocky and PP for using the wrong ‘public trees’. Pink Handbag was awarded to Skippy in an attempt to slow him down somewhat.

 There were 3 namings – Freeze Frame’s family. Son Henry became ‘Booster’ (reference to CARS the movie and the attachments one car has), Son James became ‘Trail Blazer’ (he brought an O/S Map so as not to get lost; or to lead the way maybe?), and Hubby Julian became ‘Blanc’er’ (pronounced ‘Blonker’ – reference to his forth coming attempt to climb Mount Blanc, apparently without very much training – as told by him to Spocky. What a Blanc’er!!! – for telling Spocky that is!!)

A very enjoyable trail, and by my technology, around 4 miles through a very pleasant area of Haldon. Thank you Woodpecker. The best trail you’ve laid this year. On On FF.

Thursday, February 2

Sunday 5th Feb 2012 hash directions and other matters

The directions for Sundays 5th Feb hash are http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=303181&Y=86375&A=Y&Z=120&ax=303181&ay=86375

Good luck to all those doing the Four Trigs on Sunday,a self navigated race around Trig points around the Sid Valley involving 16.2miles of running/walking and 2999 ft of ascent also anybody running the Fulfords 5 in Exmouth and finally Radiohead who is doing the moonlight challenge in Kent.

Sunday 22nd January 2012 Castle Car Park Woodbury Common -Spocky Bitz

I don't understand it, more hares are arriving earlier to lay their hashes.Spockybitz was out in the environs by 08.00 hrs, what does it all mean ? He appeared in the car park with only minutes to spare and covered in sweat, claiming he had just done seven miles, that old chestnut ! No pity was shown from the rather large pack, some 45+ at a guess. Our hare then explained that he had laid both a hashers and a walkers trail, what a considerate hare he is (or trying to regain his hare of the year title i think) Anyway we were sent on a merry way dodging through/between trees for the first ten minutes, best described as a general meander, then we climbed on and around the moat area of the castle remains before reaching open land. Before us lay what can best be described as bog, good honest bog the sort that is sure to leave you with very wet feet, need I say any more. This natural environment certainly spead out the pack some doing better, much better than others. As luck would have it there was a long short at the far end of this seemingly never ending bog which was greeted with relief by the likes of Groucho and Tail-Lamp who took the short route. Soon after we reached the sweet stop set in a nice wooded area where every hasher seemed to have a nose bag, it was feeding time ! Once off we were treated to a spell of flat terrain with the pack going along at various speeds passing trees on both sides of the route, very nice ! During this stage of the hash one scottish hasher, Haggis implied that she had passed the Last of the Summer Wine O's in the shape of Woodpecker,Groucho,Geronimo and Tail-Lamp, combined age of 280 years plus. Next came a climb and the sight of the car park, but no our hare was out for added value and proceeded to take us away from our goal and on-on and on-on, by now several of us were being subjected to flat body battery fatigue but I can report we all made it back to base.FF gave out fines,drinks were drunk and then we all went home for a lie down well Groucho did anyway.