Groucho and Farmer Jon's Birthday Bash Weekend

Bridge Farm just outside Stoke Canon was the venue for Groucho and Farmer Jon (aka "here he is") birthday bash.  It all started at 5pm with a hash laid by Groucho and Blobby, which first headed towards the village (via a loop for the longs).  Only Rocky and I did the "wet" short (everyone else either choosing the long or the road bridge), through a shallow stream, and then across the river.  The longs, a little while back at this stage, managed to take themselves off-trail and through an arch beneath the road, where the slurry was rather deep.  But at least they had the river to wash themselves off.   The the trail headed towards the railway line behind the village, and back to the road for the sweetie stop, where Rebecca (later named - see below) showed the kids how to eat nettles without getting stung!  The shorts headed straight across the road, and a pile of bollards was too much of a temptation for me, and I blocked the trail with 8 red cones.  Sadly, the longs didn't even seem to notice.  Then we followed the Culm back to the farm.  Screecher ended up with two pegs and had to pay the fines, and Rebecca was named "Crazy Minx"  (earlier in the day she revealed that this was her nick name when she was a cheerleader!) and awarded a Down Down.

The barn was kitted out for the ceilidh - lots a bails of hay and a stage, and a huge train that the kids loved!  Farmer Jon's friends and family joined the has and the food and ale was fantastic.  Then the dancing started - see the video below.

A few hashers camped overnight (including the D's, Porridge Gobbler and Alice), but most returned for 11am the next morning.  The hash had actually circled up at 11.00 - I've never known that before - we arrived at 11.01 and were declared late!  Twin Peaks was the hare, and Spocky was already drinking the beer, and carried his pint as we set off.  The start of the trail headed along the lane we finished along the previous day, but we soon headed up the side of the valley.  We ran along lots of fields, through copses, and negotiated at least two barbed wire fences.  A sweetie stop by a fallen tree was most welcome as most of the pack were struggling. This was a trail of many fish hooks - 10 at each one!  Soon we were back on Stoke Hill road, where the longs headed across the road for what was billed as an "interesting" long.  Interesting because it headed down a steep valley, with a Ha Ha at the bottom.  We rejoined the shorts, and headed along the bridleway back to the farm.  There was still beer to finish.  Besides the fines, Alice was given a down down, and named "Swinger" (because she stayed the previous night on the farm in a hammock, and Bollards for wearing new (to hashing) shoes.

Thank you to Farmer Jon, Groucho and Bean Bag for organising a fantastic weekend.  On On to Uphams Plantation, Woodbury Common, next week.

River crossing on Saturday after the slurry

River crossing on Saturday

Ceilidh dancing

Sunday Hangover Hash (walk!)

Sunday hangover hash sweetie stop

Haldon Belvedere - Blobhoblin - 21st September 2014

There were two things I expected from today’s hash:  1.  We would struggle to park at Haldon Belvedere Car Park and 2.  The marks wouldn’t be very big as Blobhoblin is well known for being economical with flour.  I was right on both counts.  The gate into the woods from the car park was open when we arrived and those preceding us had had strict instructions from a Ranger to leave enough clearance for an ambulance, so we all triple parked blocking each other in.  The usual introductions took place in the circle:  There was a well- travelled visitor who most lately had hashed in the South East and Spocky and X-Bitz had bought a virgin family along. 

The trail set off up the road and turned right into the woods.  Cousteau disappeared into the trees but we couldn’t hear him calling because Lark’s dog was making too much noise.  Following a regroup we climbed in and out of undergrowth, passed through tunnels and wandered up streams for quite some time before eventually arriving at the Sweetie Stop, where Sour Worms and chocolate raisins were consumed before the Hash Flash. 

There was a long short split, several people took comfort breaks (and were later fined for it) and those who did the section of trail that I did got badly scratched by brambles before meeting up with the rest of the pack just before the On Home.
 

I clocked up 2.11 miles but Cousteau reckoned he had done nearly 5.  I’m not surprised as he seemed to be the one doing all of the checking and fish hooks, usually followed by EJ and Imelda.

During the circle we blocked some normal people in, who had just returned to their car from their walk.  They looked on as the Sherriff and Deputy Sherriff dished out loads of fines (pay up) and Jamie was named Porridge Gobbler (probably to be shortened to PG).

On On to Groucho's Birthday Bash at Bridge Farm next week.  On On, Bollards.

Brilliant photo-bombing from Rocky

The Magic Walk

Sweetie stop at the viewpoint (can you spot Usain Bitz at the back)

Bovey Tracey - No Butt and Mouthful - 14th September 2014

The hares thanked us for making the long journey down to Bovey.  But only 21 minutes from Exminster, so closer than Exmouth for the Stix family.  Free parking as well, in the centre of the town!  Then No Butt apologised for trail, because Mouthful had just become a Granddad, and they had been a bit busy during the lasy week.  It was a good sized back at the chalk-talk, swelled by families joining us from Haldon and Ashburton, and a few virgins were welcomed too.  Blobby was chosen as Sheriff because Twin Peaks has gone AWOL (apparently).

We set off across the road, with the walkers heading straight into Mill Marsh park.  Meanwhile the longs and shorts went up towards the town centre, and lots of beeping from oncoming traffic, and then off left by the school.  After a jaunt through the houses, we rejoined the walkers and followed the river, then underneath the main road.  There were a couple of long-shorts close together (Rocky was refusing to do the longs because he was moaning about his leg - he couldn't bend his knee - or so he said...) and then along the old railway line.  Then a regroup, while the kids decided to climb up a rather steep bank (including Rocky, whole leg had know magically got better!).

It soon became clear that our numbers had somewhat grown with late comers, including Hole-in-One, Number Two, and a new family who definitely seemed to enjoy themselves.  The trail continued up the side of the embankment and along a top (with lots of sudden drops to the left of the footpath).  The trail returned back onto the main path, swung round to the left, before we reached the Sweetie Stop by the edge of the River Bovey.  We had fudge, jelly babies and m&m's!  Tail Lamp brought his own Mars bar.

There was a Ha Ha for a long, while the shorts went straight to the river crossing (see below). I had to carry Rocky across on my shoulders, and Number 2 shrieked as the water level reached a critical height!

Then back onto the Park, and a few rounds of the outside gym, before returning the car park for crips, nuts and drinks.  Fines went to everyone who missed the river crossing, Tail Lamp for not sharing his chocolate (and for sitting down on the hash), and Number 2 for hysterics on the river crossing.
Probably the biggest pack of the year with 40 hashers, and then a dozen of us enjoyed a lunch in the Dolphin, especially Bollards (see below).

On On to Haldon Belvedere next week!

River crossing - it was deeper than it looked!

Thats a large gherkin in Bollards' Ploughmans salad!

Bak-2-Skool Hash, Broadclyst - Hole-in-one and Fallen Boobies - 7th September 2014

(Mainly) written by Speedy this week!
A bak2skool hash from our resident teacher, Hole-in-One. Many arrived in fancy dress. Blobby had a school cap, Stix wore a shirt and tie, Spocky had a tie too, and Bollards had her Perfect Prefect badge. Rocky came in his real school uniform! But is was a great hash, despite hole-in-one being ill recently (she forgot her sick note). There was some interesting views along the trail - and lots of rhubarb in a field.   At the start of the hash we went on to a narrow road for a while. After that we came to a long sort split. Bollards went the wrong way and then it took her ages to get back. Next we came to a regroup and went down a road a few minutes later Rocky started to whinge - I don’t know how Stix deals with it! Shortly we were at the sweet stop and there were lots of sweets! After the sweet stop we went past some houses and then we saw the on-home. 5 minutes later we were back and rocky drunk some juice in about 5 seconds! Next it was the fines - Groucho had the peg (despite dropping it on the floor).

Tuck-Shop Sweetie Stop

Fallen Boobies and Spocky in the playground