Stoke Woods - Bully Bait - 26th May 2019

Words by Rocky this week.

We thought we saw a sun shining but it was only Wide Receiver's new summer trim, as the sun shone on it, we were all blinded. We started today with Bullbait joking that he had got lost on his own trail - it was laid by just himself so we could see why. Bullbait also said the trail was laid on the right, two and on, and was seven on a fishhook. At the circle, Spocky made a big announcement, that the Autumn Gathering registration was now open - at the same place and at the same price as last year. But not the same weekend!

We started by running down a long steep path so obviously we had to go back up it where we neared our first long short split. The longs had to go up and the shorts went straight across the path, as we were on our way down on the other side we came across a steep downwards path where we would re join the shorts. When you got to the end of it there was a bee’s nest and you had two options to go over or around it the longs went around it apart from Stix as he had other ideas, he nearly took no notice and ran and jumped over. Well done!

The next thing that happened was Stingray saying out of the blue ‘did you know elephants can get herpes‘ - quote of the year nominee, I think. This chat went on for a long time, and we were trying to work out WHY Stingray knew this fact... by the time we had finished teasing him about it, we found ourselves faced with a ha-ha on the longs.

All the fines seemed to got to Bullbait and family, including to CC for falling over on her bum, Splat for sitting down and for Stingray avoiding fish-hooks. Sting Ray also volunteered himself for a down-down for pointing out that he had new shoes!

We also voted for the May trail-of-the-month, which was a tie between today's trail and Wide+Tight's at Kingsteignton. The tie breaker was a down down, in which Wide let Bull Bait get a lead, and then downed it in one gulp.

Next week we're at Puss & Boot's House, Duvale Kiln Cottage, Bampton (EX16 9NL) (SS951215) - its a B'day BBQ - BYOB!

Clyst St Mary - Tampa - 19th May 2019

Words by Wide

So it begins as most hashes do, from a car park however, we didn’t get away until 1110. Bluto was even later as he went to Stoke Woods, nice one for making the effort to get to the right place in the end though. So after stories of traction engines passing the start and Boots in Puss tell us about the hash from his in a few weeks, we were off.

The shorts straight down through the village and the longs across the main road, over the foot bridge and then through the village. Damp patch and Imelda flew off as we got to the old causeway over the Clyst river but soon looked baffled as to the direction as there was a craftily places back check. Birthday boy and hare, Tampa lily, was shouting at me from a distance but as I myself am getting older failed to hear his cries. It was a jump over the walls and into the fields. X-Bitz, Itsy Bitz and Son of a Bitz scrambles over to find steps on the other side to make it easier. I jumped over all of them. Through the field and out the other side we came into Bishop Court Lane, the back road that skirts around Westpoint. Howling Wilf made sure we all knew Mid Devon cycling club were on their way along the road, we all parted to let them pass. The numerous fish hook, cunningly placed, kept the pack together. I got to see Tight Lips again and again, so everything was alright.

Another long/short split was found by the FRBs, I found more and more flies in my face as we made our way down the country lanes. Then we found a Ha Ha. Thanks Tampa.

When the longs joined the shorts, we picked up the trail that went through a field in view of the afore mentioned Bishop’s court. It was the Palace of the Bishops of Exeter since the 13th century. The house is regarded as a fine example of a neo-gothic house following its remodelling in the 1860's by eminent Victorian architect William White anyway, this isn’t a history lesson Wide!

Down “the Drive” we went through a tree lined path and over bridges, Spocky saved Son of a Bitz from leaping over the side. Fancy licker wasn’t as lucky as Bramble the dog wanted to play with the swans, they did not however.

Onto the sweetie stop in the pretty village of Sowton. Stark contrast to the industrial estate that shares it name, Woof Woof couldn’t believe it.

Now it was time to start making our way back. The route lead us into a farm yard with large amounts of tractors, combines and trailers, Harribo just wanted to jump onto these but would have to stick to climbing trees as I don’t think the farmer would have been happy.

Mad Max kept Benji under control as we went back along a field from earlier although via a different way but Drop Off lived up to his name and did drop off the end of the trail. Apparently we were going slowly as the bullocks had surrounded him in the last field before we came back out into Clyst St Mary.

Then On Home.

Brains, Coffin(after taking only an hour to do a triathlon rather than hash), Cosette, Flojo, Imelda’s parents(Sue and Dave), Jeronimo and random others were all waiting back at the hare’s abode. And a lovely spread was out. We ate, we drank, someone(not mentioning any name Jeronimo) feel asleep and we all sang happy birthday to the septuagenarian while he spat cake and smoke at his Grand daughter.

Next week we're at Stoke Woods Upper car park (map) for a trail laid by Child-Catcher, Bull-Bait, Stingray and Splat

Kingsteington - Wide Receiver - 12th May 2019

Words by Rocky again this week:

This week’s hash was laid by Wide Receiver. A lovely day in Kingsteignton made a good hash.

First, there was a new person: Wide's next door neighbour. Wood pecker turned up late as we were just about start the starting the circle. As we were circling, we heard the familiar noise of the revving from his BMW.

As this was a long runners trail there were quite a few fishhooks. We came to one and it was 4. 4 people went back, people were relieved as the hare was all the way back. A few moments later there was another this time was 3. 3 people went back but when you did go back it felt like you went back a mile. Wide Receiver was only just entering the path people had been on for ten minutes.

When we came to the sweet stop there was a big entrance to the river Teign. Wide was taunting the group by going for a swim as if we were going to go that way. To everyone's disappointment we weren’t going to go that way. We went around to a bridge to cross instead.

After one big long short splits and dry fields the was a long fishhook, Stix and Speedy were annoying Rocky by telling him there was 15 on the fishhook of course he was easily led and he started walking back.

No fines this week - we were too busy eating cake and drinking tea (and beer). Thanks to #TeamWideandTight for their hospitality!

Next week its Tampa's birthday, and he is hosting a BBQ after the trail.  Please bring salad and beer!
We're starting from the upper Car Park in Clyst St Mary (map).

Upton Pyne Village Hall - Twin Peaks - 5 May 2019

Words by Rocky this week:

The weather was nice; perfect running conditions.

Spocky turned up through the wrong entrance to the car park and, in addition to that, started doing donuts in his car.

There were new Hashers: Earl grey; who started hashing in China and his partner who is yet to be named. 

Twin peaks wanted 10 back on a fishhook and that was quite a lot considering there were only 12 runners on the longs.

Not far from the start, we came to a field of long grass where there was along short split. The longs went through a small tyre track. I thought I was going to fall in there and disappear. Further down the track we came to a ha-ha which was not funny. No-one seemed to want to go back as it was a long way so they took a short cut and went round a corner to meet the short.

Moments later we came to a herd of cows which were mooing loudly. Speedy said ‘Hello girls’ and Stix and I made some cow puns.

Just before the sweet stop we came across a sandy hill. Earl Grey ran up to the top followed by everyone else to find it was down the hill and that they needed to stay on the path.

At the sweet stop, Woodpecker and Tampa turned up (late) after all the sweets had been eaten. (No happy faces there).

A number of Hashers tried to get into a phone box.

In the closing circle, there were the usual fines for nerd naming and we voted on Hash of the Month for April.....The winner was Wide Receiver for the Easter trail at Haldon Belvedere.

Next weeks Hash: 

Blindwell Farmhouse, Kingsteignton, TQ12 3AX (map) Tea and Cake available afterwards!

Don't forget: Tampa wants contributions of salad for his BBQ in a couple of weeks' time.