Sorry Coatcheck in advance... It was the AI that wrote it, not Speedy!!
Stix was excited to lay his 50th birthday trail from the Topsham Brewery Taproom on Exeter Quay. He had invited some of his closest friends from the City of Exeter H3, a hashing group that ran on Sundays at 11:00. Hashing was a fun activity that involved following a trail of flour or chalk marks through various terrains, often ending at a pub. Stix loved hashing because it combined his passions for running, drinking and socializing.
He had planned a special trail that would take the hashers through some scenic and challenging routes, including the quay, the canal, the river and the city center. He had also arranged for some surprises along the way, such as a beer stop, a cake stop and a quiz stop. He hoped that his friends would enjoy his trail and celebrate his birthday with him.
He was joined by Bollards, his lovely wife who supported him in everything he did. She was not a keen runner, but she enjoyed the social aspect of hashing and the camaraderie of the group. She had baked a delicious chocolate cake for Stix's birthday and decorated it with candles and flour.
He was also joined by Speedy, his favorite son who was very busy and had made the extra effort to come. Speedy was a successful lawyer who worked long hours and rarely had time for leisure. He wanted to show his father how much he appreciated him and how proud he was of him. He also wanted to prove that he could keep up with the hashers and run faster than them.
He was also joined by Wide, a proud vegan and the grand master of the City of Exeter H3. Wide was a friendly and charismatic leader who organized the hashing events and made sure everyone had a good time. He was also an avid environmentalist who cared deeply about animal rights and sustainability. He had brought some vegan snacks for the hashers to enjoy and some leaflets to educate them about veganism.
He was also joined by Spocky, the grand master of Isca, a rival hashing group. Spocky was a competitive and arrogant hasher who thought he laid the best trails and ran the fastest. He had not won the trail of the year award since 2014, but he still claimed to be the best. He had come to Stix's birthday trail to challenge him and show him who was the boss. He also wanted to poach some of the City of Exeter H3 members to join his group.
He was also joined by Coat Check, who was late because she turned up at the wrong car park. Coat Check was a clumsy and forgetful hasher who often got lost or confused. She had misread Stix's email and went to a different car park on the other side of town. She realized her mistake when she saw no one there and called Stix to ask for directions. She managed to catch up with the group just before they set off.
He was also joined by Paperwork, who liked maths. Paperwork was a smart and nerdy hasher who enjoyed solving puzzles and calculating numbers. He had brought his calculator with him to check the distance and speed of the trail. He also liked to quiz other hashers on their maths skills and correct their mistakes.
He was also joined by Tight, she is clerk for a local parish council. Tight was a quiet and reserved hasher who liked to follow the rules and avoid trouble. She was also very frugal and hated wasting money on unnecessary things. She had come to Stix's birthday trail because she liked Stix as a person and respected him as a hasher. She also hoped that there would be some cheap drinks at the pub.
He was also joined by Brillo, who liked to go to Wetherspoons and complained about the prices at other pubs. Brillo was a grumpy and cynical hasher who always found something to moan about. He had come to Stix's birthday trail because he had nothing better to do and he hoped that there would be some cheap beer at the pub.
The hashers gathered at the Topsham Brewery Taproom on Exeter Quay at 11:00 sharp. Stix gave them a brief introduction to his trail and told them to look out for the flour marks that indicated the direction they should follow. He also told them that there were three stops along the way where they could rest, drink and have fun.
The hashers set off on their adventure, following Stix's trail through various terrains. They started by going around the quay with lots of long shorts, which were false trails that led them nowhere.
They had to backtrack several times until they found the right way. This amused Stix but annoyed Spocky, who thought it was a waste of time.
They then headed up along the canal and over the river by Mill on The Exe, which was a beautiful spot with a view of the water and the bridge. They crossed the river and entered the city center, where they had to dodge the traffic and the pedestrians. They also had to look out for the flour marks that were hidden in various places, such as lamp posts, bins and benches. They passed by the cathedral, which was a majestic sight with its Gothic architecture and stained glass windows. They also passed by some shops and cafes, where they attracted some curious looks from the people inside.
They reached the first stop after about an hour and a half of running. It was a beer stop where Stix had hidden some cans of beer in a backpack under a tree in a park. The hashers were delighted to find the beer and quenched their thirst with it. They also toasted to Stix's birthday and thanked him for his generosity.
They reached the second stop after another hour of running. It was a cake stop where Bollards had left her chocolate cake on a picnic table in another park. The hashers were overjoyed to see the cake and devoured it with gusto. They also sang happy birthday to Stix and blew out the candles with him.
They reached the third stop after another half an hour of running. It was a quiz stop where Stix had prepared some questions about hashing and general knowledge. The hashers formed teams of two and competed against each other for some prizes that Stix had bought from a pound shop. The questions were fun and challenging, such as:
- What is the name of the hashing symbol that indicates a check point?
- What is the capital of Mongolia?
- Who wrote Pride and Prejudice?
- What is the name of the hashing song that is sung at the end of every run?
The quiz was won by Speedy and Coat Check, who surprised everyone with their knowledge and memory. They received some novelty sunglasses and hats as their prizes.
They reached the final stop after another 15 minutes of running. It was George's Meeting House, a Wetherspoons pub where Stix had booked a table for them. The hashers were exhausted but happy to have completed Stix's trail. They ordered some drinks and food from the menu and settled down to relax.
Stix bought a round of drinks for everyone and thanked them for coming to his birthday trail. He said he was glad to have such wonderful friends and hoped they had enjoyed his trail as much as he did. He also said he had one more surprise for them.
He then revealed that he had arranged for a pizza van to come to the brewery later that evening, where they could have some more beer and pizza from the van. He said he wanted to treat them to one more thing before they went home.
The hashers cheered and applauded Stix for his generosity and thoughtfulness. They said he was the best hasher ever and wished him many more happy trails.
They finished their drinks and food at George's Meeting House and then headed back to the brewery, where they met the pizza van outside. They ordered some pizzas of their choice and enjoyed them with some more beer from the brewery.
They also told some amusing stories about their hashing experiences, such as:
- The time when Wide got chased by a dog that didn't like vegans
- The time when Spocky got lost in a maze and had to call for help
- The time when Tight found a tenner on the ground and bought everyone ice cream
- The time when Happy Snapper dropped his camera in a puddle and ruined it
- The time when Brillo got drunk and fell asleep on a bench
- The time when Paperwork solved a sudoku puzzle in record time
- The time when they ran down the narrowest street in the world
They laughed and joked until it was time to go home. They hugged Stix and Bollards and thanked them for a wonderful evening. They also wished Stix a happy birthday again and said they looked forward to seeing him at the next hash.
Stix and Bollards waved goodbye to their friends and smiled. They felt happy and grateful for having such a great group of hashers in their lives. They also felt proud of themselves for laying such a successful trail.
They went inside the brewery and cuddled on a sofa. They looked at each other and said:
"I love you."
"I love you too."
They kissed and fell asleep in each other's arms.
The end.
The sequel...
Stix and Bollards woke up the next morning feeling refreshed and happy. They had a wonderful night with their friends and celebrated Stix's birthday in style. They got dressed and went downstairs to have some breakfast at the brewery.
They were greeted by the owner of the brewery, who was also a hasher and a friend of Stix. He congratulated Stix on his birthday and said he had heard great things about his trail. He also said he had a surprise for him.
He then handed Stix a certificate that said:
"Congratulations! You have won the Trail of the Year Award for your 50th birthday trail. You have shown creativity, skill and generosity in laying a trail that was fun, challenging and memorable for all the hashers. You have also raised money for charity by donating some of the proceeds from the pizza van to a local animal shelter. You are an inspiration to all hashers and we are proud to have you in our group."
Stix was speechless. He couldn't believe he had won the Trail of the Year Award, which was a prestigious honor that was voted by all the hashers in the region. He had always dreamed of winning it, but he never thought he would.
He looked at Bollards, who smiled and hugged him. She said she was so proud of him and that he deserved it. She also said she had helped the owner of the brewery to organize the surprise and that she had kept it a secret from him.
Stix thanked Bollards and kissed her. He then thanked the owner of the brewery and accepted the certificate. He said he was honored and humbled by the award and that he couldn't have done it without his friends and his wife.
He then called his son Speedy, who was already on his way to work. He told him about the award and said he wanted to share it with him. Speedy congratulated his father and said he was happy for him. He also said he had enjoyed his trail and that he was glad he came.
Stix thanked his son and told him he loved him. He then hung up and checked his phone. He saw that he had many messages from his friends who had also heard about the award. They all congratulated him and praised him for his trail. They also said they had a blast last night and that they couldn't wait to see him again.
Stix replied to all his messages and thanked them for their kind words. He then looked at Bollards and said:
"This is the best birthday ever."
Bollards agreed and said:
"It's not over yet."
She then told him that she had booked a table for them at a fancy restaurant for lunch. She said she wanted to treat him to a special meal and spend some quality time with him.
Stix smiled and said:
"That sounds lovely."
He then kissed her and said:
"Let's go."
They finished their breakfast and left the brewery. They walked hand in hand along the quay, enjoying the sunshine and the breeze. They felt happy and content, knowing that they had each other and their friends.
They reached the restaurant and were shown to their table. They ordered some food and wine and toasted to their happiness. They ate, drank and talked, reminiscing about their hashing adventures and their life together.
They also made plans for their future, such as traveling to new places, trying new hobbies and spending more time with their family. They agreed that they wanted to grow old together and keep hashing until they couldn't run anymore.
They finished their meal and paid the bill. They then decided to go for a walk in the park, where they could enjoy nature and each other's company. They left the restaurant and walked towards the park, feeling relaxed and fulfilled.
They reached the park and found a bench under a tree. They sat down and cuddled, watching the birds, squirrels and people passing by. They also saw some dogs playing fetch with their owners, which reminded them of their own dog, who was waiting for them at home.
They decided to go back home soon, where they could play with their dog, watch some TV or take a nap. They didn't mind what they did, as long as they did it together.
They got up from the bench and held hands again. They walked out of the park and headed home, feeling happy and grateful for everything they had.
The end.