[words by Bollards] The weather looked promising for a picnic at the start of
the hash. It was quite warm as we
circled up near the car park to receive our instructions from the hares. I can’t really explain where the trail went
as there were many twists and turns as we headed through the woods, but
fortunately it was well-marked. All I
can remember is that the first long was mainly up hill, until we re-joined the
shorts where it plateaued at the top and had a regroup.
We continued over the field, past some cows and back into
the woods where there was a strange horse and carriage that you could put your
head through to have your photograph taken.
No-one did. We were all too busy
checking. On we went until we found a
checkback which seemed to indicate that we should head into a quarry, but there
was actually a narrow path next to it and we climbed up through the undergrowth
to the path at the top. Not long after
there was a sweetie stop at a house that was never built. This was when the rain started and we all
sheltered in a small doorway.
A second long/short split followed shortly after the sweetie
stop with the longs winding further through the woods before heading down a
steep field and along the main track. There
was an obstacle in the form of a fallen tree, turned into a climbing frame, that
the trail went directly over before heading into the main park area where there
were cows that looked as if they hadn’t been milked for a long time (massive
udders!). Soon we were on home and the
rain started. Luckily, Mad Max had brought
a large tarpaulin with him which we laid under a tree canopy to keep the worst
of the rain off. Twin Peaks and Groucho hadn’t
returned which caused some concern because there were keys locked in other
people’s cars. It all got rather
confusing for a while as we sat watching the rain and the bovine action from
our picnic site. There was fighting and
chasing and general inquisitiveness from the cows (not the hashers). Twin Peaks and Groucho returned and unlocked everyone’s
keys but the weather was really not conducive to a picnic and we gave up and
went home.
Coming up...
31st July: Exmouth Sea Front, Maer Road car park - joint trail with Isca H3 (map). Back to Topsham Rugby Club for BBQ (£5)
6th August: Dawlish Warren (car park on beach side of railway) - Wide Receiver (map) Bring cash for parking
