The sunshine had gone to everybody's head! Super and Ian decided to cycle to the hash (brave men). Apparently when Super suggested it he was expecting Ian to say 'No'. Ant insisted we had the roof down as it was such a beautiful day. I thought he was crazy then who should pull up next to us with his roof down? Mark! Crazy men! Hashers gathered in the car park. Mark pointed out that Ken should take his money for the cycle weekend at the start of the hash because if he waits to the end then Mark would have spent it on beer! I wonder if Ken did get all of his money? Hashers gathered in their normal circle in the middle of the car park ready to cause chaos. It is announced that we have to guess who was the hare? Louise or Simon? Was this code for if it went well it was Louise's and if it went badly it was Simon's? That's what I would have done if it was Ant and I (Ed's aside: shame on your grammar Sarah, and you a teacher!). Our very caring hare told us to be careful as we crossed the busy main road and headed right along to the main roundabout. At this point we headed towards Burchetts Green.As we were running along the side of the road we saw a very familiar van. Who do you think this could be? 'Roz and Matt' I hear you cry! Well you would be right! Surely they will catch us soon, we haven't gone too far.
The hash took us through the beautiful grounds of Berkshire Agricultural College. The buildings and grounds looked stunning. With red squirrels and other animals cared for in its cages, not that I noticed any as my eyes were scouring for flour. We did, however, notice the speeding four wheeled kind which almost ran us over on our entry. As we were leaving the college the floor started to dry up and as if by magic a fresh new arrow would appear.
Simon said straight on and pointed at a very long straight, 1 ½ km long in fact. He didn't say 'Simon says' so we were all quite dubious. Especially, as none of the white stuff was anywhere to be seen. As we reached the midway point on the straight as the light continued to fade we could see two lights in the distance bobbing after us. Matt and Roz had finally caught us up, which was an achievement in its own right as we were going at quite a lick, and light and flour were fading.
On hitting the end of the straight we entered the woods and Ken astutely identified our location as being near the Dew Drop, which we passed at arm's length. Well, the search for flour continued as everyone missed checks, on backs and blobs. Despite that, we still managed to find our way. Until…we got to a point where even Simon, the supposedly 'leader of the group' couldn't work out which way we were supposed to go. What little we could find looked like it had either been scrubbed out or snaffled up by some hungry critter.
Our final stretch took us back along the road we came in on towards the pub. Surprisingly there was far more flour on the last part of the hash than the first part. We found out later in the pub that Louise was responsible for the last part and Simon the first. Very clever of Simon to let Louise win and get some extra brownie points.
On hitting the end of the straight we entered the woods and Ken astutely identified our location as being near the Dew Drop, which we passed at arm's length. Well, the search for flour continued as everyone missed checks, on backs and blobs. Despite that, we still managed to find our way. Until…we got to a point where even Simon, the supposedly 'leader of the group' couldn't work out which way we were supposed to go. What little we could find looked like it had either been scrubbed out or snaffled up by some hungry critter.
Our final stretch took us back along the road we came in on towards the pub. Surprisingly there was far more flour on the last part of the hash than the first part. We found out later in the pub that Louise was responsible for the last part and Simon the first. Very clever of Simon to let Louise win and get some extra brownie points.
Back in the pub we were greeted by fabulous chips and this month's Toscaaward nominations. Nominations included Mark's extra-long hash from Wycombe, Ant's semi live hash along with a few others. But…the Tosca of the month goes to Baby Zara for being the youngest hasher. She now weighs just over 11lbs.
Thanks for an excellent hash, ordering sunshine and for fabulous chips!