VENUE: Near Turners Hall Woods
DATE: 6 th August, 2005
HARES: “ China Brush” “Hello Galour” “Granny Wallnut with help from a local bushman!
SCRIBE: Lionel “Chest of Semen” with help from Steve RFA WAVE KNIGHT
To start with perhaps a few words from a couple of visitors to describe the run.
Hilly, Hot, Hilly, Dense Jungle, Hilly, Great Views, Hilly, Bloody Fantastic!!
The run started off from underneath a huge evergreen tree where most of us were hanging around so’s not to get the full force of the waiting heat but after hearing the Hash Horn off we all duly went along the road to the first check halt. A few brave souls started off checking down the hill but most of us took the sensible option and hung about until the On On was called, when it was off we happily went into the jungle. Little did we know at this time that the trees we had just started to run through were only a little taster of what was to come……..
To those of us who had the idea that Barbados was quite a flat country we were soon in for rather a shock, up and up we ran with the jungle seeming to get darker and denser with each step we took At least I was relieved when a fellow hasher informed me that there were no tarantulas, killer snakes or murderous nasties lying in wait for us although apparently the centipedes could occasionally get angry enough to attack, especially if stepped on but I wasn’t too worried about being eaten whole by one of those, I did watch where I was treading anyway though, just to be sure.
After going up what seemed like an endless hill (By this time any ideas of looking for a lost set of keys was far from anyone’s mind) we broke out to see what has to be close to one of the most marvellous views in the entire island, all the pain in the legs was temporarily forgotten as we were able to enjoy the scenery whilst taking a quick breather at a much needed check halt.
Still, when you have gone up, then you must go down and invariably down we went, with the cricketers in the distance being oblivious of all us “Nutters” in the background running like lunatics up and down the mountainside (Sorry it’s not a mountainside is it? but more of that later).
After what seemed like an eternity we got to a nice level piece of ground which enabled us all to get our breath back before mounting an assault on another “little hill”, at least the farmer and the cows were entertained as we ran past and onto the road, I think also at this point we came across the roaming piglets although to my knowledge no-one saw the “Mad Sow” (Unless she was running with us of course) that we had to keep away from, either way the road was met with much joy as we realised that we had finally come to the water/rum stop, Not so overjoyed on the other hand to realise that we were only half way, but at least Francie happily informed us that we had done the hard part (Laughing on the inside as she knew how much fun the On-In would bring).
Anyway, after a quick drink at Bamba’s shack off down the road we went through a small village and onto what is probably best described as a large grassy plain, a couple more hills were thrown in by the trail setters for good measure with another check or two added to make things more interesting, one of which certainly did as quite a few went the wrong way and had to add a couple of extra km’s to their overall distance! Still, at least the cows were joining in with the fun by responding to the Hash Horn’s feebled attempts at rounding up all the runners.
So then, finally we came off the plain and onto another road with the added bonus (?) of being marked as the “On In” 2 miles. What was interesting was that high in the distance we could see where we knew where we were going to be going but I don’t think many of us accepted the fact that we would be going uphill all the way to get there.
Running (Hah, who am I kidding) along was really quite interesting and fun, especially when after being heard complaining about these “Bloody Mountains” by “Michelle” I was informed that Barbados doesn’t have mountains or hills, it just has “Slight Slopes”…..Slight slopes that Mount Everest would have been proud of!!!!
Still, not that Michelle was too worried she and two other girlie friends jumped (Don’t know the names of the other two) a lift in a car for the last quarter of a mile……We wouldn’t have “Split on them” to the R.A. however if they had offered myself and another runner Ian Lomas a lift, but seeing as they didn’t I hope their comeuppance was just.
That last quarter of a mile, ahhh, to see the cars, know you are just sooooo close to the finish and a nice cold beer……That’s what makes it all so worthwhile and fun………
One last thing is to give our thanks to everyone for making us feel so welcome, and although it may seem rude to everyone we chatted with to mention any specific names we must thank Taxi Ted for getting us both there and dropping us off in town safely again afterwards.
Thanks and here’s to the next time……
ON ON
A POST SCRIPT FROM YOUR HASH SCRIBE
First to say thank you to the “bouys” from RFA Wave Runner for not only agreeing to write the trash but to get it to me within 24 hours! Something to do with discipline in the navy I guess!
For those of you who were not in earshot in the later stages of the evening I just need to let you know that your esteemed Hash Master not only asked me when was the last time he told me that he loved me (to which I nearly choked on my extra old!) but when Wild Woman’s hubby made his usual Saturday night phone call to make sure that no “wildness” was going on, and to speak to his bestest, bestest friend in the world, he also pledged his undying love to Dooks too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!What can I say……….On! On!
