VENUE: St. John's Parish Church
DATE: 3 December, 2005
HARES: Fabulous Five Minus One
SCRIBE: Martyn Smith
Sue and I haven't been in Barbados since last year, but it's always a great pleasure to return. Particularly to go to the hash and bump into so many old friends (I don't mean to say that those friends are getting older!) Every time we're here, we manage to do a couple of hashes but this time has been a real bonus with the 20th Anniversary Celebrations -- and didn't the organizing committee do a great job. They have left us with some happy memories, renewing old friendships and making new ones.
Anyway on with this week's hash, starting from St John's Church, or rather the vicarage, with its fabulous views of the east coast of the island - having had a pleasant ride past Turnpike and on through Kendal and Colleton.
Soon after we arrived a stretch limo turned into the church yard but the bride seemed not to get out of the car immediately and I wondered if she was early for a 3:30pm wedding or late for a 3pm appointment!
Obviously there was a smaller crowd than usual, since today was the running of the 10K race (at 4:30pm) and tomorrow would be the marathon and half marathon. None the less Roger the HM and Francie turned out, perhaps as a warm up for tomorrow.
Now our time approached and Andrew and Quinda set us off, noting that this was an "interesting" run and there were two or three "x's" which couldn't be crossed by runners but could be crossed by walkers after the run/walk split. They may have been coloured green -- it was all too confused for me!
The on was quickly found and led very shortly to a check which confused everyone. Was it up hill? Well there were two marks there -- or was it down where no flour was to be found -- or was it straight across? Gently cajoling from his car, Andrew insisted it was down the hill (and he should know) so on down we went until the trail was picked up. Down, down, down to a right turn, then guess what? Up, up, up through the village of Welch Town, past St Dunston's Church.
Really, the FRB's were doing a good job but a little local enquiry suggested that two people with a bag of flour had made an unexpected right turn which soon petered out to a narrow track uphill along steep slippery slopes (climbing ropes provided) and past a place marked VP for a glorious view. Eventually, just as the rain started to pour we reached a check which, after much searching in four or five directions, turned out to be a back check allowing a good number of the walkers to catch up and before long we were at the R/W split. Ever onward went the runners across cane fields, past Haynes Hill where a further slight delay ensued looking for the continuation.
Excellent detective work prevailed and more cane fields led us to Codrington High School and Holy Cross Chapel where a further delay occurred looking for the way forward. Graham "Dick Doc" soon found the "on" along a nice easy running track which took us back to Pot House, then a short run along the road past St John's Primary School and to the "ON IN" and beer.
It had been a good but rather strenuous run and had taken a good one and a half hours. I'm not used to all this running so I'll have to get some more practice in before our next visit!!
Great run guys, lovely scenery, some well placed checks and we concluded with the down downs conducted, probably for the last time, by Rob "Barley Able" Bateson. All the very best to Barbara and Rob on their forthcoming relocation!
See you next year
On On!
Martyn
P.S. There's a message for all if you take the first letter of each sentence in this piece!
