Hash 504 – Brookhouse Farm @ Swindon

I wonder how many times, since I have been GOM, I have repeated the phrase “It never rains on a hash” and I honestly cannot remember it doing so in all that time. Once again we gathered on, not only a dry day but a sunny, if cold, one. Brookhouse Farm has a large car park and I was delighted to see, once again, so many hashers gathered there for Sue’s hash.

Sue gave her pre-hash address and before I was ready, sent all on their way. Chasing after the pack I (thankfully) caught them up at the first circle, took a few photos of the walkers I had just overtaken and then once again set off in pursuit of the runners as we approached Lydiard Park. Sue was very inventive in the route around the lake and quickly we exited the park but still well off road into an area I was unfamiliar with. I was lucky enough to catch Keith up (or did he just wait for me?) and we followed a windy trail into quite thick woodland.

Now being the experienced hashers we are, it will come as no surprise to you all, that we forgot to actually look for flour. In our defence we did not see any alternative routes from the narrow, muddy, windy path we were on but when we came upon a path crossing our way with no circle it was obvious we had gone wrong. No problem let’s just retrace our steps until we find the flour dot. And so we went back the way we’d just come. And back and back and back some more…..until I realised that not only could I find no flour but I also managed to lose Keith. Then thinking I’d come across the path where we had turned back from I decided that it must go somewhere so just followed it in blind faith. Half an hour later…..I met up with Keith again (amazingly) and suddenly we found flour again (even more amazing). We were still a good mile from the pub though.

When we finally arrived (the last by far) we were given a loud cheer (I guess they had been there so long they needed to get back home). A quick thank you to the hare and an even quicker pint and then lunch was ready. A very enjoyable hash.