| Date | Hare | Scribe |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Aug 2020 | Kevin & Julie | Des |
After the success of the first pandemic hash, we reconvened for a slightly expanded hash of up to 18 walkers and runners. There was a full contingent on the day with the eager runners and walkers split roughly 50:50.
Whilst I had forgotten the days of listening to the SAGE committee on a daily basis, our GOM Keith, dutifully reminded us of the necessary protocols to be followed in social distancing specific to our hash, I am sure there is a job for Keith, perhaps standing next to Boris, delivering out a similar message to all those ‘Rave’ organiser’s who have recently been flouting the rules.
Our hares Kevin and Julie made a short introduction to the days proceedings, promising us good conditions underfoot and so it would be ‘On On’ and we set off from the Cold Harbour Inn.
The name ‘Cold Harbour’ is of ancient origin, with some disagreement from learned historians around Saxon or Roman origins. Whichever is correct it seems certain that it is a place of refuge from the cold, for traveller’s. Since the pub is sited alongside Ermin Street, then I have concluded that the Romans liked a good beer when going for a morning march.
The hash set out across some green spaces through the top of Broad Blunsdon taking us around the perimeter of the grounds of the Blunsdon House hotel and dropping down the hill to the lower village giving us some great views to the North.
We hadn’t got far perhaps ¾ of a mile when Keith unfortunately had to traverse back to the car to check he had locked his car boot. Miraculously about 25 minutes later he reappeared, seemingly coming out of the driveway of a house, where an attractive lady was also departing. Maurice was all for putting two and two together to create the real reason for Keith’s separation from the group, by following the motto ‘ never ruin a good story by telling the truth’. I said I would have no part in smearing our GOM. Maurice eventually backed down when it turned out that Keith was just using a short cut pathway next to the ladies drive.
We continued our run with the running group initially staying fairly close together, Des, Maurice, Sue, John, Viv, Debjit, Hilary et. al. Debjit was particularly notable on the day, in that he ran the whole distance with his worldly belongings in a rucksack on his back. We said we’d put a few bricks in it, as well next time, to slow him down a bit. If there were any ‘hash shorts’ to be awarded it would have been to Debjit.
The hash coincided with a scarecrow trail, around Blunsdon, I am not sure what the theme was but I did spot effigees of Brunel and a character Nick Bottom from Shakespeare (I own up I googled), all crafted to a very high standard.
The hash was well laid with plenty of flour dusting our route, which then proceeded around the local church ‘St Leonards’ and surprisingly not called ‘St Andrews’ which is the name of the civil parish of Blunsdon. It then led us back up to Ermin Street and the Cold Harbour via the main street. There was an interesting final flourish of flour with the words ‘IN INN’, which is perhaps a more informative version of the normal ‘On In’.
The hash opened my eyes to the quite pretty village of Broad Blunsdon to which I had hitherto only seen as a road sign whilst dashing past either to or from Cirencester, on the modern day Ermin Street. It had been a beautiful sunny day with great views and great company we certainly didn’t need a cold harbour as we sat around the gardens chatting or an hour or so afterwards.
GOM made his closing speech and thanked the hares Kevin and Julie for a wonderful hash. A loud ‘hear hear’ was heard around the grounds.
As an aside four of our hashers had decided to cycle to the hash. It was notable that on the way cycling home Maurice decided that he preferred hashing of the walking variety and decided to push his bike instead. This strangely seemed to coincide with the steep climb out of Wanborough. I thought he’d like this picture included.
On On