Hash 642 – Strawberry Thief @ Swindon

Today we ran from a vast and shiny new cathedral-like pub on the edge of Tadpole Village – one of the largest new housing estates in Europe. You might have thought that a pub like that  would be a bit soulless but it had a surprisingly welcoming feel about it.  There were twenty six of us – including six new faces – who met in a corner of the vast car park for Kevin’s briefing (5 miles long, 3 miles short, no hazards) and we were off down the main street of the estate and out into open countryside.  From that encouraging turnout of 26 however there were only six who ran the long.  Not sure what we can do about attracting new runners – particularly young ones – advertise on Radio One perhaps ?

I digress – ON ON!  – the weather was just right – clear blue skies, not too cold and bathed in bright February  sunshine,  as we set off in high spirits down the main street of the housing estate and out into open countryside.  The trail took us in long and short loops in the unspoilt countryside surrounding the village. You would have thought that the village, which is the size of a small town, would have been always in sight but the opposite was the case and it felt for most of the time as if we were walking miles out in the countryside. Walkers and runners came in more or less together in just over the hour.

The après was extremely present.  It was warm enough to sit outside and the sun was at its midday warmest.  The pub has quite a posh outdoor bit and we were able to sit together and gossip in quite large groups and in comfort.

Keith thanked Kevin and Julie for their very enjoyable trail and then announced that we had all three of our old Hash Horns available to be presented.  These were the pink and blue plastic more recent horns and the older chrome one – all of which were finally returned today.  He decided however that he wouldn’t present any of them while we decide whether to present just one after a hash or all three – or none of them.

Thanks Kevin and Julie –  that was alovely hash