We met at Reed's Veges, new hasher Heather so early as she was not sure where it was, Braveheart most unusually MIA. She had been  stung by a bee weeding her garden and her hand ballooned, went to doctor, got tablets, more problems. Lesson # 33. Don't stick your hand where it is not wanted.

We were joined by Blackbeard and son,  and went in convoy to Opua boatyard to meet Teazy and very complicated instructions for the run on the newly opened cycle trail from Opua to Kawakawa. We had choices of BT, TT or PST. Turned out to be a choice of Bridge turn around,  (we are talking about the the 'Long Bridge' which was 6.4km there and 6.4 km back -nah,)  tunnel turn around or P.S. turnaround. Led by TMO and Knose, our pace setters we leapt out from the blocks and enjoyed the scenic views over cycle bridges, over the river, through the estuary. We got to the tunnel in short order and fueled by hashing zeal and frontrunners and pacesetters ( the older set, damn) we couldn't stop and all hashers passed through the tunnel and kept on going. Got to the 4th bridge and they finally dragged on the reins and stopped. An executive decision was made to now turn back where we met Screw Loose at the tunnel having walked, cycle in the car, covered in cobwebs, with a very flat tyre. Lesson # 24. Check your wheels the day before S.L.

At the river cycle bridge we met Teazy with the very welcome P.S. What a view, what a cycle trail.

As the weather was starting to look a little dicey Teazy decided we had better head back to her place for the circle rather than the alfresco setting she had planned. Lucky she did, as a gentle misty rain setled in for the night.

The circle got under way with the usual. Can't remember all the charges, SL was up for flat tyres, Robin Hood for shoes that looked suspiciously new, Blackbeard for something, probably for his son being in a very slim hash t shirt that Blackbeard swears he used to fit into. Magic for not knowing what day of the week it was and getting all hashers confused with conflicting info. blackbeard's son for the aforementioned shirt and pristine hair, not a hair out of place and it was a windy day.

It was  Heather's 3rd run so a hash name was up for grabs. Names were bandied about and tried on for size but it turns out she is a librarian and had an interesting email address of archycockroach which Knose knows, (as usual ask Knose)

so of course she will be now known as 'la cucaracha'  always to be spelt in lowercase as Archy could not do capitals having to  climb up onto the typewriter and hurl himself at the keys, laboriously typing out stories of the daily challenges and travails of a cockroach.

A healthy dinner of wraps and the most tasty fresh pineapple ended the night.

Thanks Teazy.

Next weeks run will be 5 Nil and SMF. Now sure where yet. Venue to be sent out in a later email. Watch this space.

On On