R*n 733: Hale

Many, many years ago, even before the Mother Hash had been formed, there existed a secret sect in South Cumbria (as it is now). According to lore these mystical people practised their religion by periodically following ancient pathways that connected the standing stones of the region. These stones were invariably set up in pairs and the paths passed between, empowering the celebrants with the energy of the old times as they stepped through the gaps.

Just occasionally, on the eve of the full moon, it is possible, so they say to catch a glimpse of the ghosts of these ancients, still tramping the pathways, quaffing ale, calling to each other and worshipping the limestone gaps . . .

With several regular hashers away it was a select pack of ten or so who gathered at the Tavern at Hale in brilliant sunshine. After a chalk talk with some newly added symbols we were off looking for the limestone gaps, or places where the trail squeezed through narrow openings. An added feature of this r*n was the "X" meaning check back to an earlier decision point. With some imaginative live haring from the Septics the Rambos were given a few extra bits to run without a fishhook in sight.

A tiny amount of flour and a few well-placed arrows brought both Wimps and Rambos to the beer stop in close succession, and so with a second split back to the On Inn, where the Circle demanded a few D2s and amazingly quick service kept everyone well fed. Presentations of personalized haberdashery went to Antiseptic (400 r*ns) and White Noise (300 r*ns). Nobody noticed that Special Delivery was wearing a Wales rugby shirt while they discussed the merits of the England/Wales match of the day before!

On on!