Hashing

  Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending my fist "hash".  It's a tradition which combines a brisk hike with socializing, food, beer, and a bit of that oh so odd British humor.

  More about it here:

http://onin.com/hhh/hhhexpl.html

http://www.grenadahash.com/

  Over 100 people showed up for the run/hike, a wonderful mix of cruisers and local Grenadians.  You actually pick from three distances, labeled "runner", "long walk" and "short walk".  Since it was Bastille Day, the French hosted the event, painting French flags on everyone's faces and encouraging everyone to wear red, white and blue, and giving a prize for the best costume.  I even saw one cruiser hashing in a French Maid's outfit!  We received our course briefing, followed by the French contingent signing La Marseillaise. Then with shouts of ON ON! we all streamed down the trail.  Some people run, some hike fast, and some just walk. The courses is marked by small piles of shredded paper and is laid out to maximize mud and adventure, and it also is designed so that there are several false trails leading to dead ends which require backtracking to find the right trail.  This course started along the ocean shore, then along pastures, through vegetable plots, small banana plantations, rain forest, and stream crossings.  I was lucky enough to spend about half the hike with a local Grenadian who educated me about the wild foods and medicines all around us.  He says he hashes every week, and I hope to see him next Saturday.

  So, after we make it back to the start, it's time for food, beer, and music!  In addition to the more standard fare of barbequed chicken and fish, the French prepare and serve crepes in honor of their day.  The "virgins", having completed their first hash are given a certificate and a beer shower, which I manage to avoid almost completely.  The leader of the French is forced to kneel before the British hashmaster and chug a beer while being doused with three more (a Carib is a terrible thing to waste) because before the run, he had forgotten the words to his own national anthem!  And that reminds me, don't ever wear new shoes to a hash - trust me, just don't ;-)

  Sorry I don't have any pictures, but it was pouring rain on the way there, so I didn't bring the camera.  The "bus" ride was interesting.  We packed 15 cruisers into a minivan and then stopped in town to pick up a couple more people.  An adorable seven year old boy was tucked in next to me.  He talked the whole ride and showed me his first loose tooth.  After the hash, he showed it to me again, this time taped to a napkin - he had knocked into a branch and found the tooth on the ground.  The funny thing is, he goes so fast that his Mom can't keep up, so he just calls her on his cell phone when he gets back to the start.  And yes, the Tooth Fairy does come to Grenada.