This blog belongs to Owen who is 11 years old. He moved to Grenada in September 2014 with us, his family, while I volunteer with Cuso International. He is sharing his thoughts about moving to a foreign country, living in the Caribbean and how it is to come home after ten months away.




Tuesday 5 May 2015

We're starting a hash

When we get back to Canada we are starting a Hash House Harriers club. If you do not know what a hash is it’s  a run/walk through forest, roads and beaches. You can find Hash House Harriers all over the world! Ours will be for people in Brighton and the Bay of Quinte area (BBQ). This will also include Cobourg, Colborne, Northumberland County.
 
Its loads of fun because you can see our beautiful forest and beaches and have people to talk to. There will be a hash every Saturday or if it rains Sunday. For holidays like Christmas, Easter, Halloween there would a special hash. If it’s a full moon there might be a moon light hash.
 
Why we are starting it- It is a chance to get to know people in your community while you are exercising. When we hash here we meet people from England, USA, Canada, Trinidad, and France. It would be a neat experience for friends and family who are visiting to go for a walk/run in the area they are visiting.
 
My job will be to set the trails. In hash terms I will be the “hare”. I will also be a BOP! It stands for Back of the Pack. My job will be to have the people at the back get through and make sure no one gets lost. It is one of the most important jobs! There will be no littering allowed, if I see someone littering I will make them pick up their garbage. Hashers are environmentally friendly!
 
For each hash there will be a $2 entry fee. It helps offset costs for signs, garbage disposal, entry/group fees for using parks and to pay live entertainment.  
 
To start hashing you have to sign in. This is important because if you get lost we can search for you. Before a hash starts the Hash Master tells everyone about that week’s hash, welcome new comers and looks for people with new shoes! In Grenada if you have new shoes you have to drink beer out of your shoes! The BBQ Hash House Harriers are just going to make you step in some mucky mud to break them in!
 
The trails will be marked with shredded paper- sometimes with sidewalk chalk in towns. When you see the markers you are supposed to call back "on on" to let people know they are headed the right way. In the winter we will use coffee grounds. There will be false trails marked with an X. A circle tells you there is more than 1 way you can go.
 
There will be a BBQ at the end of the hash. Money raised will go to a different charity each week.
 
The first hash will be August 8th  at 3:00 pm and will start at our house. All ages can hash.
 
There is more info on our website www.bbqhhh.blogspot.ca be sure to check it out. Also like us on Facebook (BBQ Hash House Harriers) that way you will get updates on where the hash will be.