Hashing around Villeneuve Loubet

Sunday afternoon . 2pm. SOH and I have managed to leave the kids for the afternoon with a friend. We are off to our first HHH event.. HHH being Hash House Harriers. It's a cross between a run, a walk, and a drinks do.

I think I know where I'm going. Turns out when we get to VL that I don't. Mention is made of a bridge, and a green door.. I know the bridge, I cross the bridge, but I see no green door.. we return to the bridge.. 'Ah', I say ' Look a sign for the church. Let's follow it'. Turns out we've crossed the bridge from the opposite side to the directions . We roll up to the church, with me expecting to see a bunch of athletes. I am surprised when I see a bunch of rather unfit looking people congregated. Our friend, Urine, is there.. that's not his name.. he is christened this on the day by the Hash.

We are made to feel welcome and given some insider tips such as 'Don't worry about running';'You can walk and stay up with the runners pretty much'. All sounds a bit strange to me but I'm happy to go along with that as my legs are already aching following a day of telemark skiing the day before. Suddenly a very fit looking guy of around 70 rolls up the hill on a road bike.I'm told he's their athlete, going in for Ironman competitions and the like. 'Where do you live?' I ask, 'Somewhere in the Var..'. To my relief he has taken the train to Antibes and only cycled from there..

The hare for today tells us 'The trail is marked with flour. In the forest the trail is marked with red wool tied to branches, not flour, and at the red wool, you may find some Easter eggs, or you may not. So , what I mean is that all Easter eggs are hidden near the red wool, but not all red wool has Easter eggs nearby'. My ears prick up at this..chocolate on a run..fantastic!

Then we are off; the runners going one way, and the walkers the other. SOH has said let's go with the runners, so we do. I wonder if it's a good idea on our first visit but I guess I'll soon find out. He has been told the walkers are slow.

So far so good, 100ms down some steps and I can still breath. The trail is set using flour every 50metres or so, but occasionally you come to a circle of flour which means the trail can go in any direction, and some of the trails set will be false trails and you will only know this when you come across a big cross. Then you return to the circle and start looking for the correct trail again. We hit the first circle on the road, and scatter in different directions. Urine stands on the circle. After 4 failed attempts we decide the fifth and final path is the correct one, and Urine joins the runners again and we are off. Now I see why you could walk and not get too far behind with the runners as they chase the false trails.

We run round a loop and through the cemetery, gloriously decked out with many flowers, and on down the village steps and down, towards the river, past some people jousting. Across the road, and after another couple of false trails, heading uphill this time (!), we are back en route again, passing along the side of the road and towards the playing fields and the river again. We see red wool tied in bushes. We find Easter eggs. A comment is made that this must be the only run where you can actually put on weight. The chocolate is very welcome however.

We are lead towards the river, where two helpers are standing with very nice Easter eggs. 'Great!' I think, 'what a fantastic run this is'. Then I am given the news that I will have to wade across the river in my trainers. Others go ahead, and I watch, water rising above their knees easily, a few grimaces. It's my turn, and I plunge in. It is absolutely freezing and the current is strong, but we have a rope to hold on to. Out the other side to survey the damage, trousers wet up to thighs and soaking shoes and socks. Never mind it's a sunny day and the clothes will dry out.

The route runs on, towards the main road and the Hippodrome, and then turns towards the sea. Mutterings are made about beer stops, long first halves, and no end in sight. Suddenly we are on to the seafront and there waiting for us is the beer stop, and the walkers who have taken a shorter route and not had to cross the river by going through it. We have a 20 minute stop for a drink and to regroup. There is a cold wind blowing but it's nice to have a break and a chat. And then a whistle blows and we are off again. We know that it is at least 2.5kms back to VL from here.

The route takes us past the far side of the Hippodrome, and turns sharply back on itself and trails up through the woods back towards VL. Many of the slower walkers miss the runners taking this sharp turn and therefore make their own way back to the church along no trail whatsoever! The real trail is marked very frequently now, and we can see where we cross over trails we have followed previously, meaning that the hare must have set this part of the trail when we were having our beer stop. The legs are really protesting now, but the end is in sight and it's a very pleasant stroll through the trees (I gave up running a long time ago). We come out on a crest with views over the valley to Cagnes sur Mer, skirt a final corner and are back at the church where we started, around 3 hours have passed. The beer car is there and we all dig in.

Then order is called and announcements made. As this is the Hash, everyone has been given a nickname, and prizes (drinks) are awarded for celebrating being Welsh or Irish (Ireland had one the Six Nations rugby Grand Slam the previous weekend), for all mothers as it is Mother's Day in the UK, for any birthdays, for first timers (called virgins), for returners, and finally for the Shit of the week.. Urine winning this comfortably due to his policy of never following a false trail but waiting for others to do the hard work for him. The Hash was off to continue socialising in a restaurant nearby that evening, and the following weekend a weekend on the slopes in Auron was planned. As I hobbled home, I reflected on the afternoon, and decided that I enjoyed my first Hash and expect to be back for the next one.

see www.rivierahhh.com for details of the next event.

Key; SOH = significant other half