It was a grey but dry day, 10°C and force 4 on the high seas corresponding to a gentle breeze inland as we met in Ave de Chartre car park, Chichester, fully resplendent in our Christmas outfits complete with Santa hats.
The multi-story car park had kindly declared itself to be free that day. The 15 of us with 2 dogs, formed a circle just outside the car park where the light wasn’t quite so dim and the risk of being run over was reduced.
Bambi welcomed all to Hash 1024, with jokes and handed the floor to the hares, Kinky, Prancer and Thumper (in absentia, elsewhere on the route).
With the knowledge that there were 2 regroups we headed west towards the Westgate leisure centre and then north along Centurion Way, with a little loop around the wetlands/bird sanctuary, Platinum Jubilee Country Park. It was then east under the disused rail track, through the housing estate and around the play area on Sherbourne Road. We played on the rotating swing that reversed like a May Pole, to our surprise, and sang Christmas songs.
It was then off along Durnford Close to Cedar drive whilst Prancer tucked into a hot sandwich that smelled terrific to a hungry hasher like me. A garage sign said, “Frog parking only, all others will be Toad”.

After a brief stretch south east on St Pauls Road we ducked back into the tiny roads with a labyrinth of garages and driveways, across Orchard Street and under the North walls. Steps up onto the city wall, then west over North Street to Priory Park where the Guildhall was open and looking festive inside.
Thumper kindly served us mulled wine which was great for cool hands.
We then took St. Martin’s Square and the alley ways to North Street and South Street. Our festive attire gained many admiring (amused) looks from shoppers as we jogged through the busy precinct, to Deanery Close and the high-level walkway to the car park.

The trail was 3.75 miles, completed in about 80 minutes.

In the post run circle, down-downs were awarded to:-

1. The Hares by way of a, “Thank you” for a good non-muddy run, complete with most welcome refreshments.

2. Kinky as an additional, “Thank you” for writing and organising the sing song.

3. Snake Charmer for apparently leaving her bra on a Chichester College sign board (it might have been there already).

4. Splasher for lack of festive attire

5. Bika, for talking about double humps (something to do with solar panels, apparently)

6. Old Faithful and Bambi, because they were thirsty!

The Hash-it would have been awarded but Snake Charmer forgot it, so she gets to keep it for another 2 weeks.

We then headed for the Fountain for refreshments.

On-On,
Popeye

ADDENDUM:

It was then that we noticed that Canman was MIA. We did not want to have the demise of a nonagenarian on our consciences, so a search party was dispatched.
We are relieved to record that after 45 tense minutes Canman was discovered sitting on a traffic calming street planter along Westgate, disoriented and shivering,
although still clutching a large stack of crushed tinnies.

Sonia's track
... AND ... photos by Bambi