PAN AFRICA HASH 2022 - UGANDA
Hazukashii
PAN AFRICA HASH 2022 (Friday, 1 July, RED DRESS RUN)
OK, it is finally time to get caught up with the past week of hashing bliss, and as this 2021 event finally rolled off the production line. After finishing up the Prelube in Tanzania, we made our way to Kampala, Uganda. Thursday was an opening adventure on an open top BUS RIDE around Kampala, but my damn flight was delayed and missed out on all the fun.
Next up was the RED DRESS RUN on Friday. We met at the Tavern Woods, where registrations/goodie bag pick up continued. At the appointed time, plus an hour or so, we were off. Trail was generally a walker’s only affair, as we made our way around Kampala. There were many twists and turns, 3 beer stops, and even a tour of the Grand Palace as we darted around town. The Who’s Coming list had over 250 hashers on it, so it was a pretty good crowd. You can get a feel for it all as you fly the trail at https://www.relive.cc/view/vevYoLZM5y6
//////////////////////////////////////////////////
PAN AFRICA HASH 2022 (Saturday, 2 July, Main Event)
The visitors were supposed to assemble at 6 am for a short bus ride to the start, but many straggled along, and the busses did not start rolling until around 7, so we missed the start. But this was NOT a regular hash trail / event. It was the annual Kampala to Jinja Relay Race. Participants joined various teams, and ran one of 17 numbered legs of this 80 plus km along numerous dirt roads spanning the two destinations. Some of the fitter hashers ran many legs, 30 to 50 kms on their own, but most of us ran one or two legs for our team. All in all, many of us spent 10 plus hours bumping along on a bus (or the lucky ones were in smaller SUVs). For me, the bus part was grueling, but when I was running, I got to see hundreds of small children watching in amazement as we all ran past. Some trying out their English with Hi, Hello, or look at those crazy people running by.
We must have been running too slow this year, as we reached stage 13, and it was announced the final 2 stages were cancelled so we could get on to the finish in time to clean up for dinner. We were spread out in Jinja between 4 main hotels, and several smaller accommodations, but the venue was the Kingfisher Hotel right on the banks of the Nile River. After dinner, we adjourned to the party field, where many more beers were consumed until we were ready to start dancing. The music was LOUD, we were drunk, and what a grand time we had.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////
PAN AFRICA HASH 2022 (Sunday, 3 July, Hangover Trail)
This was no regular Hangover Trail . . . it was a walker's dream from the venue down to the Source of the Nile landing in Jinja. Probably the only event that actually started on time, this was an amazing event. We were asked to walk this trail, so we happily made our way down the hill, crossed over the Nile, on our way to the landing just down stream from the springs that are considered the SOURCE of the Nile River.
Fly the trail . . . https://www.relive.cc/view/vNOPoMkRW2v
After following trail to the landing, we took a boat ride to the actual springs for a closer look.
Follow along on the video . . . https://www.relive.cc/view/v1vj7LGAzJO
What an amazing event, my fifth country to hash in on the African Continent, but my first Pan Africa Hash. Looking forward to getting to more of them in the future.
If you really want . . . you can see a bunch more pictures on my FB page . . . https://www.facebook.com/Hazukashii/
On On,
Hazukashii