Grenada Life: Hashes and More! 2022

Grenada Hash Harriers

Grenada has been hosting hashes through its jungles every Saturday since the mid-80’s. Evidently hashing is popular around the world, but Grenada has one of largest hash groups anywhere. The group which can be found on Facebook is called Grenada Hash Harriers. Each week they set up challenging routes for walking and running participants at a specific location. The location changes from week to week, but hash enthusiast will drive an hour or more, at times, for this Saturday tradition.

We were fortunate to attend the 1200th Hash Celebration at the Cowpen on the eastern side of the island. For this special event they had 3 walking trails of various levels and 3 running routes, the longest being 7 miles. The trails were mainly just trampled paths through jungle terrain, up and down hills (mountains), and through rivers and streams. Usually there were only one walking trail 2-3 miles long and one running trail.

I was hopeful that I could at least conquer the 1-mile Mamby Pamby trail which was the easiest one. So we all signed in and waited for the announcements. Since this was Ben’s and my first Hash, we were considered Virgin Hashers and had to go up front for the details of how a Hash worked. We were told that we would follow a trail with bits of paper on it and at some point along the trail, we might find a circle with several trails leading out from it. We would have to decide which was the right trail. If we chose the wrong one, some where down the trail we would find an X and need to return to the circle to choose another trail. We might hear people shouting:

“Are-you” letting others know they were either lost or wondering if they were on the correct trail

“On-on” which meant yes, they were on the right trail

Or

“On-back” which meant someone was coming back down the trail because it was the wrong trail.

Since this was the 1200th Hash, it was hosted at a larger venue than usual called the Cowpen which had plenty of parking, bleachers for sitting, a stage for music and announcement, and a concession pavilion where you could purchase BBQ. Hashers pride themselves as being “drinkers with a running problem.” So of course, there also was beer for purchase.

 

Finally, around 1600, it was time for the 300 plus participants to head out on their respective trails.

I will say that except for one very steep, muddy decline and crossing a small stream our route was super easy compared to what our more adventurous friends navigated. Our trail only took about 30 minutes which worked for us because we were starving, and we got to eat first. Ha!

After a while everyone began to trickle in, and the partying began in earnest. Once all the participants had signed back in (because if you don’t, they go looking for you), they called the Hash Virgins back to the front of the grandstand for certificates and congratulations on finishing our first hash, but then they initiated us all with a beer bath.

Wow what a lovely smell: bug spray, sweat and beer! Whoo-wee!

Doug, Amy and I were ever so grateful to Ben as he drove us back across the island through the mountainous switchbacks in the dark. We were tired but glad we all participated in the 1200th hash!

The following Saturday, Ben and I decided to join Amy and Doug again (as they go every Saturday) to another hash to see what a “normal” hash was like. We traveled up the west side of the island, past the town of Gouyave. We parked in the middle of a grassy ball field. This time there was only one walking trail 2-3 miles long and 1 running trail. The walking trail left a road where we traveled through tall vegetation in single file as it was not much of trail.

It was very muddy with slippery rotting mangos scattered on the ground. After a short way the trail became a steep incline that went up and up and up and up. I am sad to say that even though I climb the hill by the marina almost every day, it did not prepare me for the muddy, rocky, single file uphill climb. As I sludged my way up, I started to realize that “what goes up, must come down!” and I began to have my doubts about this body with two hip replacements, bad knees, pour balance and deformed feet making this 3-mile trek. In addition, it was difficult to enjoy the beautiful scenery surrounding us because all my concentration was on just putting one foot in front of the other, and not falling or sliding down. (I wish I had a picture of the mountainous incline!)

Thus, much to Ben’s chagrin and my dismay, I finally called “uncle” and turned around. I knew that this trail probably would require more than my present abilities. However, not all was lost, because now as we traveled back down the slippery slope, at least I could stop along the way (without holding others up) and take in the magnificent jungle scenery. It was breathtaking and I could certainly appreciate why people challenge themselves every week to participate in the hashes held around this beautiful country. So while this hash would most likely be my last, I am not the least sorry that I gave it a try as I believe that now I have a better understanding of this long lasting Grenadian tradition.

When Amy and Doug arrived back at the playing field, they confirmed that this trail was one of the hardest they had completed, and they were relieved to learn that I was not somewhere behind them struggling to make it! So all was good! The experience was fun!

Afterwards we decided to leave the mosquitos at the playing field and seek dinner in town. We ended up at a beach restaurant, 61 West, where we visited and ate some scrumptious seafood while watching the sun set on another wonderful day in paradise.

AND MORE!

As our schedule allowed, we used the rental car to traverse the island and take in as many sights as possible. We frequently drove up and down the peninsulas between the southern bays where the beauty surrounded us on all sides.

We occasionally stopped for lunch at a beach side restaurant such as Umbrellas Beach Bar to feast on the scenery of the dark blue water meeting the clouds and sky above while the shallow turquoise surf washed up on the sandy beach. Such a wonderful lunch break!

Since we had visited Levera National Park at night to see the leatherback turtles, we decided to trek back across the island to the northeast corner and see the beach during the day. Amy and Doug accompanied us on this excursion.

As we traversed the east coast, we saw glimpses of the wild Atlantic. At Levera Beach the Atlantic and the Caribbean Sea meet in the middle. Thus, the beach was everchanging as the water rushes up on the beach, and at times deposits sand and sargassum, and at other times washes it away. If a turtle laid her eggs too close to the surf, once she reentered the water, the researchers would move all the eggs to higher ground to save them from being washed out to sea before hatching.

When we arrived, we learned that each morning the researchers scour the beach picking up all the hatchings they find. Then, they release them at night to give them a better chance of survival against predators. Thus, we didn’t see any hatchlings, but we enjoyed our stroll along the rugged beach.

Levera National Park was lush with vegetation and flowers, some of which the butterflies seemed to love.

We found an interesting structure up on a hill and Doug took this beautiful video looking out over the Atlantic.

For lunch we stopped at Bathway Beach expecting it to be a calm swimming area protected by a rock ledge, but today, the surf was breaking over the ledge crashing onto the beach. We ate at a roadside bar where we had some delectable mahimahi. The cook was very proud to share some of her secrets of cooking the fried fish, but she didn’t reveal her secret spice recipe!

The exploring will continue as we countdown to August 8 when Carnival will take place right outside our marina gates!

Hope you enjoyed this tour of the Grenada’s custom of Hash and its beautiful countryside. More to come!

 

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