Nicole und Patricia in Ruanda

And yes, fellow hashers, after many months of endlessly roaming in Kigali’s streets, the hash went outside for a weekend of walking, running, eating, dancing and, of course, drinking in Butare.  It all started in our dear Total Petrostation in Nyabugogo on Saturday at noon where 12 hardcore kigalian hashers and a dog (who couldn’t care less about Shaggy’s concert) met in expectation of a great weekend.  It is then packed in 2 cars that we hit the road to Butare, only with a small stop in Gitarama to pick Claire (who, in order to practice for the hash, already ran from Kigali to Gitarama in the morning).  As always in Rwanda, the road was very pretty and hilly.  And at 15h00, we finally got a glimpse of Butare, specially when we were searching for Nicole’s house in Ataba going up and down those look-alike streets for 30 minutes and also by waiting 10 minutes, for nothing, in front of a grey gate that Crazy Horse assured us it was the good house.  Luckily for us, Nicole kindly opened her house to Kigali hash and welcomed us with plenty and plenty of beers and soda.  Almost 10 friendly butarian joined their Kigali friends at the house and were now a good group to begin our walk around Butare.

So how was the hash, I must first tell you that sadly, the KHHH is more and more starting to look like a sport club, how come everybody was running…what an unpleasant view to see all those crazy people running…With only us Dupondt, Short Dog and virgin Ruth (later join by Katharina) hold the fort for the walkers…what a pity… Anyway, Nicole set a very good walking hash, going to the fish pond, up the hill, across the town.  It really gave us a good view of Butare.  It was kind of a long walking hash, a good 1h30, but since we don’t go to often out of Kigali, we can’t complain.  As you know, LaFontaine already told us that we don’t have to run, the turtle always finishes before the rabbit and we had another proof last week.  The walkers being back and enjoying our good cold beer before the runners, we had an excellent opportunity to observe these overachievers fall as soon as they crossed Nicole’s house.  It was sooooooooo funny, no I mean literally fall (and a special mention goes to Twinky who might very well still be on the front lawn).  Because the trail was longer for the runners, they had a very very long hash and were really extenuated at the end.  However, a big congratulation goes to all who actually finished the trail…we heard tales of hashers jumping in the back of trucks and going straight home before collapsing in downtown Butare.

After a quite long post-trail relax so everybody could calm down, it was time for the circle where we had the chance to say all the good thing about the trail to Nicole who set it alone, what a good job.  And then we met the virgins from Butare: there was 3 medical students at the National University: Evariste who might do his specialization in drinking beers, Apolinaire in cosmetic surgery and John specializing on asexuality.  We also met Martin whose daily business mostly turns around living life.  All of them are not available so ladies, there is no need to take the bus to Butare and I just made you save 4000 FRW, thank you very much… We all welcomed them to the hash and whenever they are in Kigali (or that we go back to Butare) we hope to see them again.  Unfortunately, there was many more virgins but they strangely all left before the circle or didn’t finished the trail so I can’t present them.  I also won’t be able to tell you the sinners because there was so many, I think that everybody did bad things in Butare (except of course the Dupondt who always behave angelically).

The evening then consisted of singing louder than the “Mr Bombastic” concert at the stadium (thanks to Gary), eating and drinking more than the entire Ouganda hash and dancing more than the intore troup of Mille Collines.  The night went until the wee hours of the morning when our group was the 2/3 of the ????????????? bar.  But because what happens in Butare stays in Butare, I won’t tell you who did what, who kissed who and who spent the night with Kim.  You just had to be there.

After so little sleep, we all met again at Nicole’s house for a huge breakfast of eggs, cereals, fruits and, thanks again to Gary, English-style beans.  After a day of muscle exercise, it was time to exercise the brain so we went to National museum for a quick tour of Rwanda’s history and for way too much time sitting on the King’s bed.  It was unfortunately at that time that we lost our dear hasher Kim who had to bring his song master back in Kigali for a wedding.  But the rest of us then went back to the arboretum on the University campus for a delicious and copious picnic prepared by our wonderful host Nicole.  And then, it was time to go back to our old Kigali, and for a last competite larry ; ) between Tubeless’ car and Crazy Horse, 69 and Twinky’s matatu.

So, to close last week hash story, all our gratitude goes to Nicole for being such a wonderful host and warmly welcoming us in Butare.  She did so much for us, thank you.  We also thank Gary and Tubeless for acting as the hash taxis, constantly going back and forth to bring everybody to destination.  And we finally want to acknowledge 69 who had her birthday last weekend.