hiking with hash

Thomas and I have joined a “hash group” (where no hash is smoked). There are hash groups all over the world – these groups meet on a regular basis to do short hikes. Our friend Deb (she lives here and works here and I met her years ago through my cousin Nadien) has a car and so we all go together. Her daughter, Bintou, is 15 months old and Deb does the walk with her on her back. Total pro-star athletic Mom and such an adorable and happy kid! Most of the people in the hash group are French, but there are also some Dutch, some Québécois, and some Belgians. The drive to where we start hiking is never longer than a 30 minute drive outside of Bamako and it’s so refreshing knowing that there are hiking trails so close to home where you can actually breathe. Bamako is such a polluted and dusty city! The terrain surrounding the two trails we hiked is extremely dry and there are little bush fires in certain areas. Apparently the cultivateurs light these fires once a year….none of us is too sure as to how they control them. Once the hike is over, we all have a beer (or pop) in the parking lot. Good times.