VTH3 #654

9/11/2014

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09 November 2014
SMALL MOUNTAIN - "Lighthouse Hill with a difference"

A hot, sunny day greeted everyone for registration at the Offshore Bar 1 beer garden prior to Sunday's run up and around Lighthouse Hill on Small Mountain.
We assembled for a group photo and then headed across the Front Beach area as a group, before gathering near the bottom of Small Mountain access road for Basil's Chalk Talk (occasionally interrupted by passing motorbikes!).
And then it was "On On" towards the Lighthouse initially via the road and some locals holding a roadside party, to the first turn-off - which was where the FRBs followed the wrong arrow (many groups mark trails in the Vung Tau mountains and not all follow Hash rules of biodegradable, eco-friendly markers). Those who followed the correct trail were "greeted" by some very prickly undergrowth on a steep upward slope - which severely challenged some already tired legs!
A related challenge quickly followed - the need to crouch very low to get through some small, dense and very prickly bamboo!
It was about here that the trusty walkie-talkies proved their worth yet again, with The Gardener contacting Basil for directions: direct front to rear communication - "high tech" becomes "Hash tech"!
We finally arrived at the iconic Lighthouse, which was busy with local teenagers and Sunday afternoon tourists, but still presented plenty of scope for high-level photos of Vung Tau City!
And now it was time to head downhill - on a mix of dirt tracks and narrow sealed roads via local shrines and at least one very strangely-positioned signpost! (see photo gallery below).
Once we reached ground level, we discovered that a group of 6 Hashers had taken a "long cut" - which is a nice change from the usual SCBs!
Duty "Ailing Hash" Basil ensured all safely down at last, and then it was a short trek to the familiar twin goldfish in the Front Beach park on Le Loi.
Taffy was nominated duty Ring Master because of his extensive knowledge of Circle songs(!).
Experienced Hare The Gardener rated the trail 7/10, citing "some good challenges"; co-Hare Basil did the Down Down honours on behalf of himself and co-Hare SamSon (who unfortunately works most Sundays!). We welcomed Hash Virgins Phuong, Anh and Nikolai; then "punished" sinner Miss Banana for trashing and taking off shoes during the Hash, which earned her an enviable "3D" - Double Down Down! Ice Water paid the penalty for wearing new shoes and Virgin Nikolai for "inappropriate footwear" (Hash note: Terminator is owed a Down Down for not ensuring his protege wore recommended footwear!).
Then it was time to "Hash Tag" Taffy's son Oliver. The Circle weighed up the similarities to Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist plus his liking for a San Miguel or three, and decided he will henceforth be known in Hash circles as Twist Beer ("Twist top"?). And finally, another big "Thank you" Down Down for Ice Water for her efforts in not only organising everything behind the scenes every week to ensure Sundays run as smoothly as possible in Hash terms, but also continuing to provide the "Hash sarnies" every week without fail.
Outside the Circle, The Gardener suggested that the Hares should be penalised for aforementioned confusion about trail markers (not entirely their fault, of course, but that's irrelevant when there's a gratuitous Down Down at stake!). Basil duly took another "hit" for himself and co-Hare SamSon!
STOP PRESS: Hares The Gardener and Miss Banana spent most of Monday on Big Mountain cutting undergrowth to produce a "some old, some new" trail for next Sunday that ends near the ocean at a vacant plot of ground next to a restaurant at 111 Tran Phu. After the Circle is finished and eskies and blue bin returned safely to Offshore Bar 1, there will be time for a shower, change of clothes then "On On" at a restaurant in Vung Tau City to mark Ice Water's departure until the end of this year. It's "Party Time" and everyone is invited!
We'll meet for registration on Sunday, as always, in the Offshore Bar 1 beer garden at 2 pm for 2.30 pm start. See you there!
On On!