VTH3 #676

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12 April 2015
BIG MOUNTAIN - "Up, up - and up again!"

As forecast, the end of dry season weather was very hot as everyone gathered for registration at SB4.  Illustrious Hare Mountain Goat, with translations by son Nic, explained that the Down Down will be at 83 Tran Phu – our preferred waterfront spot for apres run fun! The taxi fleet took us to Petro HQ on Le Loi Street, then we walked through the village to the base of the mountain, where Mountain Goat gave the chalk-talk with translations again by son, Nic.
Some of the Hashers recognized this area from run #666 “Top of the World”, so the 80 degree climbing angle in front of us was no big surprise.  Fortunately, though, the trail went sideways this time, instead of up! (for a little while, anyway…).
We were followed up the mountain by a local, but he was probably just keeping an eye on the discarded old armchair that had found its way onto the middle of the trail (it was noticed by some that, had he been a Hasher, he’d be charged with “littering”!).
We finally reached a big, open space where everyone paused to catch their breath because we knew from MG’s chalk-talk that the main climb was just about to start!
And off we went, with even co-Hare Hashputin having a spot of trouble.  He couldn’t climb a particularly large, smooth boulder, so he let Basil go first and then found a different way to catch up with Mountain Goat!
We reached the first rest stop, a very interesting Cambodian pagoda.  Once everyone was ready for the next phase, we headed down the stairs then turned left to continue on up the mountain – to a chorus of barking from the village dogs to herald our arrival!
The last group of Hashers took a quick break and Hash Flash Kojak recorded Basil in a pose that’s familiar to many Hashers the world over: “Dead tired”!
Off we went again, up phase two – quickly followed by phase three (also “up”, of course!), with some assistance from veteran Hashers Rowdy Water, Kojak and Mountain Goat.
Finally over the top of the mountain, we arrived at the big, white Cross above Tran Phu’s Ave Maria – where the ladies all posed for photos before heading down to Tran Phu, across the road and down to the beach at #83 where the eskies were waiting!
It had been a long and fairly arduous trail, so it was almost 5 pm when most Hashers finally enjoyed their rewards and started chugging down San Miguels between dips in the ocean.
Basil donned the regalia, called Mountain Goat, Hashputin and translator Nic into the Circle, then nominated Rowdy Water to score the trail.  RW said he personally liked it, although his leg/s didn’t, so he was going to give it 9 points – but then remembered all the laughter along the trail as Hashers enjoyed the open-air challenge, so added another point for a perfect score: 10/10.  Well done MG and HP – still undisputed champions of Big Mountain!
Hash Virgin Danh, a grade 6 elementary student who enjoyed the day was welcomed with a Down Down; then Nic was charged for not wearing approved Hash footwear in the Circle!
Thanks also to this week’s “foodies”: Mountain Goat and UXO – delicious snacks, thank you!
STOP PRESS:  SamSon and Basil have set three trails on Big Mountain for this Sunday (19 April): one extremely difficult, one medium, and one for those who prefer to take it easy!  Details have been emailed to our distribution list.  If you'd like to join the list, just let us know by email to vthash@yahoo.com or via the "Contact VTH3" page on this website.
We’ll meet 2 pm for 2.30 pm start, as usual, at Sao Bien 4 Restaurant – please see map on our home page if unsure of the way in.
And as the dry season continues drawing to a close, the weather is getting hotter all the time so don’t forget a hat, sunscreen, covering clothes and water!
On On!

Report: Basil. Sub: Uncle
Hares: Mountain Goat & Hashputin
Hash Flash: Kojak

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