VTH3 Run Reports

VTH3 #684

8/6/2015

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07 June 2015
SMALL MOUNTAIN (Lighthouse Hill) - Long walk up, prickly slide down!
Live Hare SamSon headed off to mark the trail, and the pack followed a short time later - across Front Beach to Mr Ket, then up the sealed road to the Lighthouse. Some older hands took a short-cut halfway up the road and successfully caught up with the FRBs - but that was "child's play" compared to one very popular 'old hand' who zoomed past on a motor bike!
Lots of photos at the Lighthouse - so many, in fact, that some Hashers completely missed SamSon's chalk talk and the fact that the Down Down location had been moved!
We eventually continued on our merry way, led by Monsieur 'Arry - alternatively slipping, sliding and ducking to escape the thorny undergrowth that snagged many an unwary sleeve or backpack (and did I mention the mosquitos?!).
We finally made it to a few metres above the sealed road, where M. 'Arry and several others showed their selfless Hashing instincts by helping the following pack down the near-vertical and very slippery slope.
On down to sea level we continued, then across the road to Front Beach Park only to find that the eskies had already mysteriously appeared! SamSon? Ice Water? Mountain Goat? Who knows? but they were all somehow involved - and it was much appreciated by the very hot Hashers!
It wasn't long before little Oopso made his grand entrance, and proceeded to show everyone how children can be oblivious to "grown ups issues", language differences, etc to make friends with anyone - and so it was with Oopso (Ukraine/Russian background) and the equally small son of a Vietnamese rubbish collector. Truly heartwarming and inspirational - see photo gallery!
The team photo was taken, then duty Ringmaster Uncle called the Circle and invited Camel Bone to rate the trail. "8-1/2 out of 10" was the verdict, acclaimed by the Circle. Hare SamSon had already gone back to work(!), but Camel Bone made short work of the Down Down for both of them!
No fewer than 7 Hash Virgins this week - thanks mainly to Viking, who must be well in front of the "VTH3 recruiter of the year" stakes! Quoc, Sang, Hong and Duong were joined by Butterfly's friend Huong, Stubble's friend Ilya, and our very welcome guest Brenda Burrowes, widow of former Hasher Peter "Rabbit" Burrowes. (Next week's run will be in memory of Peter Rabbit - see below.)
Returnees UXO and OXO (parents of Oopso), claimed "work" as the reason for their recent absence; and then more Sinners were charged than this scribe can remember - for real and imagined sins including shortcutting, "challenging shortcutters", foot faults, taking photos in the Circle, etc etc. It was also when the camera battery finally gave up, with the image count nearing 200(!) - so we're unable to show our readers the "frolics" that followed, with gratuitous dunkings very much the order of the day. Come to think of it, it's probably best for our "family Hash" reputation that we don't have any photographic evidence!
Ringmaster explained that we now have our very own t-shirt maker (and generous sponsor!) Greg Morris (Managing Director of Shirts North), and called a vote for "round neck" or "V neck" style for the 700th run t-shirts - with the former winning "hands down" (up!). The size charts will be circulated this week: just measure your favourite-fitting t-shirt across the chest from underarm side-seam to underarm side-seam and that's the measurement in centimetres (and/or half centimetres) to use against the chart, with all sizes including children's and adults XS-5XL "western", so should fit everyone. The shirts are produced using a high-tech digital sublimation process, with in-built moisture management, UV protection and anti-bacterial treatment!
In the meantime, next week's trail will be the Peter Rabbit Memorial Run, including the city centre lake. Hashers can circle the entire lake, or less than half of it by taking the official "short-cut boat" (more details in the Chalk Talk!). Even more serious short-cutters can circle a small part of the southern end of the lake and exit via the Hera Palace onto Hoang Hoa Tham. Down Down location will be upstairs at the "WTF-We Taste Fresh" cafe, 11 Hoang Hoa Tham - with finger food included to give our regular foodies a well-deserved break (take a bow, ladies - so sorry we didn't applaud your efforts in yesterday's Circle: we were all wet enough already!).
We'll meet next Sunday as usual at Sao Bien 4 restaurant: 2 pm for 2.30 pm start.
On On!