VTH3 #696

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30 August 2015
LONG SON ISLAND - "an enjoyable day in the countryside"

Hares:  Uncle, Faulty Brakes
Ringmaster:  Basil
Hash Flash:  Uncle.  Circle photos:  UXO
Foodies:  UXO, Tiny Tim, Chippy
Report:  Uncle, Basil

Another bright, sunny day saw our band of happy Hashers board the bus at Sao Bien 4 for Long Son island.  We dismounted at the new secondary school and after a false start(!) we hiked through the local residential area, greeted along the way by smiling locals and schoolchildren who all seem to know some English and are keen to practise.
The pack somehow managed to lose its way and emerged onto the correct sealed road but several hundred metres west of the marked exit point!  Fortunately, Ronald Reagan had been running ahead and was able to point them out to co-Hare Uncle, who was waiting patiently at the correct - but now wrong - point for the pack to appear!
Now guided towards the correct entry point, we headed into the dykes separating the oyster farms, being careful not to damage any of the small, rather flimsy bridges along the way.  It turned out to be an extremely pleasant way to experience the local countryside and fishing community "up close and personal".
Finally, back out onto the sealed road, we turned right and headed down to the Son Thuy Ngu restaurant and our bus.  Then another change of plan as the caretaker of a local pagoda invited us into the courtyard, instead of staying on the side of the road or negotiating a fee to use the restaurant car park.  We quickly offloaded the eskies and proceeded to devour the "international cuisine" provided by Tiny Tim (Russian version of kim chi), UXO (potato crisps to replace the sushi that Oopso spilled a few weeks ago!), and sticky rice courtesy of Chippy.  Our thirsts were slaked with ice-cold San Migs and softies, thanks to our generous sponsors.
Ringmaster Basil called the Circle and Greg rated the trail 8/10 then deducted a point for getting lost to make it 7 - at which point Uncle illegally(?) added 2 points to compensate for being sick since eating some roadside food after setting the trail three days ago!
Returnee Mr Smiley was welcomed back; then two separate groups were charged for sins ranging from getting lost (as a Hare!) to wearing fluoro pink shoelaces!
Foodies UXO, Tiny Tim and Chippy were thanked; then a vote was taken to hold the 700th run on Sunday, 20 September (the real date, despite what it says on the t-shirts, is 27 September - but who's counting...).  It will be the popular "waterfall" trail on Big Mountain, followed by a Down Down and after-party back at Sao Bien 4.
Uncle and Faulty Brakes set several trails on Long Son island on the same day, so next Sunday will be back to the island for a hike across the mountain - please wear sturdy shoes because there are many big rocks on the way up!
We'll meet, as usual, at Sao Bien 4 restaurant: 2 pm for 2.30 pm start - in any weather!
On On!

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