VTH3 #738

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19 June 2016
BIG MOUNTAIN - Many steps up, more steps down!

Hares: Shaun, SID, Basil
Hash Flash: Cousin. Additional photos: Radio Wave
Ringmaster: SamSon
Scribe: Uncle
 
It was another pleasantly overcast day as we filled the taxi fleet at Hon Ru Ri for the trip to our start point just around the corner towards the fishing village from the end of Le Loi.
Taxis were all paid by Basil and we moved a bit further away from the busy street scene for a chalk talk outside one of the many pagodas in the area.  Basil explained that the onset of rainy season also means the snakes are on the move, so co-Hares Shaun and SID distributed “snake sticks” – a nice touch!
Then it was “On On” up many steps, literally almost rubbing shoulders with the locals as we passed their house-fronts until the man-made steps ended and nature took over.  Up a bit more and follow the marker tape until we reached the concrete track which one local has somehow managed to have laid to his front gate!  Hairpin turn left and up the narrow dirt track to several shrines which mark the top of the familiar route down to Tran Phu.
602 knee-jarring steps later, we (well, some of us, anyway!) staggered through the pagoda gardens "back on level ground" and turned left on Tran Phu for the short hike to Motel 102, and SamSon coincidentally arriving with the eskies – brilliant (lucky) timing!
After lots of socialising in the motel forecourt, Duty Ringmaster SamSon eventually called the Circle and Dianne rated the trail 10/10 with no hesitation!  Hash Virgins Elina, Alexei, Ania, Mang, Alex and Yulia were introduced and welcomed, then returnees Punjabi Express and Kate were unable to convince the Circle to be lenient, so they were both awarded the “Tubes of pain” with the usual hilarious results!  Visitor Miss Saigon (SH3 Hash Geek) said “Hi” and then sinners were called for – but there was so much chaos in and around the Circle that your scribe got completely sidetracked dodging flying liquid bombs and totally missed the next few minutes!
Somewhere in the melee it was decided to give Shaun a Hashtag and, as he’d proposed to SID on bended knee not so long ago, he was unanimously awarded SID-knee (aka “Sidney” – or even “Sydney” for the Aussies amongst us!).
Then we had two announcements: “Don’t forget to give your email address to Basil at registration” (in fact it was later agreed to add phone numbers for possible safety contact – another good idea from the Circle); and then Uncle thanked Dianne for posting a review on Trip Advisor, explaining that it all goes to help promote the Hash and increase our numbers.  If you haven’t posted a review yet, please consider doing so – simple instructions are always given in the weekly “run report notification” email.
A call for Hares resulted in Uncle volunteering to do a Live Hare run at Minh Dam Secret Zone next week unless someone volunteers to mark a trail in the meantime.  The Circle was then dissolved (almost literally!) and everyone made their way back to base camp – some in taxis, some on foot – to empty and stow the eskies, blue bin, etc with the hardcore few having a last “one or two for the road”.
So it will be back to the Long Hai Mountains next week – and we’ll meet again at Hon Ru Ri on Sunday, as usual: 2 pm for 2.30 pm start!
On On!
​Disclaimer: As always, every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, but so much happens in such a short time that your scribe cannot possibly accept any responsibility for mistakes!  However, any errors that are pointed out will be rectified immediately, if not sooner!

VTH3 #738 PHOTO GALLERY 

GPS TRACE AND RUN STATS COURTESY RADIO WAVE
​Also click on this link for Radio Wave's photos:  https://yadi.sk/d/VRa2tGXVsgpGB