VTH3 #784

​PLEASE SUPPORT OUR MAJOR SPONSOR, SAN MIGUEL!
For all San Miguel products in Vung Tau:
Ms Dao
Email: dao.na@sanmiguel.com.vn
Office phone: 08.39976377 (Mondays thru Fridays, 8am - 5pm)
Mobile:  0903 886 899
Home, office, party etc deliveries a specialty!​​

​07 May 2017
​NUI DINH - "High but dry!"

​Hares: SamSon, Mr Dan
Hash Flash: Paddy
Ringmaster: Basil
Report: Uncle
 
It was a nicely overcast day as we gathered at Hon Ru Ri for the bus trip to Nui Dinh, 5 km west of Ba Ria.  We collected Terminator and family on the way, as well as Aurora and co-Hare Mr Dan - and we met Paddy on the mountain, as he lives nearby and decided to "drop in" after work!
​The bus parked at the end of the sealed road near the top of the mountain, just before the dirt track around to the lake, with an option of two trails.  Roughly half of the pack went for the more difficult "short cut" which involved climbing or scrambling up steep slopes to meet the other half who'd walked around to the same point on the combined dirt and concrete track.
Then we headed off into the dense jungle and all eventually found our way along the well-marked trail to reach the lookout point, before heading back (on a different trail) and hoping to catch any "strays" along the way, with Lead Hare Mr Dan giving his best impression of a sheep-herder! (co-Hare SamSon was absent at work).  All the while, we were accompanied by darkening skies, a few drops of rain and the ominous rumble of thunder - which thankfully never arrived!
​We managed to get the eskies and food off the bus (now only 2 eskies - anyone seen the other one?), and were all settling down for the usual socialising when the bus driver decided that we needed our lungs filled with carbon monoxide as he and some local monks worked on the dodgy bus engine amid bursts of rancid, black smoke!
​The bus finally moved further down the road while we posed for the team photo and Ringmaster Basil called the Circle, with Mr Dan taking plaudits for an excellent, well-marked trail: 10/10!
Three Hash Virgins were welcomed: Bryce, from Darwin (Australia), Anthony from England and Ms Sam from Vung Tau (whose job is to promote our sponsor's beer - she's a "San Miguel girl"!).
​Returnee Rita claimed "too many parties" for her (short) absence - Down Down please!
​Uncle had worked up a thirst by this time, so he volunteered himself as a sinner for missing a turn-off; Bryce was nominated for not wearing enough footwear, and Anthony for wearing too much!
​Then we had a naming ceremony for Mr Dan.  His Vietnamese name is pronounced "Yun" but it's spelt "Dan" in English, so welcome Mr Dan!  And of course the Radio Wave "lens of honour" for Hash Flash Paddy!
​Uncle volunteered to set the "Lucky" trail for next week and explained that it was named by Mountain Shrimp whose brother had shown her the trail that she in turn showed to Uncle.  A little "topping and tailing" will be required to minimise taxi fares and Down Down costs, but it will mostly be a new trail on Big Mountain - and hopefully with the option of a swim at the beach afterwards.
​Also an announcement that Hope Solo has nominated a very unfortunate local teenage boy as the recipient for aid from our next Red Dress Run (tentatively scheduled for next month, June - more details in due course).  He comes from a poor family and was the innocent but severely injured party in a road accident on the way home from martial arts class (the guilty party ran away and was never caught).  He's already had brain surgery, but now requires funds for ongoing medicines and treatment - which his poor family can't afford.  The Circle agreed we should pursue further, so Basil will speak to the boy's family and relevant authorities before proposing our commitment.
​And then we sat around and talked, and ate, and drank, and talked, and ate, and drank - until the replacement bus finally arrived for our journey home!
​We'll meet again on Sunday, as always, at Hon Ru Ri:  2 pm for 2.30 pm start.
​On On!

VTH3 #784 PHOTO GALLERY