VTH3 Run Reports

VTH3 #893

11/6/2019

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9 JUNE 2019

BIG MOUNTAIN

Hares: Boozer, Cleaver, Secs
Hash Flasher: Kojak
Ringmaster: Boozer
Report: Chom Chom

The time was one o’clock, the place was Uno Café, men and women (and unspecified) both young and old assembled for their weekly Hashing in the sun expedition. All they knew was it was a local trail on Big Mountain. In the background, the essential tasks were being carried out. Fees were collected by our regular cashiers, Boozer and Cleaver, whilst eskies were being filled with beer, soft drinks and ice.
One-thirty soon arrived and we were instructed to form a group on the main Ha Long Street. Boozer explained briefly that we needed to get to our starting (and also ending) point of a coffee shop at the end of Vi Ba Street. He organised the logistics and most Hashers managed to succeed in a ride share on a motorbike. To make things easier, our riders simply had to follow the trusty beer truck that was heading there too. A single taxi was called for the final unloved few.
Once we had all arrived at our starting coffee shop, we assembled once again, and Boozer gave us the introduction about the trail ahead. This week was particularly inspiring as it was all-new, so stick together as to not get lost! With great enthusiasm we wandered down the muddy trail to the nearby rubbish dump coffee shop, chatting and catching up with the week’s news and events, excited and eager to discover the new route ahead.
For a change the trail started in a gentle downward direction as we traipsed our way through the picturesque scene, so familiar in Vietnam, of dumped cans, bottles and other rubbish. We carried on down through a woody trail carefully navigating our way to avoid the differing varieties of branches and vines that were facing us in every direction. Sadly, our first aider, Zidan managed to achieve the first forest injury! As we continued, the path seemed to be getting narrower and more precarious. Things were certainly about to change for the worse!
What was to come next was a rather steep, dusty, rocky, leafy drop and no doubt the toughest part of todays trail. We did out best navigating our way down assisting many other Hashers, particularly the youngsters, some of whom did look rather scared at the prospect ahead. To complicate things, many rocks slipped and rolled down the mountain and Chom Chom was reprimanded by Chippy on many occasions, even when it wasn’t his fault! It was a careful and slow stage with the additional encouragement of being blessed with rather grey clouds above. These clouds didn’t keep us waiting long and soon broke to give a pretty heavy and serious downpour. Timing was almost perfect as the majority of Hashers had now reached the bottom and were sheltering in a nearby coffee shop enjoying a refreshing soft drink or sugarcane juice. Those that had been at the end or struggling on the slope, got rather wet.
After the rain had passed over and our short break of shelter and refreshments, we headed to the main Ha Long Road and proceeded to the left. Whilst this was a perfectly flat terrain, the rain on the pretty street slabs made them rather slippery and many found the tarmac of the road an easier and safer option. A few hundred meters later we came off the road and started our return route back up to the mountain. After some initial confusion as to which way to go, and we proceeded up some rather decrepit steps. We passed some home remains and also an interesting (if not a bit cruel) bat net, complete with some casualties. After the steep drop down the mountain previously, the climb back up was fairly relaxed.
We arrived back at Vi Bar Street, made a quick left turn and took the final steps back to our Down Down spot at the coffee chop.
Our regular ringmaster, Boozer, called the circle and we were introduced to our Hares, this week, Secs and Cleaver. Our returnees included Sweeper who had simply missed home too much and Zidan who was doing nothing in Australia, although I understand he was awaiting a passport. A massive crowd of 13 virgins this week, and for a change, they really were virgins! All of them were fourteen or under and all from Vietnam, mainly Vung Tau but a couple from Ho Chi Minh. Sinners were a bit thin on the ground, but eventually Miss T was called for requesting a wedding ring from Mr T.
It was announced that members of the mismanagement team had been looking at a prospective away trip to Cat Tien National Park and dates were discussed with Hashers in order to offer the most convenient day for all. More news will follow over the coming weeks. Finally, it was confirmed that next weeks trail would be an away, after two weeks of local trails.

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