VTH3 Run Reports

VTH3 #896

4/7/2019

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30 JUNE 2019

SUOI DA

Hares: Mr. T, Secs, Chook, Cleaver
Hash Flasher: Kojak
Ringmaster: Boozer
Report: Secs

Heavy rain didn’t deter more than 50 Hashers from convening at Uno Coffee to embark on today’s journey to Suoi Da. We hop on the Hashmobile and, after a brief stop to collect some additional beer (Tiger no less!), we are soon speeding along highway QL51. Our drop-off point is a little further than normal and after an hour we turn off the highway and our driver skilfully navigates us through the narrow country lanes until we arrive at our starting point.
After disembarking we gather around Hare, Secs, for our instructions. This is going to be a combination of a new trail combined with an older trail, explains Secs. We are to follow this path that will lead us to some steps that will take us up to a temple. Once we arrive at the temple we are to bear to the right looking for the red ribbons that will show us the way out the back of the temple compound into the forest where we will begin the final ascent to the top of the mountain. We’ll emerge at a familiar vista with fantastic views. This is where we’ll join up with the the trail that will take us down to the Suoi Da carpark. After enjoying the views we are to continue to next temple and exit down a very steep path, at the bottom there will be right turn that we take us to the path that will take us directly down to the down-down.
And with a skip in our step we on-on, pleased with the overcast sky keeping us cool. The continuos well built steps are arduous however, nothing our regular Hashers aren’t used to and soon we find ourselves at the aforementioned temple, where a mother monkey eyes us warily, protective of her newly born infant. The red tape takes us through the temple complex and we enter the forest through a narrow path and scramble over rocks and wet leaves eventually emerging at a large flat rock that affords us specular views of the surrounding countryside. From there it is a short walk to the next amazing view from 235m - the familiar lookout at the top of the Suoi Da trail. Copious selfies later we continue on passing the quaint glass temple down the steep slope and turned right (well, most of us did…) and began the gentle descent along the beautiful jungle path until we come to the first in five rock pools that cascade down the carpark.

We start digging in to icy cold beer and banh mi and soon it becomes apparent that some of our Hashers have yet to return - despite having gone on ahead of some of us. A quick tally reveals that 11 are missing - some of them experienced Hashers. A little disconcerting, especially for some parents who’d been separated from their kids. Eventually we make contact and all 11 are together having missed the right turn on the Suoi Da trail. Relieved they will retrace their steps and come back down the correct trail.

A round of applause as the Lost Hashers Eleven wearily return. And now we can start the circle. First up the Hares, Mr. T, Chook, Cleaver and Secs are rated for their efforts and are awarded an 11 on the Boozer scales - an auspicious number for this trail?

Joining us for the first time are 5 Vietnamese Virgins who are customarily baptised with beer and iced water.

Returning to us this week we have Astro Mum and Astro Girl who have returned to us after having moved to Italy. Other returnees are Ron and Faulty Brakes. The later having been back in Ireland for several weeks drinking Guinness - evidenced by the somewhat larger paunch he returned with.

Finally, all of the Lost Hashers Eleven are in the Sinner circle for, well, getting lost.
With the light diminishing, we pack up and board the Hashmobile and head back to Uno Coffee.

VTH3 #896 PHOTO GALLERY

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