VTH3# 926

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1 MARCH 2020
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BIG MOUNTAIN

Hares: Mr.T, Secs, Uncle
Hash Flashers: Chom Chom, Uncle, Mr. T
Ringmaster: Uncle
Report: Uncle

More familiar faces this week at Lily’s Baradise (formerly Tommy’s) as we gathered for run #926 on Big Mountain – including veteran Hasher Lady Di and friends!  Cleaver managed the registration with his usual good humour and then taxis were summoned, filled and despatched to the start point at 750 Tran Phu – with at least one taxi taking the long way around the mountain (note to Grab users – the driver might get the address right, but always check they’re taking the shortest route!).

We strolled through the residential area to the pagoda gates at Hem 33, where lead-hare Mr T outlined the trail: up the steps to the Cambodian Temple, then follow the well-marked track around the mountain until a final climb up to Ho May Park road.  Cross the road and follow “Paul’s old trail” to the left and around the southern face of Big Mountain, circumventing Ho May Park, then down Vi Ba with a choice of White House or Hem 89 steps back to Lily’s – where coldies, banh mi’s and fruits await!

“On on” we went, with the pack separating into smaller groups as we advanced further and further along the trail.  All went well until we came to the Ho May Park wall, and that’s where the fun really started – with few if any hashers completing the journey without slipping on the dry soil and/or leaves made even more treacherous by the steep angle of the mountainside; it was tricky going indeed, and frequent rest stops were the order of the day!
We finally made it to Vi Ba and started downhill, surprised by the number of locals and tourists having returned for the popular walk which had been shelved in recent weeks because of coronavirus concerns about gathering in large groups.

Everyone made it safely back to Lily’s – with Chom Chom and Mr T doing their ‘ailing hash’ duties to try and round-up the stragglers.

The ice-cold Sagota beer, softies and water were very welcome to cool down thirsty hashers – with banh mi’s, water melon and mango to fill any remaining space!

Several hashers had to leave early this week but, undeterred, we rolled out the Sagota-VTH3 banner for the team photo, with a focus on quality instead of quantity (as a wise man said recently, “It’s not about numbers, anyway…”!).

The trail was rated an outrageous 400,000 out of 10 (the cost of tickets to Ho May Park, which we’d just circumvented free of charge!), with co-hares Mr T and Uncle drinking absentee co-hare Secs’ share to wild applause!  Returnees and Hash Virgins were welcomed after their introductions, with only one sinner this week for misdemeanours real and imagined (what was the charge again?).

The usual ‘coronavirus poll’ was taken, with majority support for an away trail next week unless the situation deteriorates (any changes to conform with health department advice will be notified via vungtauhash.com and associated VTH3 mailing list).  Mr T then did a ‘King Solomon’ and said next week’s trail will be on ‘mid-point’ Long Son Island, to minimise the amount of time spent on a bus.

The Circle closed with everyone invited to continue the fellowship to background music from a troubadour hired by our host at Lily’s, Mr Rob – and the opportunity of contributing to the usual weekly raffle run by the Vung Tau Veterans and Friends Children's Fund, an extremely worthwhile cause for local disadvantaged children.

Update on last week’s footnote:  Some confusion remains around the current Hash situation in Vung Tau.  VTH3 continues unchanged except having moved to a new Hash kennel: Lily’s Baradise, as a result of gaining a new sponsor, Sagota beer. There’s another group still operating out of the former Hash kennel, but it’s a ‘spin-off/breakaway’ with no official standing - at least not until they register a different name with the global Hash community.  In the meantime, the only official Hash communication in Vung Tau is via the vungtauhash.com website and associated VTH3 mailing list.

RUN 926 PHOTO GALLERY

VIEW ON GOOGLE PHOTOS

CHECK OUT CHOM CHOM'S SHORT VIDEO BY CLICKING HERE