|
Hang Hau Pack - 53 LiT FB photos here The bl**dy Right-Up – the worst part in offering to set the next hash on LSW. Finally making it through Immigration after leaving Dogs & Babies Land and all the way round the entire MTR system I arrived at Hang Hau shortly before 4pm just as it started to drizzle. Judging by the ground conditions it had been raining even before we arrived. There was a healthy sized Public Holiday pack desperately trying to squeeze into the last half metre of cover under the canopy left by the Helpers & Maids who had no intention of moving in a fraction to let this rowdy bunch of mainly Ex-Pats shelter from the rain. No Hopeless – LIA (lost in action) or DOT (dead on trail) – apparently not, but as a punishment for being hopeless and as an obedient co-hare - ‘yes boss’, he went back out to remark the whole trail which got washed out on the first setting. At the briefing I moved closer to LIT to help translate from Glaswegian that no one understands, even me, to a fake posh Edinburgh accent which at least Gin & Vomit understands occasionally. I got the look that would shoot the whole US Air Force out of the air with just a sweeping glance – ‘don’t you f*cking start mate’ was the welcome greeting I got for all my efforts to move mountains to get to Hang Hau. ‘Out the park and follow O’Bollox’ was the final instruction but given that he ain’t the fastest greyhound on 2 legs (or should that be 4 after still trying to dry out following an over indulgent birthday celebration 5 days ago) the FRB’s raced, as they do these days, to find trail out of the park. I can only comment on the trail and hashers that were around me at the time given that I’m a bit less mobile these days and can only keep up with the pack if there are enough early checks and lots of uphill. In uphill sections I always seem to be able to walk past Screwtop but she always gets her revenge as she is much better at going down. After only 0.5k the pack was lost and ran all round velodrome and sports stadium area with the FRB’s continually checking each other out like Meerkats in case one of them finds the right way and sneaks off without a sound – not that there were more than about a dozen prime candidates for this prize on this hash! It turned out the trail was straight on with a left then right hand turn ending up on a busy main road and past what I think is the area where the Hopeless’s pad is. It was then up a tree debris path near the Haven of Hopeless Sanatorium and onto Po Lam Road. Remarkably by this point I hadn’t seen one mark or piece of hell money but was blindly following the pack which is a lot easier than checking trail. A group of semi backmarkers arrived as the main pack were seen heading up a slippery road going into what appeared to be illegal industrial garages with killer dogs on patrol. No way would LIT go through this area and sure enough the headless chicken dance started with the FRB’s saying it must be … no it has to be up…. could it be….. with one or two of the pack venturing into dense shaggy that even a snake couldn’t get through. At this point Smallbone, who was wearing his skating shoes for some inexplicable reason, and I decided it must have been a CB washed out so headed back to the main road. Skating down the hill Smallbone did a Triple Salchow (9.8, 9.7, 9.8) on some drain covers at the bottom and duly ended up on his ass. He bounced back up embarrassed by the fall – of course I’m ok we American’s turned Chinese practice these moves regularly just in case we go ar*e over t*t. We crossed back over the road and I had a quick look down a set of metal steps which descended into the abyss so I continued on as I couldn’t believe we would do down a trail into hell so shortly after the Sunday’s before WH3 Kamikaze pipe section set by Hannah who is still surprised at all the praise his trail received especially from Pink P**fter (non-LSW runner). Then I heard Smallbone call trail and so it was down the steps and a tricky section of slippery path, small stream and rock onto the safety of concrete. However yours truly decided just before the concrete to go right as the main group were pussy-footing around on the last section of rock only to do a Smallbone dance and end up crashing down when one supporting branch didn’t do what was on the packet. From this point on the trail seemed to comprise of a series of past trails by various hashes over the years but a great treat for the walkers including myself. Over Tseung Kwan O Tunnel Road until we hit a major road crossing where the pack lost trail and regrouped until the trail was found on the underpass before turning right towards Po Hong Park. The main pack lost trial but by then the FRB’s were getting a sniff of OnHome, so sod the trail. At this point, some 8k into the run, I was surprised how often Cheesy and Gobi had come racing past me given I was walking all the way. Maybe a sign of a decent set trail or maybe they are both better together in the dark rather than starting at 4pm. I followed the pack until Gobi came rushing back past shouting ‘Shortcutting B*stards’ (my recollection of the comment as I don’t think Gobi would ever swear). I turned round, retraced about 200m and met up with the mid pack to take the trail adjacent to the main road and then onto the section that the Shortcutters would have found by accident. An another underpass or two and it really was OnHome By the time I returned most of the pack were already getting into the beers or in the case of Burning Lust and others, going for a shower before blow-drying their private parts. Needless to say the usual alarms bells started ringing when Parky hadn’t returned close to DD time having promised he was just going for a saunter round the park. Along leash might help. Given the conditions the trail remained clear so well done to the hares. DD’s were run by Octo using a Karoke microphone obviously made in China as it didn’t work and then onto the Bash at the Thai (I think) place miles away. Twelve or so people said they were going to attend but about 25 or 26 turned up – no change there. Octopussy opens the Circle thanking the hares, then getting in all the visions of the pack of 55 Attendees. LIT in again because all her trails get washout of late, so stand in RA O'Bollox punished too with a DD. Latecomers.... quite a few Visitors from Nha Trang The parents and kids – Powell’s and Bolton’s Funny Sniffer for worrying Erica's father "looked suspicious and might steal something " Other DDs included : Thermal D*ck – homemade hash T-shirt - again PCT for not helping the hares and getting ice The Powell sons were presented with Cheung Yeung Festival koozies O'Bollox had a birthday DD and doughnuts topped off with a candle... of sorts... one of Cornes cigarettes ! Returnees including Inez Bolton along with Funny Sniffer and MOLE Gin n Vomit & Lost In Space – being too quiet
|
|
