Farflung hashers

gathered from China, Vienna and Miles to join in this Sunday's run at Arana Hills. No wonder we had some latecomers, including (nominal) co-hare Scratchit who arrived in his work clothes just in time for the meal. Luckily Floater had everything well in hand...and in the end we counted 30 of us enjoying pasta and apple crumble after a very pleasant excursion along Kedron Brook.

Mile High and Hugandkiss were there, suffering from a touch of bird flu on top of a case of SARS and a mild dose of China Syndrome. Plucky troupers that they are, they made it to the run nevertheless, and - unlike a couple who shall remain nameless - they didn't take any shortcuts.

We also welcomed (from Vienna) Sexaphone, Coming to touch you (not sure about the spelling of that name) and their 2 hashing offspring. We hope to see them again sometime.

And in a very formal naming ceremony, Groupie graciously received her Hash moniker (and a lemonade shampoo.)

A few shots of the face-stuffing throng:

Is it a bird or a plane?

Payback wonders: Is he still infectious?

Some Ladies of the Lamp:

Superhacker, Sexaphone, Coming to touch you (still not sure of that spelling)

Hi vis latecomer:

We're celebrating the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave next Sunday as Where's the Beef? and In Your Dreams host a 4th of July run. If you can find some stars and stripes, wear them - or at least stick a Yankee Doodle feather in your hat....

Next run details
When: Sunday 5th July 4 pm
Where: In Your Dreams and Where's the Beef?'s Little Home on the West End Prairie
Hares: Where's the Beef? and In Your Dreams

On, on!

Eight dog night

Eight dogs plus innumerable humans and semi-humans turned up this last Sunday to wish Eweshgger a happy birthday and to Warm his new House. Its location provides us with some interesting new areas to explore and - as the runners discovered - to get lost in....

The birthday boy and some friends:

B&W looked none the worse for wear after completing the 100k Oxfam trailwalk:

Superhacker, looking great after completing the 100k Brissie to Bay bike ride:

Hardcore and her new shoes:

And some assorted dogs and others:

Charcoal and Strine, tanned and fit from a European summer:

They made it back to Hash before their latest news made it onto this site. Some of the highlights from their final weeks OS were:

• The Greenwich Observatory, London
• Sutton Hoo, famous for the outline of a large Royal ship and the treasures found in the burial chambers
• The Roman Circus in Colchester
• Zip World above the Llechwedd Slate Caverns.There are over 8km of cable and participants descend each zip line in teams of four.
• The National Memorial Aboretum in Staffordshire, a memorial area for all who lost their lives in the line of duty 
• The Precipice Walks near Dolgellau
• Great views across the Afon River to Cader Idris
• Climbing Rodney’s Pillar near the Welsh English border
• Kenilworth Castle near Warwick
• Bletchley Park, a really fascinating place and where much of the film, ‘The Imitation Game’ was filmed

(We look forward to the pics.)

Next run details
When: Sunday 28th June, 4 pm
Where: Arana Hills Library carpark, Cobbitty Crescent Arana Hills. A map!
Hares: Floater and Scratchit

On, on!

The dark clouds threatened

but this Sunday's run turned out to be another rain-less one in St. Lucia. So the fraction of dry runs we've enjoyed in this area must have risen to about 15%....The number of students out running, walking and playing tennis and basketball was a clear indication that the UQ exam period is just beginning. At such a time any activity other than study suddenly seems a wonderful idea.

Our hares had set a route that took us through the Great Court (we have to do that!) and then on into the wider world beyond the campus - where other students were avoiding study by drinking coffee in the sidewalk cafes. We returned via the scenic trail along the river for a tasty casserole and a Victoria sponge cake. Thanks to Superhacker and Hopalong!

Astounding news from wandering hashers Mile High and Hugandkiss is that they've had blue skies in Beijing!!!! Here's a summary of some of what they've been up to. They've:

• climbed the Great Wall (and found it "VERY steep" since "true to his name Mile High wanted to climb to the highest point")
• visited the Forbidden City, the Olympic site and the Summer Palace
• visited Mao in Tiananmen Square, and pandas at the zoo
• had dinner at a Communist Party restaurant
• had a consultation with a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner and a foot massage...

We're looking forward to the pictures...especially to one of the blue sky!

This coming weekend sees Superhacker taking part in the 100k Brissie to Bay bike ride for MS, while B&W takes part in the 100k Oxfam Trailwalker fundraiser.

And next Sunday's run - hosted by Eweshggr - is a Housewarming one at his new home off the mountain.

Next run details
When: Sunday 21st June (it's the winter solstice, innit?)
Where: Eweshggr's new pad - a housewarming event for mid-winter!
Hare: Eweshggr

(If you need directions to this run, please email us.)

And - to quote Samuel Beckett in Waiting for Godot -

On, on!

Happy birthday, Ma'am!

We're all royalists when it comes to having a public holiday - and we sang happy birthday to the Queen to thank her for providing one.

Our hares took us exploring some new routes through the Samford section of Brisbane Forest Park - some of them jolly steep, too! A couple of walkers who had wandered off-trail luckily met up with the runners...we might still be looking for them otherwise.... It was a really enjoyable excursion, followed up by some really enjoyable chili. Thanks, hares!

The occasion was also marked by a naming ceremony for one of our latest recruits - hereafter to be known as Footsie:

Our youngest walker shows off her skill in staying upright:

But it's hard to stay upright on a trampoline:

Culture demonstrates that the skill of hula hooping doesn't evaporate with time:

This last week Hash Femmes Culture, Amazing, Vegemite and Superhacker enjoyed an excursion to the Powerhouse for a show by Judith Lucy:

And now for a summary of Charcoal and Strine's latest.

From Vienna they wandered to Bavaria and caught up with some old friends in Chieming, some more old friends and colleagues in Pfarrkirchen (where they had lived and worked for a couple of years in the old days), some more old friends in Deggendorf, and an ex-student and friend in Landshut (where the Isar was in flood.) Their route then took them along the Danube and Main Rivers to visit another old friend and colleague in Wiesbaden. A highlight of this visit was a trip to Schloss Wolfsgarten and its gardens. They also did a long walk up to the new Waldkapelle, "a really modern style chapel on the edge of the forest" and then down through Gammsbach back to Wiesbaden. Next stop was Brombachtal, where they again met up with an old teacher friend, who took them to visit the magnificent 9th century Einhard's Basilica near Michelstadt.

Here are some pictures (including some from a visit to Saltzburg.) We're looking forward to seeing a lot more when they get back.

Charcoal and Strine in  one of the best-known Salzburg coffeehouses, Tomasellis

Strine in the Mirabell Gardens (in Saltzburg - many scenes from the Sound of Music were shot here) - the old town and the castle in the background

Charcoal and Strine turning their backs on the old town of Salzburg. They were at the castle you can see in the last picture (having climbed the hill by rack and pinion railway)

On a cycle trip to Bad Birnbach, about 16km from Pfarrkirchen, where Charcoal and Strine were staying. Bad Birnbach is one of many "Kur" villages in Germany.  The Germans go there to recover their health by bathing (etc.) in the spa waters - and it's all paid for by their Health Insurance!

Strine and friends at one of the "healthy fountains" in Bad Birnbach

Post-cycling coffee and cake

Next run details
When: Sunday 14th June, 4 pm
Where: University of Queensland Tennis Club, Blair Drive, St Lucia. A map!
Hares: Superhacker and Hopalong

On, on!

Songs of the rainforest

The calls of rainforest birds were mingled with cries of "On,on!" as darkness fell over Mt Glorious this last Sunday. No thunder or hailstorm greeted us this time - and we encountered no leeches or mud either. We simply enjoyed a very pleasant outing amidst the forest giants....

Potluck chose to regale us this time with large doses of protein, carbohydrate and sugar - there was not a green vege or salad in sight! It was all very yummy, but.

We sang "Auld Lang Syne" as we bade farewell to Escargot's mum, who's on her way back to the old country after an extended visit. Escargot's brother also joined us on this week's excursion. It was good to meet him.

Next run details
When: Sunday 7th June, 4 pm
Where: Miss Demeanour and Shockjock's Bunya hideaway
Hares: Shockjock and Miss Demeanour

(If you need directions to this run, please email us.)

On, on!