Riparian vistas (as an estate agent might put it)

The weekend rain cleared off in good time and the chalked trail through the bush and burbs was very clear this last Sunday. Our hares treated us to some great views of an extremely scenic bit of the Pine River. If our eyes had been better we may well have been able to make out the bull sharks disporting themselves:

Some great tucker followed in the hares' outdoor living area and we probably all made pigs of ourselves:

Haughty attempted to set his hair on fire in celebration of his birthday:

Many thanks, hares, for a well-marked trail (even Miss Demeanour only missed one turning) and for your hospitality!

Now - time to catch up a little on the news from the Western Front - Western Queensland, that is. Here follows a quick summary from Strine's reports (you'll find more pictures here, and on Eweshggr's Facebook page too.)

Charcoal, Strine, Eweshggr and Scratchit made a few stops on the way to Thargomindah, that must-see place:

From here they headed off to Noccundra, where the pub (a Cobb and Co. stop) was built in 1882.

Their next stop was Innaminka, along some pretty poor roads lined by yellow daisies and turn-offs to oil and gas plants. Side trips from here took them to important sites recalling the calamitous Burke and Wills Expedition: Wills' grave, the site where King was found, and the "Dig" tree site.

Coongie Lake was their next camping stop, where they enjoyed many walks along the lake and along Cooper's Creek. The birdlife here was impressive.

After returning to Innaminka they headed off for Cameron's Corner, where a post marks the corners of Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory and where the hotel serves massive T-bone steaks.

From their camping spot at Cooper's Creek they then headed off towards Birdsville. Their first stop was at Betoota, where they camped near the creek and feasted on local yabbies.

The Serpent Dreaming artwork beside the highway to Birdsville is made out of gibber and other coloured stones:

There was still a week or so to go until the Birdsville Races, but the crowds had started to arrive. Highlights of the town included the bakery, Parma for a Farmer at the hotel, the Big Red sandhill, and the waddi trees (a pretty rare acacia species):

From Birdville their route then took them up the edge of the Simpson Desert to Boulia, passing on the way the ruins of the old Carcoory homestead (farming here was not very viable.)

They had a night camped near the old hotel in Bedourie:

Past Boulia they climbed to the Cawnpore lookout and a neighbouring mesa for some wide views:

...and had pies and drinks at the Middleton (pop. 3) Hotel, before making it to Winton and civilisation.

Next run details
When: Sunday 2nd September, 4 pm
Where: Corner Cedar Creek Road and Mt. Samson Road, Closeburn. A map!
Hares: Culture and Haughty

On, on!

Blowin' in the wind

Where was the flour on the trail this last Sunday? And how many roads would a man have to walk down in order to find some? The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind...the answer is blowin' in the wind....

The Ekka south-westerlies struck with a vengeance this last Sunday, making for a cold circuit around the gullies and ridges of Bunya. There were some great views for the runners from the tops of the hills, but no-one was disposed to linger and enjoy them. And - according to Shockjock, at least - the wind blew away the flour as he tried to set the trail. Fortunately, there was enough left for everyone to get home again before darkness fell.

We celebrated the birthday of a certain young lady...and named her as well. Welcome, Prattle, to the Samford Family Hash!

Some younger members tested the carrying capacity of the hares' trampoline, while Shockjock dispersed ambrosia from the taps behind his bar.

There was some talk of a rugby game the day before, but this old blogger didn't quite catch what that was all about.

"Does my bum look big in this?" Payback does the washing up:

Many thanks, hares for a great run/walk and meal, for the beer, and for your warm hospitality on a cold evening!

Next run details
When: Sunday 26th August, 4 pm
Where: Budgie and Miss Behavin's Murrumba Downs manor
Hares: Miss Behavin' and Budgie

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

On, on!

Into the unknown....

Our hares this last Sunday took us on a wander through some totally unfamiliar territory. None of us - and this includes Footsie, who lives nearby - had ever guessed that you could follow a trail along the banks of Albany Creek and then cross the South Pine as it trickles through a horse paddock. To our surprise, we found ourselves in the back blocks of Brendale! A stroll past a turf farm and across some unknown sports grounds finally brought us to the T. rex at the Eatons Crossing Road intersection. At last we knew where we were - namely, 70 million years in the past. It was a really interesting and enjoyable run/walk - and, no doubt, one that would be even more interesting in times of flood....

Some twenty-seven of us plus some canines then enjoyed pasta bake and home-made chocolates as darkness fell over Jacaranda Park. Many thanks, hares!

I say! What are those white lines for, Payback?

It seems a number of us are already registered for the 2020 Interhash in Trinidad and Tobago. And (according to Le W*nk) a number of people from around the world have said how pleased they are that Samford Hash will be returning to the international stage. Surely it can't be the mooning they are looking forward to? But it's good we're so confident we'll still be around in 2 years' time.

Next run details
When: Sunday 19th August, 4 pm
Where: Miss Demeanour and Shockjock's bush retreat in Bunya
Hares: Shockjock, Miss Demeanour and Co.

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

On, on!

The Masses Mount Mt Nebo

A fair crowd turned out to try their hand at the Goat Track this Sunday. For the  walkers, an up and back and for the runners, a circuit.

Rumour has it that proceedings were delayed as MileHigh removed a tick from an intensely hairy area of Hug'n'Kiss,  but your faithful correspondent was not there to witness this delicate operation.
In fact I, Superhacker arrived late,  blaming UQ Open day for traffic on the St Lucia peninsula.

It was a beautiful evening, and there were stunning views across the Samford valley out to Moreton Bay.

Our hares Hug'n'Kiss and MileHigh  treated us to a delicious feast of pea and ham soup, sausages with bespoke, probiotic sauerkraut followed by an array of chocolate chip cookies. Thanks hares for an excellent enjoyable run, and delicious food.

The three stooges

One bottle of Lambrusco down

At the on on an intense discussion about astrophysics erupted. With talk of dark matter, wormholes, blackholes, I dunno other holes... For  moment you could be mistaken in thinking that Stephen Hawking had manifested in the form of Budgie.  But then the Shaggy and Leavepass brought us all back to earth with "What's beyond the universe then?" "ooooh.. that'd be the Daddy universe"

Next run details

When: Sunday 12th August 4pm

Where:Jacaranda Park, Wruck Crescent, Albany Creek,  Here's a Map, Bring a chair

Hares: Payback and Cashconverta