Gold for Australia? Not much....

On a day when the gold of the Wallabies was put to shame by the red of the Welsh we toured the Bellbird Grove "gold" mines - where disappointed hopes were the order of the day for 30 years. There was no gold in them hills - but there were a couple of pleasant circuits marked in flour and blue chalk.

Back home at the park, Leave Pass served up some joshes that had been very tastily roganed, while Satchmo provided some entertainment by taking on a local dog that was at least 27 times his size. Many thanks to our hare for a very enjoyable run/walk and a great sunset meal!

Feral had criticised Jamesbondage and Redbreast the day before for dressing up too formally in order to go shopping. What would she have said about the sartorial standard they set at this Sunday's hash!?

The dam we passed on the way was showing the effects of the drought. Mollie took the opportunity to imitate Gunther in exploring the two-tone look:

And it was time for someone who has joined us on a number of trails to receive a hash name. Numerous suggestions had been mooted and debated, but in the end Grandmaster Payback approved the moniker Underpass and this was conferred in our usual quaint ceremonial fashion. Welcome, Underpass, and we hope to see you on many, many runs/walks in the future!

Next run details
When: Sunday 6th October, 4 pm
Where: Walter Bourke Park, 3 Tindal St., Gordon Park. A map!
Hare(s): Fizza and Co.

NB: BRING ONE OF THESE!

On, on!

Virgin pathway, virgin hares

A year or two ago there was a vigorous campaign in Samford against the original plans for the Ferny Grove-Samford bike route. As a result the Samford end of this biking/walking trail now consists of a couple of bike symbols painted on Camp Mountain Road. The funds allocated for the project presumably had to be spent somewhere...did they go towards the beautiful - almost sculptural - timber and stainless-steel embellishments that are being added to the Ferny Grove end of the route?

Anyway, our virgin hares Upstanding and Idle Vice - assisted by Payback - gave us the opportunity to examine this virgin pathway and bridge in detail this last Sunday. The gleaming new construction looked every bit as good close up as it does at a distance. Back at Ironbark Gully we feasted on a classy stew and sticky date pudding. Many thanks, hares!

Incidentally, our virgin hares recently visited the summerhouse where that classic celebration of virginity "You are sixteen, going on seventeen" was filmed.

Grandmaster Payback received a down, down for not reading his GPS, as did birthday boy Budgie:

On Saturday morning eight or nine of us gathered at Shockjock and Miss Demeanour's to learn the noble art of mash brewing and participate in producing out Hash Christmas ale. It all went well - and should result in a memorable Hash Mash brew!

Remember to mark the date for the Hash Christmas party - Friday 13th December. The venue will be Banger and Make an Offer's Dayboro hilltop.

Next run details
When: Sunday 29th September, 4 pm
Where: Parksedge Street, Upper Kedron. A map!
Hare: Leave Pass

Please bring a chair!

On, on!

Dry as a pommie's bath-towel

It's often dry and dusty in the Bunya hills, but this last year, last month, last week has been exceptional. We're lucky that there haven't (yet) been any major fires in and around the valley, and here's hoping....As the late Col Campbell used to say, every day that passes brings rain a day closer. And in the meantime, let's give thanks that we have beer and wine to quench our thirsts and don't have to make use of our precious tank water.

Jamesbondage had set a really well-marked trail in the dust - as flat as Bunya runs usually are, and taking us through some territory that we haven't visited for quite a while. It was extremely enjoyable, as was getting to the end of it. And Redbreast laid on a memorable meal to follow. Many, many thanks, hares!

Shockjock had spent the day before as a judge in the State Homebrew Competition. He'd kept his promise to Miss Demeanour not to get "totally sh*tfaced" and just got ordinarily intoxicated - and also won a Bronze medal for his Brown Ale. Not quite good enough, is it? Next year he'll know that he has to bribe the judges of that section just a little bit more. Anyway, he was awarded a down, down for his efforts, as were a number of birthday kids:

Brewday for the Hash Christmas ale has been set for Saturday 21st September - 8 am - at Shockjock's. Helpers are welcome - it truly is a learning experience in mash brewing. And the more people who come along the more the blame can be shared if things go wrong.

We have some virgin hares next week - thanks to them for volunteering, and to Payback for mentoring.

Next run details
When: Sunday 22nd September, 4 pm
Where: Ironbark Gully picnic area. A map!
Hares: Upstanding and Idle Vice

On, on!

Dog power

There were eight canines at this Sunday's run, and didn't they  have a great time! Runners Payback and B&W also demonstrated how useful dogs can be by having themselves towed around the circuit by their enormous hounds. Back at the hares' place the pack raced round and round the house, and Gunter turned himself from a Golden Retriever into a Two-Tone one by trying to Retrieve something from a muddy pond.

The humans had a great time too on a typical Clear Mountain switchback route, and then under the Clear Mountain grapevines. Many thanks to our hares!

Two of our members had distinguished themselves on the Toowoomba Range bike ride the day before:

B&W (who'd been crowned King of the Mountain) was awarded a down, down for clocking 101.9 km per hour (well over the speed limit) on the downhill run. He was joined by Eweshggr, who should have shown a bit more contempt for the speed limit in order to get to the run on time:

Shockjock had been the sole Samford Hash runner at the Samford Fun Run on Sunday morning. Well done, old fella! and aren't the rest of us slack?

Following discussion in the circle, Friday 13th December was fixed on as the date for the 2019 Hash Christmas party. Shockjock will be making a really good IPA for the occasion, and interested brewers are invited to join him to "help" - probably on Saturday 21st September.

Next run details
When: Sunday 15th September
Where: Redbreast and Jamesbondage's Bunya humpy
Hares: Jamesbondage and Redbreast

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

On, on!

Paterfamiliasses

Dad's Day this year found us anticipating hills but instead treated to an intricately convoluted route along the flat. It's hard for a hare to take us through completely unfamiliar territory in the Samford Valley, but our hares managed it. Well done!

Back home, some 28 of us retired to the hares' luxurious poolside setting for a 5-star dining (and drinking) experience. Many thanks, hares!

Young loungers:

And a sybaritic scene (look it up) complete with pole dancer:

The Tight Jocks (awarded annually at this time to the Dad of the Year) just get better and better as successive recipients add their personal touches to the original Family Jewels. Last year's winner, Shaggy, has of course been wearing the garment religiously every day for the last 12 months and over that time has added some impressive bits of tackle. But, alas, all good things come to an end and it was time for him to pass on the venerable item to this year's winner - new, first-time grandfather Budgie!

Stage 1 - the under-underwear transforming him into the spitting image of Michaelangelo's David:

Stage 2 - the full package:

And - look away now if you don't have a strong stomach - the Close-Up:

The crowning down, down:

Floater had been celebrating on social media her first ever home-grown asparagus spear (was the shape faintly suggestive, or was it just the Fathers' Day context that brought the thought to mind?):

Some online bargaining had followed, with Shockjock agreeing to pay $6 for the exclusive rights to savour this virgin piece of produce! He was presented with his classily-packaged greenery in a special poolside ceremony:

In a further bit of Hash business, we conferred a name on a rugby-playing young man who has run and walked with us a number of times. Congratulations, Loosehead! (And sorry that the photos didn't turn out....)

As usual at this time of year we swapped some excellent (that is to say, terrible) Dad jokes. Shaggy's R. M. Williams story was probably too good a joke to count as a Dad one....

Now everyone will have their favourites, but this old blogger's palme d'or goes to Cash Converta's
Q: What type of cheese can you use to disguise a horse?
A: Mascarpone.
with Mile High's contribution as a runner-up:
Q: What did the old man say before he kicked the bucket?
A: I wonder how far I can kick this bucket.
Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?
A: It was roosting in the bucket.

Pure gold Dad jokes.

Next run details
When: Sunday 8th September, 4 pm
Where: Corner Buranda and Clear Mountain Roads, Clear Mountain. A map!
Hares: Charcoal and Strine

On, on!