Perfect timing

Perfect timing on the part of the weather gods! As 4 pm approached this last Sunday the clear skies darkened and a sneaky cold wind started to blow. 4 o'clock saw us huddled under a shelter trying to keep dryish. And at 4:05 it seemed that the only way to warm up was clearly to get out on the trail....

The flour had mostly survived the rain but the chalk markings on an interesting route through Ferny Hills (emphasis on the "Hills" bit) had become a trifle obscure. It put this old blogger in mind of the words of that old hasher Lord Robert Baden-Powell:

"One of the most important things a Scout has to learn... is to let nothing escape his attention....It takes a good deal of practice before a tenderfoot gets in the habit of really noting everything and letting nothing escape his eye." (Campfire Yarn 11, Scouting for Boys, 1908)

A number of us proved to be still tenderfeet (or tenderfoots - take your choice) and let the pale green chalk markings escape our eyes - which added perhaps a couple of kilometres to our route through "on back" calls.

Back home, we awarded a down, down to Shaggy in celebration of his joining the running group, and another to Shockjock for an excellent cryptic trail. Miss Demeanour's fears about the amount of Thai curry she'd produced for 27 hungry hashers proved to be groundless.

Many thanks to our hares!

Next run details

When: Sunday 2nd August, 4 pm

Where: Parksedge Street, Upper Kedron. A map!

Hare: Leave Pass

On, on!

Breakfast Creek? The Brisbane River???

Some of our members had Family Commitments this last Sunday. Others were away in the Condamine Gorge, where Lax snapped these pics of the scenery:

And here are some shots of  hashers exploring that scenery:

The stay-at-home walkers who turned up amidst the children's birthday parties at The Enchanted Forest enjoyed a stroll along what most people call Enoggera Creek (it's "Breakfast Creek" on Google Maps) and a circuit through the Banks Street Reserve. The runners added an excursion along what most people call Ithaca Creek (renamed the "Brisbane River" by Google Maps - no wonder we sometimes get lost....)

Runners en route in the Banks Street Reserve:

Returnees among the fairies, princesses and unicorns who swarmed at the Enchanted Forest:

Miss Demeanour added a pre-walk walk from Everton Park to achieve a 10 km total for the day - she's in serious training for her fundraising 35 km "Bloody Long Walk" at the end of August. You can find out more and sponsor her here.

Next run details

When: Sunday 26th July, 4 pm

Where: George Wilmore Park, Ferny Way, Ferny Hills. A map!

Hares: Miss Demeanour, Shockjock and Co.

On, on!

All together now!

For the first time in months we had the opportunity to all get together, and forty of us took that opportunity for a memorable Christmas in July gathering. The threatening weather forecast had led to a last-minute change of venue for the run/walk, and although the promised downpours and storms didn't eventuate, there was a bit of rain en-route, and still more after we'd got back to the hares' place. There was no way it could dampen our spirits, though....

Some walkers on trail, and at the crest of One-Tree Hill:

A sumptuous, varied and extremely tasty feast followed amidst the seasonal decorations. Many, many thanks to our hares for their hospitality and for all they put into organising the event! Many thanks also to all who contributed to the banquet! It really was a memorable evening....

Sadly Superhacker had been forced to return to hospital for a few days, and we missed out on her physical presence. But she did participate in a virtual way from her hospital bed....

Finally, if you have missed out watching our new TV gardening personalities do their thing, check out Floater and Scratchit's spectacular chicken run here. You'll find more videos featuring their award-winning organic garden on the Samford Edible Garden Trail's YouTube channel.

Next run details

When: Sunday 19th July, 4 pm

Where: Enchanted Forest playground, off Frasers Road, Ashgrove. A map!

Hares: Culture and Haughty

PLEASE BRING A CHAIR!

On, on!

We didn't have to, but...

An unexpected change in the regulations during the week meant that we didn't actually have to hash in twenties this last Sunday...however, we figured that it would only cause confusion if we suddenly changed things in response. So we gathered in two groups for the last time (let's hope!)

At Arana Hills, Jamesbondage offered walkers a choice of two well-marked routes - a flat one set in white chalk (a flat white, get it?) and a rather more hilly one marked in red. Tatty added an extra loop to find a loo, and Leave Pass added one to find a bottle of wine.

Arana Hills chalk talk in the last rays of sunset:

Payback reports the following from the Cashmere venue, where walkers had been talking to the trees and asking their age:

"The grass tree area was amazing, with some trees over one hundred years old. The runners visited the WW2 site where the 2nd Cavalry Brigade was bivouacked. Five minutes into the walk Cadbury sprained her ankle and had to retire injured. B&W did the right thing and bagged his dog's poop and tied the bag to its lead. However, during the bush scramble the bag was perforated and when he went to bin it, the offending package spread [the contents] all over his hand."

Here are some of Payback's pics:

Get well soon, Cadbury! Don't you have some painting to do at home?

Budgie and Miss Behavin' had been at Lara Wetlands near Barcaldine last week and took this shot:

Meanwhile Floater and Scratchit had been walking in the Conondale Ranges, where they found this beauty:

Miss Demeanour and Co. enjoyed a three-person hash run through the DFO:

And can you believe that it's a year since Tatty and Squelch tied the knot?

So, it's the big event when we do all get together again next Sunday! Note the start time - 3 pm, and come prepared for a lot of Christmas in July festivities!

Next run details

When: Sunday 12th July, 3 pm

Where: Corner Clear Mountain Road and Buranda Road, Clear Mountain. A map!

Hares: Charcoal and Strine. Festive Christmas in July tucker as arranged through email.

On, on!