GFH3 Run #1,677; 1 Jan 2013

The new year dawned -- but who could tell with all that cloud cover?  Clouds or no, the temperature was fairly friendly, and the breeze light, and while there are no rules, there are a lot of traditions, and one of the best is New Year's Day at Byte Me! and Eat it Raw's.  So a whole bunch of hashers (I counted 45; there may have been a few more) convened in Herndon for the ceremonial cannon-firing.

On on!

The walkers are always happy with a stroll through Frying Pan Park, but the runners had to follow directions.  The trail started in the park, but then steered them through the local culs-de-sac, bringing them home through the back yard in about an hour.  Rrocks Starr, deciding to short cut a bit, was the last in.  All that time in California has apparently disoriented him for east-coast streets.

I heard one runner comment that the trail was "a death march," but I'm pretty sure none of the GF regulars would agree.  Anyway, whatever effort you expended was more than rewarded with the Hangover Hash tradition of Bloody Marys, mimosas, vast quantities of quiche in many flavors, a bagel bar, homemade cookies, and so much more.

The Mufti called roll with BC3 commenting, far in the back, that she marvels every time he takes 'control' of the Hash, as "he's nothing like this usually."  There were loud cheers for Byte Me!, Eat it Raw and their several friends who aid in the preparation of this annual extravaganza.  As well, there was a birthday caterwaul (can't call it a serenade) for Paddle My Candee Ass, who also celebrated 111 runs (whoooo), plus a few shouts of "99 to the cup!" for one or two or three newcomers.  Kent showed up for his second run, and there were all sorts of other good people and stuff but it was a big crowd and I can't see everything.

The Mufti called Goes Down on Trail to the front of the room for a moment of deep solemnity:  his 200th run (or 201st, but you know the Mufti Math).  You may have missed that solemn moment; it passed very quickly.  Then there was a great deal of hilarity over the bullets dodged, which included Pantyhose, because the Oral Advocate admires GDoT's legs, and Twitchy, and something about wenching that may have been supposed to be about wrenches; I am really not sure.  However, the final approved name was The Manic Mechanic, to which TMM drank a toast of mimosa, beer and water with way less grimacing than most people would have provided.

He just never seems manic to me...

Okay, I did something deranged and deleted most of the wonderful photos from the trail and the On In.  I am so sorry.  There are, however, pix of a Herndon backyard full of dinosaurs and other fanciful creatures, plus a few hashers, if you click here.