GFH3 Run #1,734; 11 January 2014

Once again, full credit to Multiple Lustings for her hash heroics in creating that Facebook page.  Here’s the back story:  one week ago, at hash hero Blow in the Hole’s, the Mufti called for a hero for this week.  Cocked & Loaded phoned home, where Queen Cobra said, “Sure.  Why not?” so he volunteered.  And then fate, as it sometimes does, answered QC’s rhetorical question with a massive dose of influenza, which laid both hosts out with fevers, severe congestion, hacking coughs and body aches that lasted days and days.  So they took to Facebook and the phones to solicit help with laying trail, and got Chip Off the Old Dick to scout and set, with Jeffy Lube and Blow in the Hole assisting.  So all QC and C&L needed to do, after autoclaving themselves thoroughly, was to shop, cook and set up for an uncertain number of guests in the low double digits (IQs, heh heh) and clean up after them.

Heroes!

The weather added to the excitement by warming up and starting to drizzle, then pour, then sprinkle, then drive steadily.  So most of the ice melted, and the rich Virginia clay turned super-slick, and the dead leaves carpeting Scott’s Run turned to ten million miniature slip-n-slides.  Nonetheless, all the hares arrived on time, and two returned early, after BitH slipped on one of the more treacherous ice floes and conked her noggin.  She got platinum treatment from our hosts, including a sneak-preview brownie, whilst JL, bearing brownies, returned to the woods and COtOD to complete the set.

More HEROES!

Eventually a crowd of about 23 assembled in the cool drizzle to learn from COtOD that, “The trail may lack something in distance, but it makes up for that with really, really, really awful footing.”  To the many shouts and imprecations that hashers watch their footing, Oral Advocate responded, “One time I was watching my footing and I slammed into a tree.”  Moderation in all things, my friends – but do watch that footing.

And handing, since the hares, re-christened billy goats for today’s run, chose some nicely steep slopes that required traversing on all fours.  Runners got all kinds of creative with their methods for making it down hills, including essentially and un-deliberately just sliding on their hindquarters or flanks.  Lori pointed out that she’d fallen twice, once on her left hip, and then on her right hip to keep things symmetrical.  Mini Schlonga showed off long and deep mud stains from waist to ankle when he finally returned to the On In.

Shelter from the storm

The return was seriously staggered.  The walkers split into three groups (partially paved, all woods, and where did BC3 go?), and got back at intervals; the runners split into more.  The first three heard, “This is where BitH fell,” and turned around and headed straight back, meeting walkers on the way.  The rest returned in ones and twos and threes, ending with Paula and COtOD, arriving at 5:30, having enjoyed a lovely sunset low on the horizon, under the rain clouds.

And what an On In we enjoyed!  Beefy chili and meatless chili with macaroni and toppings, plus garlic toast and salad and brownies, and wine and beers and soders and everything, and luxurious seating in the downstairs hashing suite, where our hosts had laid out piles of clean towels and a stack of plastic bags in case you wanted something in which to take home your wet things.  The generosity was ludicrous, but ever so welcome for our damp, chilly, muddy hashers.

Chili:  perfect for a chilly day.

Mufti’s roll included commemoration of the Oral Advocate’s 21^st anniversary – that’s right, it was the 11^th of January in 1991 when OA first yielded to Big Wheel’s invitation to join the GFH3 on one of its little woodsy jogs.  He’s averaged 40x/year ever since.  Flowerkraut hit 699, and will turn 700 next week, as we celebrate Boom Boom’s 102^nd real birthday.  See you then; or in the pictures.  Thanks to Greg for his snaps of the Potomac in the rain.