GFH3 Run #1,737; 1 February 2014

HOMEMADE BEER!!!  Really GOOD HOMEMADE BEER!!!

That's all that needs to be said, isn't it?

If you're feeling all detail-oriented, you might care to note that 36 hashers gathered in Sterling this afternoon, under blue skies on a much-less-cold day than the last couple Hashes enjoyed.  There were, like, open coats, and several people not wearing gloves or hats.  Yowza.  The Mufti kicked off the official part of the event, introducing special guest Luke of the United States Navy.  Luke is doing a NEC (Naval Educational Command?) course in photojournalism, and one of his assignments is a multi-dimensional profile.  For reasons of his own, he's chosen to profile either the Mufti or the GFH3, so he may phone you to schedule an interview.  Key talking points if he does:  1)  Mufti?  What's a Mufti?  2)  I have never heard of this so-called organization.  3)  That's not me in those photos and if you ever try to claim it is I'll take legal action.

Then Brent and Melisande explained blue for runners and green for walkers, and handed out maps to any walkers who were extremely unlikely to be able to remember that complicated multi-color schemey thingy, then went inside to drink some of the good beer before the greedy hashers got back.  Rick, having changed out of a handsome cable-knit sweater, bounded across the road and raced past the meandering walkers and caught up to the runners with ease.

"and then follow the squiggly thing that looks like a W..."

The pack started out down Cascades Parkway, detoured onto a stream crossing, and then ziggy-zagged along paved walking paths, through the neighborhoods, shopping centers and elementary schools of prime LoCo real estate.  Somehow they managed to eschew the pavement often enough that every shoe was caked with the clay-mud-muck that characterizes NoVA soil during a thaw.

Their total trail was a hair (or several hares, end to end) longer than four miles, or about 50 minutes.  The walkers got about three miles (you are pushing it when you ask these walkers to traverse three whole miles), mostly along the same route as the runners.  Luke lay down in the mud and leaves to take super-excellent professional quality portraits of runners bounding through the beautiful afternoon.  He is actually a bit of a show-off.  There is nothing wrong with blurry photos taken from behind while strolling along, cursing one's map-reading skills or lack thereof.

COtOD works it, baby, for a professional
photographer who thinks a runny nose
really captures the essence of hashing.

At the On In, there were lasagnas and eggplant parmigianas and really tasty sesame green beans and stuff and did I mention HOMEMADE BEER that Flowerkraut described as, "Excellentissimo!" in a kind of loud-ish voice that suggested she had enjoyed a generous serving of the beverage in question.  There was both Oatmeal Stout and Pale Ale, and this non-connoisseur enjoyed both (small quantities of both, thank you) very much indeed.  There was also commercial beer, fortunately, as by the time Phoenix Rising got back, the custom-made varieties were both gone.  Someone suggested he go and confiscate Flowerkraut's.

Mufti, under the unblinking gaze of the professional photojournalist, called the roll with all his usual sangfroid.  Nelson and Luke celebrated their first runs (99 to the cup, if you're up to it), Rick is just four away from a name despite his desperate struggles to avoid one, and Lori just six.  Thinking caps, everyone; thinking caps!  Mufti is at 1,493.  Bite Me got credit despite leaving early to put her stitches up (stitches incurred in unspecified activity earlier in the day; head wound).

Hash time is happy time!

Thanks to Kimball for help with the snaps, which you can see here.  Now, about that upcoming 1,500th run that one of our members is going to achieve in March...




This just in:  the Mufti and BC3 kindly shared a couple of photographs from their sunny southern California vacation last week.  Whilst visiting Rrocks Starr (whose family hospitality they recommend), they toured the Galleta Meadows Estate Sculptures, including this impressive sea serpent.  You drive between the curves of its body-- off to the right, there, you can see a bit of a gap.

Cool!