GFH3 Run #1,785; 13 December 2014

First and foremost, congratulations to Blows and Goes for emerging hearty and well from his recent, unexpected surgery.  We look forward to his return to GFH3.

No, seriously.  Can't wait to have him back.

We do not look forward to the Mufti and BC3's departure at the end of the month, especially after they treated us to a another great hash today.  The Oral Advocate and Phoenix Rising chipped in to set trail, and it was an excellent one, plus the weather in Reston was decent for the time of year -- which means chilly and cloudy enough to make southern California look that much better, but not cold enough to require a third layer.

Actually, there may be a few triple layers in there.

So 31 of us gathered for a mutual-admiration moment masquerading as a brief, and 16 runners headed uphill, while 10 walkers sauntered lake-wards, with multitudinous dogs in tow.  The runners broke up into three chunks of turkeys, two of eagles, and one serious shortcutter.  Almost everyone got the nice bit of shiggy that brought them back to culs de sac of Center Harbor for a zig-zag On In to THE EGGS!

Turkeys on trail

BC3 had cooked up a marvelous brunch of eggs, croissants (still warm, even for the final two finishers!) and sausage.  Plus mimosas and fruit and panettone for afters, and altogether everything delicious, restorative and festive.  Gosh, it was a great meal.  Mark your calendars:  she's back in late March or early April.

Mufti roll-called, Rough Cut made 899 ("I've got to think up a new name.") and Rick made number one.  Bubbles got 'forgotten' until the Mufti started to make a fuss.  Chip Off the Old Dick bravely stepped forward, but clever Mufti saw through the ruse.  He was gracious enough to present me with CIA lotion and body mist (no, seriously -- Central Intelligence Agency skin care products) and a hand-carved nest of Christmas trees, in celebration of my retirement from the role of Assistant Associate Mufti.  Or something.  Let the record reflect that I got an entire sentence out for my speech ("I'm not even going to try to say anything.") before the hash realized what I was up to.  Ha ha!  Going out in glory!

GFH3:  "99 to the cup!"  Rick:  "I have no idea what that means."

I took a few pictures, and Queen Cobra got hold of the camera and took a boatload.  Enjoy.