GFH3 Run #1,689; 23 March 2013

Valiant is, of course, king of our hearts now and forever, but on Saturday he was birthday king as well, and celebrated his 70th by inviting the GFH3 to his Great Falls estate to enjoy the sunshine and a great deal of shouting.  Suitably crowned, he convened the crowd in the back yard and began the brief -- and was not-so-rudely interrupted by a great round of cheering as the Bionic Babe limped her way up the driveway.  The hearty welcome completed, the runners headed down the street while the walkers mostly headed up.

The birthday boy set the last few marks by bike, after setting the runners off in the other direction.

Gorgeous weather and gorgeous scenery made for extra-enjoyable runs and walks.  And the neighbors were delighted that the runners weren't yelling so much this time, as it spooks the horses.  Remember, that, please, and try to use your less-strident voices when hashing through equine country.

Everybody wound up back at the house after about 75 minutes of strolling through the camp (and chasing deer for one participant who may not get off-leash again anytime soon) and zig-zagging through South Down.  And honestly, the weather was so good that they could have stayed out plenty longer.  However, the nice array of lasagnas waiting on the patio was a great addition to a gorgeous day, and the big crowd -- just over forty, I think, plus Peanut, Abby, Kylie, Lady Baggins, Cammy and a lovely lab whose name I didn't catch -- was an inducement to meander about the lawn and chat.

Grandchildren are a wonderful addition to a Hash.

For some reason, the roll call was especially robust.  Phoenix Rising took a few bows for his 666th run, but the greatest excitement (especially for the youngest youngsters in the crowd) was when the Mufti hollered Valiant's name, and the birthday candles burst into flame, and the Hash burst into "song."  One hates to walk away from such festive festivities, but, of course, eventually one must.  And so, eventually, one did.  Rough Cut boldly volunteered as hash hero for next week -- so see you in Leesburg.

Photos and two brief videos of dogs at play are available here.

GFH3 Run #1,688; 16 March 2013

The hash's finest, 21 or so stalwarts, braved the weather report and the cloud cover and zoomed (I'm Not Dead Yet and I made McLean to P.S. in about 30 minutes) westward, singing, "Paeonian Springs, oh Paeonian Springs/The joy that life brings in Paeonian Springs."  The snowdrops were blooming in their quiet way in north-facing pockets, and the daffodils had burst out in their gaudy excitement in the southern exposures, and the rain held off until the walkers finished their tour.

Honestly, it was pretty warm as we arrived to find Easy Strider stacking logs and finishing off the last of the maple sap.  You may be surprised to learn that this was a great year for sap, and E.S. had to bring in help to collect his brimming buckets as they were filling too fast for him to keep up solo.  So there is syrup a-plenty, waiting to be filtered and decanted.  But first, he had a hash to host, so he gathered the faithful and pointed them to the girder crossing the stream.  After jogging/slipping/crawling up the hill, someone - maybe Radar? - recalled, "He had us go left last time," and so headed right, with most of the pack behind him.  Mini Schlonga and Mitch checked the left-bound trail, and only added a quarter-mile or so to their run by doing so.  Then through a flock of chickens, and a brambly scramble up a steep and thickly-vined hill to route 9, and some fields and more hills as the clouds began to sprinkle lightly upon them, and after about six miles we're home again.  Down the hill, now, in a few great, erosion-inducing, sliding steps, back across the girder and up to the porch where the beer awaits.

Away we go!

And the walkers await, having completed a two-mile circuit just, as noted above, before the drizzle began.  And a rich array of sandwiches await, comprising what the Mufti called, "The most colorful meal we've had in some time."  Irene K. provided the meal, with a little help from Wegman's, and in addition to varieties of sandwiches with fancy flourishes like pesto marinade and artichoke-feta spread, there was an abundance of chef's salad and a plate of juicy, fresh melon and other fruits, plus a generous cooky buffet.  There was Irish and other beer, to complement Mitch's multi-greens sartorial coup de grace, and Black Box cab, and it seemed like pretty much everyone was awfully happy.

At least four shades of green; probably more.

The Mufti called a quick roll with great cheers for Irene and Easy Strider, and subdued excitement as someone - E.S.? - hit 665.  Several of the Great Falls contingent requested early departure for various silly reasons, and so... missed out.  Because the lingerers got a special treat in being invited to sample the first pressing (or boiling or whatever) of syrup, in little paper tasting cups.  It offers rich, deep color with an audacious bouquet and hints of chervil on the after-palate, dissipating into smoky, woodsy tones of tree juice.  Susie the Calico Cat dropped in for a visit, with usual suspects INDY and Air Horn making a great fuss of her.  I've forgotten why Phoenix Rising kissed Easy Strider, but I did take the photo, which you can see, with Indy eating a Spam Oreo and others, right here.

By the time we left, it was downright chilly.

GFH3 Run #1,687; 9 March 2013

Man, oh man, is The (not very) Manic Mechanic going to be sorry he missed this one.  It was well worth the arduous trip to and from McLean.  But there, I'm getting ahead of myself.

You couldn't get a more beautiful day, now could you?  Not so true at 7:00am, as I'm Not Dead Yet and I set out with our flour, chalk and various busted joints to set trail - we were in layers and gloves.  However, by 10:45 the day had gotten a lot more spring-like as the hashers began to assemble.  The joy clearly shimmered in the sunshine as Radar returned to us, and the Mufti arrived with BC3 and a couple of emergency beer tubs, and Oral Advocate showed up with his younger offspring and a couple more beer tubs, the former for the purpose of training for a 10-miler (or a half-marathon?) under the inspirational influence of Mini Schlonga, whom I always think of as Sri Longa.  Anyway, by the time about 30 people and four dogs had gathered in the sunshine debating sleeve length, the beer was very well tubbed.

So off they went, the runners hitting a backcheck two in time to turn around and join the walkers for the first leg of the trail.  And I am delighted to report that, according to my sources, all the runners fell for the check that sent them into the woods on a trail to nowhere while the walkers strolled along the sidewalk.  Walkers got a 95% paved trail of two miles, turkeys got roughly three miles, almost all paved; and eagles got about five miles, also almost all paved as INDY didn't want to go the stream again.  (He does not believe in poetry, and hence holds the conviction that one can run along the same river twice.)

Everyone I heard from guessed that INDY designed the first half, but no.  *I* did.  And I had to argue him in to setting a backcheck early in the run.  And I believe everyone really enjoyed it.

We sent the runners into a construction zone, where apparently the FRBs got completely fouled up and, from what I can understand (which isn't much), wound up running back and forth across Kirby several times or something.  Meanwhile, Zipperhead, Chugger and maybe Valiant reminisced about trails of over a decade past, when someone named McInerney used to set in the same neighborhood.  Zipperhead says he recognized roughly 20% of the trail from those 20th-century runs.

Everyone made it back within 90 minutes or so, and refused to go inside where the food was because the beer and sunshine were outside.  In honor of the coming celebration of Hibernian snake removal, we offered a few bottles each of Guinness and Harp, all of which vanished pretty fast.  Meanwhile, the chicken and biscuits cooled a bit before being gobbled up pretty thoroughly in time for oatmeal cookies, warm from the oven.  I hope that schtick isn't getting old for anyone.

Mufti called the roll like a man who doesn't know what sick or injured are, and we celebrated Melanie's first run.  Thanks to Thanks for the Mammaries for introducing her.  The elite group shouted their  "presents" from the penthouse seating area, where Jojo joined them briefly.  And then, because exercise, beer, wine, food, witty conversation and divine weather just aren't enough for us, INDY offered a floor (driveway) show performing on his high-wheel bicycle.  The highlight, though, was Easy Strider trying his first ride on a pennyfarthing with great success, and his second ride with rather more shrubbery involved than is considered ideal.

Easy Strider getting the idea, INDY offering encouragement, and Dave G. apparently not clear on the concept at all.

As the hashers trickled away, a few of us draped ourselves about the rockery, basking.  Finally, Easy Strider and Flowerkraut gave us a hand collecting the recyclables before waving goodbye to get out and get their chores done.  Happy weekend, everyone.

For photos -- several by Radar! -- click here.

GFH3 Run #1,686; 2 March 2013

The hash met under appropriately somber skies in a cold breeze on the day of Alan Marlette's funeral.  We had a good turnout of 34 despite the weather, with two members already in their dress shoes in preparation for the service.  With BC3 and the Mufti, our putative hosts, indisposed, Oral Advocate, I'm Not Dead Yet and Mini-Schlonga set what Oral A. called "a perfect trail," and they kept it brief.  Starting at Reston's Lake Anne Plaza, the trail headed in a westerly direction, rather than around the lake, and brought the runners back to the plaza after about three miles and 40 minutes of mixed road, trail and grass with a bit of light shiggy in the mix.  The walkers, on Oral A's advice, had a quick walk sticking close to the plaza.

Hash Brief for a brief hash

I may be wrong, but I believe that Blow in the Hole and Lezley were the FRBs (I know they were at one point), since Manic Mechanic and Easy Strider were too busy trying to knock each other down hills to focus on running fast.  I shan't tell my Cockpit Ejeculator story because I'm nice, and it's not a great story.  Dave G. showed up really late and got lost but made it to the On-In just fine.  I saw my first snowdrops of pre-spring and took several photos in excitement.  I also saw a majestic hawk, which Ole Fud identified as a red-shoulder hawk, who was very suspicious of my clicking pix as he was guarding his catch, which seemed to be an unlucky squirrel.  The hawk kept trying to fly off, but maybe he had trouble lifting the squirrel, as he only went short distances.

Two newcomers joined us -- Kimberly and Peter have hashed, mostly overseas, enough that he's called Blue Tit in other lands.  However, we lost them somehow.  Oh, woe.  They seemed lovely.  Maybe they'll try again next week, when THE HASH IS AT 11:00 AM.  That's AM, not pm.  Morning.  Sorry for the people who hate early hashes, and you're welcome to people who prefer them.

The On-In that our first-timers missed (99.5 to the cup!) took place at Kalypso's, where beer was plentiful and the wine list extensive.   I was the only one to order flaming cheese, which seems astonishing.  How does one look at a menu that includes the appetizer saganaki, "seared Kasseri cheese flamed with brandy," and think, "I guess I'll have a burger."  Everyone gasped and a few applauded when the waiter set fire to supper.  Plus it's yummy.

A drinking club with problems running, heh heh.

I took the roll with the help of a piece of paper and pencil kindly sent over, via BC3, by an injured and ill Mufti.  So apparently I'm demoted from clipboard-ing, and back to scrap paper, pens scrounged from glove compartments and pencil stubs.

Several left early to visit with Alan's family; others rushed away to change for the service; those who hadn't known him well lingered.  The Kalypso's staff did a great job with our erratic group.  We forgot to vote on whether the Mufti should get credit for the run, because at least he offered to host, albeit at a restaurant, but I think he should.  After all, he tried.

The people, as well as the lovely snowdrops, majestic raptor and unfortunate small mammal, are all shown in the photos via this link.

Alan Marlette's Funeral Saturday 2 March - UPDATED with info on Saturday's run

Charles Alan Marlette, 1946-2013

Very sad news:  Alan Marlette, a Great Falls hasher for the last five or six years, died on Saturday 23 February.  He was 66, with a son and daughter.  There will be visiting hours at the Adams-Green Funeral Home at 721 Elden Street in Herndon on Saturday 2 March 2013 from 4:00 until 5:00pm, followed by a service at 5:00pm.  He'll be buried at Quantico National Cemetery on Tuesday 5 March at 2:00pm.

The funeral home offers a website where people can leave messages for the family and post photos.  The website also has details on the services.

The GFH3 will meet in Reston at 3:00pm as scheduled, for a short memorial run/walk.  After the run, hashers will convene in a nearby restaurant (bring cash or credit cards).  Anyone wishing to attend Alan's funeral should be able to make it.  Mufti and BC3 and The Oral Advocate have offered to make their homes available for showers for those who live farther out and want to clean up before the service.  Other Restoners & Herndoners are encouraged to do the same.

Ida L. Frick, 1926-2013

You may also know that Bea Ross's mother, Ida Frick, died on her 87th birthday, 12 February 2013.  Her funeral will be on Wednesday 6 March at the Money & King Funeral Home at 171 West Maple Avenue in Vienna, at 3:00pm.  Following the service, Ida will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.  This link should get you, again, to the funeral home website.

GFH3 Run #1,685; 23 Feb 2013

There really have been a lot of hashes in Herndon lately, including today, when Larry opened his doors to a drizzly day and a small group of the GFH3 elite, who moseyed in to drip all over his gorgeous Afghan rugs.  The weather and the 11am start kept the Bad Hashers at home.  One hopes that some of them made it over for a 3pm start, because the trail was thoughtfully planned and included scaling a wall via two ladders and some helpful assistants.  Although, I suppose, by 3pm the ladders and assistants would have been long gone, which might make that last short stretch a midge tricky.  I can't help but notice, though, that it was a lot drier and a lot warmer at 3:00 than it was at 11:00...

Larry and Mike set, with help from Rebecca and Zac, taking the runners through northwest Herndon and maybe a little bit into Loudon County.  They also provided a thoughtful map for the walkers, a not-lonely band of three, with two severe limps.  Then there were about ten runners, plus four hares, a cook, two on the DL, and one blogger-photographer who showed up late with professionally greased-up hair.  That makes 21, for those of you who do math for a living and don't care to have to add on your leisure time.

So:  those ladders.  There's a pleasant path that allows dog-walkers, baby-strollers, visiting neighbors and others to wander from Larry's neighborhood over to Mike's.  But someone didn't like it, and persuaded the Homeowner's Association to fence it off.  So Larry got his stepladder, and set it up on one side of the fence, and Mike got his extension ladder, and leaned it up on the other, and everything got very damp, and everyone went up one ladder and down the other -- except me; I went up and down both.  Mike and Zac stood by and steadied the ladders, which is not on par with the time Cockpit Ejeculator carried people across a stream, but is a thoughtful touch.

Crossing from west to east - not how they did it in the old days.

Marla made chili, both con carne and con verduras, plus brown and white rice and cornbread and all the appropriate toppings.  It was delicious.  Oral Advocate pointed out that the guacamole was not 100% genuine avocado, then claimed that the wise hasher (oxymoron?) hides the wax fruit when hosting, as hashers will eat anything.  The Mufti handed around a get-well-soon card for the Bionic Babe (Pink Parts chose a new name when she learned what "Pink Parts" can mean), then called the roll, noting that Gwen hit the double 2s (ooh) and I think it was Greg at the double 4s (ooooooh).  He allowed Mike to make up a number for his new official count ("Five," he said.  "Definitely more than two.")  I tried for 300, but Mufti just laughed.  Odd, since I was not joking.

Rebecca and Zac each got welcomed to the GFH3 -- 99 to the cup! -- although the claim was made that they both helped set a year ago and thus should be at two -- 98 to the cup!  Only one gorgeous rug got red-wine spattered, and one dog toy, and I believe all the African masks survived intact.  BC3 and the Mufti will hash hero it up next week, and INDY and I will host the following week, AT 11:00 AM.  That decided, INDY collected the Bionic Babe's card  and we set off to visit her.

The card clearly healed her right up -- soon that pillow under the afflicted limb will be gone.  But the duck stays.

She looks great, but is still hurting a lot.  There are photos of the hash available if you'd like to look.

GFH3 Run #1,684; 16 Feb 2013

The Hash brief is not always memorably memorable, but this was a great one.  Not only were there a few handfuls of snowflakes, swirling pixie-dust-like through the fine, fresh air of Herndon; there was also hash heroine Blazing Straddle, announcing:

• She and BC3 got lost while setting, so the run might be a bit longer than usual;
• If you've been running for an hour or more, and you're really quite tired, and you come to an X, you may and should run right through it;
• They found some shiggy, which is rare in these parts, so enjoy it; and
• There have been a lot of hashes in Herndon lately, and rather than color today's flour or try to sweep away previous runs' flour, she figured the hashers were smart enough to tell new flour from old, and they should follow the new.  Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

A slow start as the runners contemplate what might distinguish new flour from old...

There were also special celebrity guest stars:  the Double-Breasted Booby and Rick flew in on the easterly migratory route for hatching season, and the Rick family is now celebrating its newest member, born on Valentine's Day.  Awwww.  Photos were available; the infant is adorable.

Anyway, away they went, the 25 or so runners, and 15 or thereabouts walkers followed them.  The walkers' trail headed for the goose zone (you know what I mean, right?), and what fun is that?  I believe they went into the woods instead, which allows a lovely ramble.  There were a lot of people jogging and strolling through Herndon -- a beautiful day to be outdoors and active.

The runners were out for well over an hour, conquered their shiggy (Spurt:  "It's not what the Hillbilly Hash would consider shiggy."  Anonymous respondent:  "Well, why don't you piss off to Front Royal, then?"), and separated into many small groups to make their ways to the On In by very various, mostly unmarked, routes.  At one point Rick was FRB; nice goin', Grandad!  Air Horn:  "Who set this death march?"

Why is this man smiling?

Blazing Straddle, Goes Down in Spokes and Paul had put together a generous buffet of pasta and red sauce, meaty or mushroomy, and salad, plus chips everywhere and cookies and beer and wine.  Blazing Straddle keeps a darned comfy house, pretty much perfect for hashing.  Our injured Mufti showed up late, with hash heroine BC3, but in time for grits and the roll call.  He pointed out that there are dates available for hosting in March, which is traditionally the most popular month of the year to host.  So sign up early!

Larry is signed up for next week, and IT'S AN 11:00 AM START TIME!!!  Don't forget:  EARLY START NEXT WEEK.  You wouldn't want to miss the kind of fun these photos show you can have hashing.