When the moment is right

June 25. This years date to come back, albeit once a year, to Wiener Neudorf. By breaking the tradition we did not start at the old faithful Figurteich like we always do but rather moved down the road a couple hundred metres to the carpark of the Kahrteich with adjacent Restaurant Oase. All my beloved wifes idea of course. Maybe it is some kind of a deeper truth that guys principally hold onto an idea for a looong while while those beloved females are more spontaneous and - volatile, maybe. But that's just my personal little theory.

Well, the change of the start showed in full glory that there ARE poeple who do NOT read the Hashschedule but much rather rely on something like :"Oh, it's these guys setting their run again so I know that run will start automatically at point X!"! Our own superhero MOM was the one that got completely lost and was seen strolling aimlessly down that secret road in Guntramsdorf where the larger part of the KUNT family is residing. But I digress.

Down the old Old Plank Road

The goal this time was to find out a slightly different route thru Wiener Neudorf. so the route was along the infamous B 17 (Triester Straße) for a showt while and then down along the Mödlingbach and the old part of Wiener Neudorf. After a loop on over a bridge surpassing the A2 it was on back across the backgardens and, eventually back to the cars along a long straight path in that Industrial partk where we once hold that Saint Valentine's run that all the partakers loved so much. Short circle and On After at the restaurant Oase.

See no evil, drink no evil?

On Out.

Zig-Zag our way

And then on June the 18th  it was time for that annual sensation somewhere in the 22nd district at No Mercy Mistress's Sauna and Swimming pool, cleverly disguised with and preceded by a more or less shortish Hash run, this time  duly assisted by Marathon Man and family.

Waiting Room Only

As the Marathon family has recently moved in the near neighbourhood it seemed to be natural to incorporate a beer stop at their new home. All said and done, some 40 minutes into running on a hot day, the beer stop garden was merrily reached and duly enjoyed. Finding the right trail after the beer stop proved to be a minor problem as the marks were not clearly visible at first. But that may have been the influence of the liquids consumed right before.

Three Gentlemen

The way back to the OnIn was mostly straight all the way back, giving us all a well deserved chance to enjoy the flat surrounding scenery that Hirschstetten is well known for. Before the circle even started the usual suspects took to the sauna and afterwards for a lenghty swim. Down Downs at the circle were prominently awarded by (ab)using a comfortbale garden chair the belonged to our host. More swimming and a barbeque afterwards.

On In

On Out.

Even it up

After a short holiday break in May it was back to business up at the romantic scenery of the Krapfenwaldbad that is located somewhere in Vienna'S 19th district on June the 11th. They say that the prettiest girls drop by there in the summer. Well, up to you to find out if that is more than just a rumour.

Two real flowers

Due to some traffic related problem I reached the car park half an hour late with everybody long gone. Really wanting to wotk for my circle beers I decided to take a chance and see if I could catch up. On my way out I briefly met Glory Daze and Lopsided Backside who were late as well and decided to go for a short walk.  Catching up with the pack seemed to be no big as after half an hour into casual jogging I caught up near the Cobenzl.

No thanks!

Multiple "I belong to live on Vienna" was here as well as Sinex and The Bag and Merry Marugoto, all on their way back from a weekend chez our good friends from the Zagreb Hash. What seems to be a large part of that forest has been covered it was back into the car park. Circle was being held a little further uphill near the grill area. A neat little goddie style down down routine from Zagreb was once performed, only never to be seen again in subsequent circles.

The Hares of a Dog

I can only dream in Red

Better late than never they say so here is a late summary of last years annual Red Dress Run on New Years Eve, as always once around the Ringstraße in Vienna. After a span of more than 10 years of participation in these events (okay, it is officially the Silvesterlauf of the LCC around the Ringstraße on Dec.31 each year, but who cares about these minor details?) one begins to see Red Dresses floating all around when one contemplates about it. But that seems be the case with new born babies, freshly grown moustaches and - the cool Pints (not you, My Pint) in the Pub.

Ignition!

Meet as always in front of the Cafe Schwarzenberg at Vienna's Ringstraße, raise considerbale attention from Japanese and Italian tourists and then it is On Off once around the trail, some 5,4 kilometres, as has been the custom over the last years, by holding on to a long climbing rope. This time by inspiration of King Ralph a slight deviation has been taken over the ramp of the Parliament building, much to the amusement of the local bystanders.

Beer delivery!

The rest of the run showed that this Hash Chapter is slowly turnining geriatric. Richard Kopf should be mentioned for not holding onto that rope but rather tried to hold the rest of the red dressed runners (?) back from what seemed to much exercise on that day for him. At the end of the run the crossing of the finish line happened in all glory as you can tell by the pic.

The circle inside the Ringstrassengalerien prominently featured copious amounts of Bloody Mary, generously provided by Glory Daze. I learned only later that she used a mixing ratio of 50/50 for Wodka and Tomato Juice. OUCH! Belated thanks for that hangover! On Out.

Face it

So there is always a chance to convince yourself that you (the local Hashers that is) are living in a nicely sized capital with agreeable surroundings, amongst them the entire area around the Bisamberg. The Blessed Saint Norman (OVH), being helped by the delectable Rowed Runner,  always manages to set good runs around that part of town and heck yes, the nearby Gasthaus Weinbeisser has half priced food on Monday nites. That requires a punctual start which as a consequence makes you run faster if you happen to arrive late on the spot, like I did.

Alive and kicking

My Sisters Glowing Magistra arrived at the same time, only on public transport and it sure took a little while until the not so fast runners came in sight. Lots of uphill - though not all the way up to the former Sender am Bisamberg - and a very long way back to the carpark rounded this very nice piece of exercise up. Late latecummer Primadonna caught up with me during the last couple of kilometres and when did I last win a Hashrun? Shame that that Gasthaus at the Senderstraße that we always abuse as a beer/winestop was closed this time.

Listen to what the man says

Small Theme

Back to the more charming parts of old Vienna (not necessarily the houses of ill repute that Multiple Entry seems to care for once a year with his red/blue Dress runs) but rather to the confines of the Lobau. Starting off from the Lobau National Park carpark and again into the width of that mosquipo infested place (in summers only) which is a safe haven for nudist swimmers (Q&A with a local Hasher of British origin "So I took wife and kids out for a walk and suddenly there were all these naked people around" "Well, didn't you know?" "Of course not! Are they not supposed to put up signs here?" "Well not really, because it is well known that nudist bathing is encouraged in the Lobau".) But I digress, really.

Bridge that Gap

Setting off from the carpark and straight into that vast and seemingly endless forestland always leads to complete confusion, it is hard at least for me to understand how people can find their way in here without a detailed map. Crossing over that long wooden bridge that once in a different Hasher's life saw the late Raging Bull (small dog) succesfully chase away an Alsation Dog in defence of a Hash Cooler full with Beer.  Since all and every part of the scenery looked green to me in all respect there is not a lot that one can add apart from the fact maybe that the regarded Hare Flying Dutchman produced a light cockup once when a part of the trail led into Nirvana and a false was the right trail and )($/%&;$(??? did everyone arrive back safe and sound at the carpark. In the absence of Cardinal Munk (OVH) it was left to Richard Kopf to have some religious advice spendiert. Standouts of the evening certainly were Whoppa and Pocahontits with celebarting their 30th Wedding Anniversary. Congratulations!

You can't have one without the other

The Other Shore of this Shore

Give all the organsizers credit in plenty. I mean, everyone says that most of times. Yet, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary celebration weekend down in charming Burgenland in the village of Mörbisch nearly everything went by smoothly and relaxed. I am of course not referring to a few blokes who awaited the last minute beer delivery from the Gols Brewery in panic - tasty beer, by the way.

Masthead Meeting

I am also not talking about the big Bike Marathon that went all the way around the Neusiedler See which - together with a few road deviations - could have caused nice delays in Hashers arriving on the Friday and departing on the Sunday.
Due to the most lovely surrounding you can possibly imagine and the weathergods smiling on us - THANKS RA, YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE! - the weekend started off in perfect setting which was a short Warmup run though the village, thereby succesfully avoiding the bikers.
Short circe in the hotel garden afterwards and then after dinner it was off to enjoy the Just Gang Bang (Copyright My Pint of View) or the Hash Bang (Copyright your Grandmeister). The lads are getting tighter . of course just musically speaking . and the Drummer in Sailor garb took the cake. with the band consistign of Just Chuck Lead Guitar and Vocals, Just Ken on Rhythm Guitar, Septic Yank on Bass (Please slap it!) and No Balls Prize on Drums.

You must remember this!

Next day, new luck. Having heard that the Hares for the Saturday run  - no, I shall not mention Free Willie's name yet again - spent  FIVE HOURS to set the runners part I and quite many other, upon the behest of both Lord Glo-Balls and The Blessed Saint Norman, both OVH, automatically took to the other choice which was a walk/stroll through the village ad partly alongside the lake. Then it was on off into Hungary and a mere 90 minutes later in total we all arrived happily in Fertörakos, aiming straight for a large beergarden. Order were quickly placed and the merry feeling sustained well until after the arrival of the runners much later. Of course there were a few wannabees present (Richard Kopf! et al)who referred to themselves as the "advanced runners" (yuck!) and who successfully avoided the toy train ride down to the seaside, all Hungary of course.

Slow Water

The ride back on the ship - chartered especially for this drinking club, well done! - was a pleasant one and especially garnished by Goulash mit Nockerln in plenty. After the arrival back in Mörnisch and a (fake?) checking of passports it was on up all the way to the Weindenkmal with coldish beer waiting and a merciless circle in the sun. RA duties were well performed by your very own RA Cardinal Munk, thr old faithful Sparerib (Cannon Fodder?) and all the visiting RA's from other Hashes (Copenhagen, Zagreb etc.) I pray you to bear with me if I can't recall everyone's names. You all did a fine job for sure. After the circle (with no namings!) it was on back to the hotel for supper and the band for the evening (I heard they also performed in Payerbach last year) who did quite fine a job (in retrospective I' prefer the "Hash Bang" but that's just my two Eurocents).

Ever open door

Sunday morning then, with another breakfast, run destructions, daughter, me, Grand Meister and another Hash Family with baby daughter Chloe taking off to far and away route via Rust and Sankt Margarethen all the way and again across the Hungarian border where that Pan European Picnic took place in August of 1989 which led to the opening of the Iron Curtain and all the rest is History, More cold beers were unloaded and prepared for the crowd. Dare I say it took them awhile to finish those 5 or 6 kilometres uphill yet the circle was another long one and eventually being ended by transporting the lot bacl to Mörnisch with more toy trains. God knows where all the visitors came from, I recognised Likk'm, Spareib, Sinex and the Bag, Chief Ironhat and Sir John, Loping Scrotum, of course Overdrive and Cleopatra, our special acquaintance Fully Distilled from the Brats and here's to all those other ones who made the effort to experience the Vindobonian interpretation of a Hash weekend.
Again, thanks to all who made this happen.


On Out.   

Re-enactment

Even though it is mostly the same old story, it is always a pleasure to come back to that special place up in the Wienerwald. The owner of the Grüß Di A Gott Wirt loves us dearly (and our cash even more), the weather was perfect and views from the hills were plenty. I have to admit that I underestimated the number of runners that would make it on that day. I told our friend from the Gasthaus we'd expect around 20 people for the dinner after the run. Come runtime there were 41 good souls present and the content of those 4 magnum bottles of Sekt which were prepared for the drinkstop up the hill disappeared quickly. A special feature were - like in 2007 - the Vienna Pipes who could be heard palying from way ahead already. When they gatecrashed the circle after the run, supported by fireworkd and a huge Hashcake the party took off. Pleasant and long dinner at the Gasthaus afterwards. A few Pics to follow when the bulk will have been uploaded. Thanks to everyone for participating ahd helping to organize in any which way.

Happy 30th Anniversary

Let it be known to all you noble people out there that to-day marks the 30th anniversary of the Vindobona Hash House Harriers. Meaning back in 1982 some weirdos started this drinking club and we are proudly carrying on the tradition. Meaning that Cardinal Munk (OVH) and yours truly will be setting a run up at the Grüß Di A Gott Wirt, somewhere in the 19th district of Vienna yet deep in the forest, venue of run # 1. Some features will be waiting for all partakers and a run report will follow when I will have sobered up sometimes later tomorrow. Anyhow, thanks to all the Lasses and Gents who made and still make it all happen. Long may you all prosper. And if any muso-interested reader is unsure what all this Hashing thing may be all about, kindly refer to the links on the right side of this blog that may serve as means of explanation. On out and see some of you later.

Here's to you!

And a fitting finale for this celebratory post:

Any which way you can

Clint Eastwood did a couple of movies where an Orang Utan plays a main role, bkac in the late 1970s.
Lovely music to go with it.
Enjoy




More Hashrelated News to follow.

You are not alone

Du bist nicht allein, sung by Roy Black in 1965.

Where is the context to Hashing you rightfully ask? Maybe I can talk our Song Mistress here in Vienna into practicing this gem for a future Song Stop.

We must hasten

Since the honorable Harold Camping retired, others have to carrg the torch.

Alien Invasion 2012 - Why would Aliens want earth?

Get more Hashes under your belts you good people!

On out.

Thursday the twelfth

Very fitting musical piece to continue this little adventure.