Wednesday 23 May 2012

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





Tuesday 15 May 2012

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.   


Thursday 3 May 2012

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.