Of Lads and Lasses

Another so-called local tradition is the annual Epiphany walk which started a long time ago in 2002. We felt like hiking up into the hills walking off from Gumpoldskirchen train station. By means of explanation: Hashers at the Worlds Worst do not just like frolicking, running, drinking, be merry and all that. There are also quite a few serious and not-so-extreme walkers around, and 20 of these waited for us when we - S.Energy and I - arrived at the given time with 2 kids and 2 dogs.

Long time no see Scarlett Pimpernell was there, the Final Kuntdown and the Red Aunt made a rare appearance and on a very sunny day it was on off uphill into the woods. with fond Memories of two Eurohash runs that have been set in this area in 2017. A comfortable 100 minutes later the first watering hole was reached, which was the wonderful Proksch Hütte with fine beer (Murauer) and tasty Pea Soup with sausage, thats what I had. A nice place to go to and a recommendation if you happen to be in that area one day.

Afterwards, it was downhill in the slippery mud. Two slip-slidings down into the mud by yours truly later Mr. Pink, A.N.A.L. and daughter came our way and in jolly fashion we all went to a glorious Heurigen in Gumpoldskirchen to finish off this walking tour in a suitable way.

Epiphany Wino Walkers 

Happy Hashers at a Heurigen

By the way, we haven't had runs starting from the Krapfenwaldlbad in a long time, nein?

Wandering Spirit

The Wino Walk, the Epiphany stroll, a gathering of wondering wanderers was started in 2002 and has become an annual custom at the Worlds Worst, usually to held on, well, Epiphany. This year the date was blocked by a Hashrun so we moved the date to January 19. This years aim was to get up to the Hohe Lindkogel in the Helenental a bit outside of Baden bei Wien (south of Vienna) and 10 committed souls started punctually (!) from the carpark next to the Augustinerhütte, all the way uphill.

After 20 minutes walking on frozen ground there was snow in abundance and after another 90 minutes the Schutzhütte zum Eisernen Tor was reached, with splendid views all around. One hour-long lunch and a downhill walk later this pleasant day was concluded at a merry Heurigen in Guntramsdorf.

The merry hikers 

Walking

We started the Wino Walk in 2002 and over the years we have come around a bit, thereby mainly staying in the area south of Vienna which is the Thermenregion (indeed, once upon a time this used to be a volcanic area). 17 walkers and no kids found their way to Baden and, after eventually picking up Tickpleaser, Casting Couch and Two Bob somewhere along the route ze overall direction was getting to Sooß, neighbouring village to Baden renowned for their good red wines. (At one time during an annual event called "Winzerwandern" there were 35 partaking winemakers just along the main road in Sooß, winedrinkers heaven!).

Wino walkers in 2018 

Two casual hours later we arrived in Sooß and had pleasant lunch at the "Heurigengalerie", nice place with tasty wines. Getting en route back to Baden within the vineyards was leading straight to a second and final watering hole, the Heurigen Zierer (again, great wines!) with a few traitors preferring to dine at a Gasthaus next door. Foggy day and pleasant company, we hope that fun was had by all who came along.

To-days special pointed out by some well known Hasher

via GIPHY

We shall go on to the end

Eurohash minus 180 days. (I shall try to start all blog posts leading up to that event with a countdown.)
So this is the last evening of the Christmas Holidays (I hope yours was a real good one) and tomorrow it is back to le grind. On Epiphany 15 years ago and following an idea by my beloved wife we started a Non-Hash walk on January 6 each year. In the south of Vienna where we live we are fortunate enough to have plenty of forest paths, hills (the Anninger being the highest with a bit more than 670 metres high) and and an abundance of Heurigens to rest our weary bones after some hours of introspective walking.

20 stalwarts (including 6 kids) did not mind neither the clime of -6 degrees nor the wind, starting from Pfaffstätten we made our way uphill through the vineyards and steadily further uphill. I wanted to visit the Gumpoldskirchner Veiglhütte, unfortunately this establishment was still in hibernation.  The following way uphill to the Annninger Schutzhaus was a comfortable one and Lady Luck smiled on us when there was a whole room with more than enough seats waiting for us. Perfect service, good food and drinks and one decent walk back downhill through the Siebenbrunnengraben brought us  back into Pfaffstätten before Darkness was setting in. Spontaneous On After at the very old-fashioned Heurigen Schwarz.

Look up the chapter about this Hash Chapters active social life (Eurohash/News/Who are Vindobona H3?) Come along and be part of it.

Vindobona Hashers on a Non Hash Tour

Walking Wino

A dear tradition has started in early 2002 if I remember that correctly, namely that (My) Sex Energy organizes an annual walk on Epiphany day starting mostly from Guntramsdorf (or Mödling trainstation) leading mostly on over the Anninger with the obligatory rest at the Anningerhaus.
If you ever make it up there then do try the Peasoup (Erbsensuppe). Truly Delicious.
Just Bob and Just Raija joined the fold as well as the Kunt Family minus the Great Kuntini. Taking the easy way into the Weinberge and up to the Richardshof then downhill again into Gumpoldskirchen and it was time for a decent winostop, comprising of tasty Cabernet Sauvignons, Weiße Spritzer and Liptauerbrote.

Not much to report other than leading enjoyable conversations with all participants, then getting into Baden, taking the reliable Badner Bahn back to Guntramsdorf and finishing the day off at Baitschev, venue of many an OnIn in the past.

Thanks to our cowinowalkers and all of you feel free to join in next year.

Na denn prost, dass die Gurgel net verrost'!. (This one is especially for SBM)