No big mysteries

Eurohash minus 94 days. Spring has arrived in full splendour and it certainly is most lovely to be able to wear shorts and shades again. The Eastermarkets in the city centre have opened up their stalls again (allowing one for the occasional dwink) and last Sundays run was O Sodomia's out in Eichgraben, somewhere west of Vindobona.

Following a road called the Dreiwasserstraße there was a tiny car park literally just coming out of a raulway underpass and a few of us squeezed their automobiles next to one another, well I confess, I wanted to block at least two spaces with our Hashmobile when Slush Puppie asked me kindly to park the car "orschlings" (look that term up if you can find it) so others could park next to us.

I assume that the Hare lives out there somewhere, given that she really seemed to know what she was doing directionwise ;-)  One was pleasanltly surprised to run along a coherent trail where  the general direction was a steady one uphill (and, of course, back downhill again towards the end). With the usual suspects Tonto, Justin Beaver, Pussy Schumi, Tickpleaser, Free Willie and FRBimbo Casting Couch there was no chance to shine as a Front Runner (no competition here), the thing I really enjoyed was the pleasant forest area, even with the adjacent motorway A1. With the first line and the double line after checkpoints often being several hundred metres apart (no kidding here) there was nothing left but to run and earn the beer after the run. Talking about which, the way back to the cars was leading through the short railway underpass again when THUMP a sound of bad car parking  could be heard.

THUMP at the end of the tunnel

What had happened? MOM, as well as a few others wanted to park his vehicle nearer to all the other ones, yet when he easily found a place to park he obviously missed the sight of Joysticks mobile behind his own one and the result was THUMP and the noise was much louder than the scratch that this minor collision caused.   And yes, there were some snivelers who whined about the ticks they brought home after the event.

Reconnaisance of trails for the Eurohash is underway, as I could tell from a special Down Down that had been awared to all those we were out in the fields already. The route that our group of four had reccied the day before the run looks promising, more about that in one of the next postings.



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Beers to you

Eurohash minus 110 days. This post is dedicated to a couple of legendary Schweizerhaus alumni, namely Minuteman (went back to Tennesse) and Se* o Phone (now lives in Brisbane) Before we knew it March 15 was here again. Since the first 10 weeks of 2017 have been a complex time for various reasons the small group of the true stalwarts (which are bascially Cardinal Munk, OVH and myself) were much looking forward to the first warm-up beers at the Englische Reiter before the gates to Beer Elysium of the day were finally opened at 11 a.m.

Time always flies in the company of a beery group, this time consisting of MOM (always there), Dodgy Condom, NoBalls Prize and St.Norman (OVH). Instead of trying to describe a Happy Drinking Day with friends and always making new ones, here are some pics from the day.

We're trying to call up Se* o Phone in Brisbane, okay?

Gary Indiana!

The Tower of Babel

Listening with me

Eurohash minus 117 days. Another year, another Ski Week Solidarity Run. Last year CoHare Cardinal Munk, OVH and I started the trail from the Karlskirche so this time we started from the alternating location which is the Votivkirche. Since we the Hares start to feel our age a bit we decided (but you must not know!) to move the head start forward to 18:30 in order to allow for a slow walk through the neighbourhood. The inside of the Alte AKH (Innenhöfe, now a Vienna University Campus), where they have their annual Christmas Market, the Stieglambulanz and the Bierheurigen Gangl as well as quite a few other shops  is always a pleasure to run through.

Getting out of the Altes AKH and onto the Lazarettgasse is getting one onto the vast area of the Allgemeine Krankenhaus, a labyrinth for me and an amazing place in the evening hours, with spots tastefully painting patterns of light on the walls of old and sometimes unused old pavillons (which resemble those in Lainz tremendously). Another three corners and getting by the Vienna Rathaus (with that strange attratction called the Wiener Eistraum still up and running) and it was on back to where we started from. A mere five minutes after CoHare Cardinal Munk, OVH and I sat down to enjoy our soft drinks the runners already arrived, namely Mind the Gap, Casting Couch and Slush Puppie. (Followed by more Ski Week Solidarity Stalwarts Lord Glo-Balls - OVH, Lucky Me, Root CAnal, Chucker F*ucker and Just Anne).

Fancy looking Shirts were being sold, roses for the Harriettes were handed out and after a short circle the evening was concluded at the Stiegl Ambulanz. Thanks to all attendees for keeping this tradition up and running.



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From one pole to another

Eurohash minus 124 days.An endearing tradition of the World's worst is without doubt the Blue Moon Hash, held annualy on the preceding evening of Ski Week Start. As far as I can rememtber the run always started from the Volkertplatz (where the once was a real dump in terms of an old-fashioned Gasthaus (now replaced by something looking more modern).

The objective of the "run" (casual walk would be more like it), again as always, was to have couple of drink stops in two local houses of ill repute. (That also brings back memories of stories that an Ozzie Hasher told me in Warsaw 30 years ago about those dirt road Hashes in Southeast Asia). To me at at least the whole thing, being attented by three dozen hounds, was something like three times around the block (down to the Nordbahnstraße) and straight into the first such house that feature purple wallpaper, thick smoke and a few bored-looking females (I assume their real customers arrive much later). Within no time everybody received their much welcome drinks (and some red wine even for some very special ladies) and, to the exaltation of a few special gentlemen (Richard Kopf) a dancer came forward to present her skills on the dancepole. 



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All said, done and danced it was on off to the second such house (the Kerstin Bar somewhere in the second district), a place that looked inviting but for some strange reasons all the Harriettes were denied entrance so there was no choice but to leave and look for the next best thing (which was a somehow deflated beerstop in a house of healthy repute - a normal Gasthaus). On back to the starting point and in no time the circle started. Me and S.Energy did not stay long enough to clock the arrival time of the local law enforcement agents, they usually arrive within ten minutes due to loudness level violation complaints. On out.

You got to walk that lonesome Valley

Eurohash minus 131 days. Reminiscing about runs in the past up on the Gießhübl I hold fond memories about the Millenium Bug run way back in 1999 (you can still find the old writeup somewhere -> none of us are getting any younger -< ) and another run from January 2005 where the unforgettable Minute Man presented me with special souvenirs from one of his trips to Japan and a visit to one of those 100 Yen Stores. (Explaining pic to follow).

CoHare TwoBob and yours truly set out with no real concept apart from vague memories of that run in late 1999. The Snow and cold have thankfully retreated (just the wind felt a bit chilly) and a very nice group of 30 hounds found their way up to the carpark where even Richard Kopf gave in and paid the obligatory fee of 4 Euros for 6 hours of parking. Speaking of free parking (being of Scottish origin Richard Kopf sent me a text message trying to avoid the payment), the free parking outside absentee Tickpleasers house a a bit further down the hill was that little bit too far away to use.

With returnees Scarlett Pimpernell, The Famous Pimpsqueal and Double Oh Seven (GREAT Chinese army coat!) amongst the fold it was on down the hill for a bit (with some passing through the thick underwood) until there was a drinkstop (pure water only) at the Schneerosenbründl, lovely place.

Kann Ihm jemand das Wasser reichen? / Can someone hold a candle to My Pint?

Further on and after a check for quite a while uphill, a path that made Fallen Angel grouch we reached the Höhenstraße again (the main path through the forest is called just like that remarkable road within Viennese city limits which leads to the Grüß-Di-A-Gott Wirt) the last part of trail led by a huge local stone pit and eventually up a glorious hill with magnificent views and a compulsory Song Stop, with a rousing renditon of The Good Ship Venus. On After at the nearby Bärenhütte Gasthaus, a place to be recommended.

A bench in the park!

This is what we're here for

I just learned that Al Jarreau has passed. RIP and thanks for the music. This song covers some of the core and the deepest meaning. This is what life is all about.

Mystic Voyage

Eurohash minus 145 days. Another bit of Ostrich history, preceded by an important day of Hash History to remember. The Ostrich historic occurence happened just four years before the Mother Hash got started in KL in 1938. Looking up an old blogpost from 2010 shows a reused location that probably no-one remembers anymore. Except for the main Hare Casting Couch (with CoHare TwoBob) and yours truly, that is. Nothing had changed over the past seven years in the mystic village of Hafnerberg (and why, anyway?) apart for a bit milder temperatures (-1 degree Celsius) and a little less snow. Lots of lovely blank ice made up for that in plenty and made Richard Kopf ("I got lost and found an alternative fact - I mean way - back to the carpark!") and Nail Me turn round and avoid lots of slip sliding away. You're realizing that you're no further away from the city centre of Vienna than some 40 or 50 kilometres and you're coming across these godforsaken places, even a Rin Tin Tin impersonation came along out of nowhere, a lovely long haired dog accompanied the Hounds, especially O Sodomia and her doggie for a bit. The only thing I was missing were the tumbling tumbleweeds.

Tumbling along with the tumbling Tumbleweeds

At first it was downhill for an icy bit, then further on a longish flat way through depressive-looking winterland and then a long way on uphill again (Weitwanderweg to Hafnerberg) and towards the end downhill again alongside the stations of the cross back to the cars (I only slid out thrice close to the carpark). A pleasant not-too-long circle in the cold, featuring returnees the Famous Pimpsqeuak and Scarlett Pimpernell concuded the proceedings. All the best from this point to our great and glorious Grand Meister who had to undergo urgent medical treatment. And lastly, greetings to our friends from the Zagreb Hash who held their annual winter weekend over the last three days.