The good news is that the feedback from yesterday’s Hash participants was almost all positive. And after this post, y’all will get a year of not having read about my exploits on the mountain. How’s that for a win-win situation?
The Hashers gathered at the usual meet-up venue, the VFW, and rode rented Jeepneys to the start of the trail. I walked the 2K from my house and met them there. Once the group had started the hike, I walked back to the On-Home venue and awaited their arrival. I was surprised that a couple of the runners were back in just over an hour. Everyone else trickled back in over the next couple of hours, and no one got lost or injured, so I’ll call that a successfully completed mission as a Hare.
The trail we laid.Loading up the JeepsThe trail begins at the end of this road.While waiting for the Jeepneys to arrive, these two–Anal Receptive and Leech My Nuggets came strolling up on foot. They both live in Alta Vista and decided to hike to the start like me.Arrival at the startEverybody outBlow My Pipe gives the guidanceAnd off they go into the wild blue yonderUp, up, and away!Making it look easyAlmost to the topMountain viewsCumslinger is an Easter Mountain virgin no more. Well done, sir!Folks taking the “easy” valley routeHeading On-Home from the Govic HighwayOnce again, traffic getting into town was insane. We avoided the highway as much as possible.Our hosts for the eveningSitting and drinking after the trailI enjoy the outdoor ambiance of Smokes and Bottles.The Hares for next week’s trail, Fuck Buddy, Dumb Ass, and Leaking Pussy. Should be fun and not so hard.It’s nice on ice!Circle up! Sixty-seven attended yesterday, including a large contingent from the Angeles City Corona Hash group.A Hare on the ice. Honestly, it is not all that nice.Some of the Gash from the Corona HashWhatever You Want made the mistake of wearing new shoes yesterdayAnd Bug Fucker celebrated his 69th run with the Subic Bay Hash House Harriers
Glad things turned out as well as they did. Also glad I won’t be climbing Easter Mountain again until next year. On-On!
A commenter asked for a better view of the cornbread and carrot cake I baked for Easter. Here you go, Kevin! Full of carbs and calories!
Or triple threat. Either way, I successfully completed my third climb to the top of Eastern Mountain this week, and we now have a marked trail for this afternoon’s Hash.
My fellow Hares, Bug Fucker, and Blow My PipeThat’s Alta Vista on that distant hillside.The arrow points to the high point on Black Rock Ridge that the hard trail will climb after Easter Mountain. That valley to the right is where the “easy” trail avoids the second climb.About halfway up the mountain, I came across these boots. Makes you wonder what the story behind their abandonment might be. They’d have to be pretty damn uncomfortable to prefer to go barefoot…We marked the trail as best as we were able, hope that’s good enough. Honestly, I’m not happy with the down off Easter Mountain, but it will have to do this time.Between the peaksThere is a second climb on the “easy” trail, up these steps to a rendezvous with the hard trail on the other side of Black Rock.Today’s On-Home venue is Smokes and Bottles.Something is goingon with my GPS or map app; we didn’t get lost today. The trail is around 6K.
I’m going to walk out to the start from my house this afternoon to give the pre-trail briefing to the Hashers. Then I’ll walk the roads to Smokes and Bottles and wait for everyone there.
Yesterday’s Easter dinner with Mary went well, even if she was a little late. I don’t much care for “Filipina time” culture here, but in this case, she had a valid excuse…traffic has been practically gridlocked all weekend. Old timers here have never seen anything like it before.
Baby back ribs in the crockpotAnd on the platter. They were falling off the bone tender and quite tasty, if I do say so myself.I served them with corn on the cob…And broccoli floretsWith cornbreadAnd some Sweet Baby Ray’sWith carrot cake for dessert
It was a nice meal, and afterward, we took a nap which was also nice. We spent a couple of hours at Sloppy Joe’s, watching the insane traffic and crazier drivers on the highway. There is no traffic law enforcement, and people take full advantage of that. Oh, well. I’m just a guest in this country. Glad I don’t drive!
Okay, time to head out to perform my Hare responsibilities. Back with more tomorrow.
So, let’s retrace yesterday’s events in reverse, starting with the last bar I visited and ending with the hike that began my day, shall we?
The last stop of the night was Wet Spot. I had run into Dave and his gal at my previous stop, and he invited me to sample the chili he was making a test run with in preparation for a chili cookoff next weekend in San Antonio. Alas, the guy in charge of the kettle reported that something went wrong with the beans, and the end result was inedible. Oh well, next time. And yes, I hope to attend the event in San Antonio on Saturday.
And Aine was there to keep me company, too.
Prior to the Wet Spot visit, I had made a rare appearance at Voodoo. The circumstances leading to that happening involved running into a group of my fellow Hashers on the street. I had left Hideaway and was undecided about where to go next. The guys said they were on their way to Mugshots. I advised them that Mugshots is closed on Wednesdays, so someone suggested Voodoo as an alternative, and I joined in.
L-R would be Dave, Simon, Ken, and Jim.I usually drink alone, so it was nice to have some male companionship for a change.Well, my regular Voodoo girl wasn’t going to be denied her lady drink bounty just because I was there with friends.
I had started my night out with the Hideaway feeding. The gals seem to appreciate the effort, and it gives me some pleasure to fill the void in their bellies with some local goodness. Last night it was roast chicken and fried chicken with rice. Brownies and Oreo cookies were the dessert items.
Goodbye Oreo!
So, that was my night in Barretto. Now to my morning on Easter Mountain.
This was day 2 of scouting for Monday’s Hash trail. On day 1, we had found the path to the top we wanted, but the coming down was not to our liking. Yesterday we started where the downhill ends and made our way back to the top from there. There is no getting around the fact that it will be a hard, steep down, but at least the way we’ve chosen will be easier to follow. Tomorrow we’ll scout the second climb through the Black Rock ridgeline for the hard trail. The easy version will be a valley walk.
Ken came along on the scouting expeditionHeading for the hillsA pleasant walk through a mango groveInto the grassesThe destination we are bound forAin’t no easy way to get there, thoughGoing up the down trailGetting closer, one step at a timeThe view from herePoor Jim is destined to wait on the slowpokesI’m the documentarian, and those photos aren’t going to take themselves…that’s my excuse, and I’m sticking with it!Rockin’ it!Getting higher and higher, just like in high school!The final push upwardsDown in the valley, the valley so low…Almost to the topI don’t know why, but the tree and the rocks gave me a peaceful easy feeling.That’s the village of Naugsol way down there.And that would be San IsidroEaster Mountain has two peaks. Our Hash climb will take us to the pictured first peak, and then we will walk to the other to begin our descent.One more shot of the view from the topGoing back down the way we just came upAnd that’s the way we did it!
In other news, CNN had a story featuring a Filipina cover girl for Vogue magazine.
Still looking spry at 106 years old. Dig those tattoos.
I was up and at ’em a little before 5:00 a.m. this morning and enjoyed the view.
I was just talkin’ to the moon, hopin’ someday soon that I’d be over, the memory of you…
So, feeling inspired, I mashed up some bananas and created about the best damn muffins in recent memory.
Yeah, that’s what I’m talkin’ about!Funny how that works
Let me leave you with a song. It’s an oldie (of course) but not a tune I’m that familiar with. It came on last night at Hideaway with the video I’m posting below. It cracked me up, especially in light of the recent alcohol-related discussions we’ve had here in the comments. I may be bad, but at least I ain’t that bad. Or maybe I was back when I was drinking gin.
I wound up doing all of the short trail (4K+) yesterday. It featured three climbs, something I would not normally do voluntarily. In fact, at the top of the first hill, a long, steep slog, I could have taken a left turn and avoided the other ups, but that would have meant finishing too soon, even by my low standards. I figured I could either bail at the bottom of the down or after the second climb. Turns out, at the bottom, there was nowhere else to go but up, and at the top of the second hill, there was nothing to be done but follow the trail to the end. Well, it’s always nice to get through a tough trail, so that sense of pride is my return for a hot afternoon’s work.
A Gods-eye view of the trailWe gathered at the Saver’s Appliance store on the edge of town and began our hike from there.The Hare, Demolition Derby, provides last-minute guidance.And we are On-On!And the first big up started right awayWhat an inclination!The trail was steeped in mystery…when do we reach the top?PosersHello down there!The trail teased us with a taste of flatness before resuming the upward angle.And then, at last, we began the descent. But with each step downward, I knew a future step would lead me back up again.It wasn’t a particularly easy down either.The long and short of itBuddy Fucker makes it through the fence……and so does Bum BurglarThe end of the second climb was a real bitchHill #2 is in the books!Steep and slippery going down the second time too.Easy does itOn the home stretch at lastWasn’t that fun?The Hash Circle at Blue Butterfly
My night after the hike went to shit. I was just in a pissy mood for some reason. Wound up leaving the circle early, being an asshole at IDM, and then heading home about the time the other Hashers arrived. Luckily, that behavior is not my norm. I was embarrassed thinking about it this morning.
I made the ascent to the peak of Easter mountain yesterday without incident. In fact, I made it to the top without much difficulty, which is especially surprising. I had carried my portable nebulizer with me in anticipation of a breathing attack during the climb, but I didn’t need it. Oh sure, I did some huffing on puffing on the way up, but the normal kind, not the “oh my God, I can’t breathe” feeling I’ve been experiencing recently. Even my hiking companion, Jim, was surprised at my slow but steady progress up the mountain without the need to stop and rest. I hope this is a sign that whatever has been ailing my worn-out lungs has left the building. Another indication that things may be improving is that I’m sleeping through the night without the need to get up and nebulize. I’m not sure what has changed, but it occurs to me that perhaps my rejection of gin as my alcoholic beverage of choice had a positive impact. Whatever, feeling healthier is like, well, a breath of fresh air!
The purpose of yesterday’s climb was to scout the trail for the traditional Easter Monday Hash run. The way we are going to the top is steep but not as tough as some other paths we’ve Hashed recently. Now, getting back down was another matter. There is still a lot of grass, which made finding an easy-to-follow trail difficult. In fact, we are going back out on Wednesday to find a better alternative than what we took yesterday. We’ll do that by starting at the bottom where we want to come out and then working our way back up. So, yes, I have another Easter mountain climb in the near future, actually, two more because we’ll also need to go back and mark the trail on Easter Monday.
The Hashers will ride rented Jeepneys to the trailhead next week. Jim and I took a trike yesterday to the starting point.
We got dropped off here, in clear view of our objective.Heading to our rendezvous with the mountain.
Let the climbing begin! You’ll see Jim waiting for me in most of these photos. I may be feeling better, but I’m still slow. Plus, I was taking the pictures.
Onward and upward!Still, a long way to goLooking back down from whence we cameI’m coming! I’m coming!Getting closerI’m falling further and further behind, it seems, but Jim is a patient manA measure of our upwards progressAnd now it is time to rock it!Getting stoned!Don’t look down!The final push to the topThat’s going to be a new subdivision somedayThe bay view from hereI’ll take that as a sign!Summit achieved!The proof that I made it tooThe view from the topAs I mentioned, getting down was no easy taskSteep and slippery, and you can’t see your footing in that tall grass.And there didn’t seem to be any clear path downAnd it got a little jungle-like near thebottomIt was hot and dirty work getting down, but we will find a better way for the Hashers to follow.This is where we came out and not exactly where we want to be. Further up the highway is the trail we want. We’ll explore that back up on Wednesday and then finalize our plans for the Monday Hash. Jim is taking the hardy group over the Black Rock ridge; I’ll lead the sane group through the valley.
We are off to a good start, though.
And now, for the rest of the day. I bought the Hideaway girls some Korean-style chicken wings and bulgogi from John’s place, along with a pizza from Shamboli’s for their Sunday feeding.
Bulgogi, wings, and seaweed (kim)Hawaiian pizzaAnd Choco Pies for dessertKim, rice, and bulgogi wrap down the hatch!Hideaway was unusually busy for a Sunday evening, and I had to sit at a table instead of the bar when I first arrived.
And after my time at Hideaway, I kept my promise and dropped by to see Aine, the new old girl at Wet Spot.
She’s still looking good for 40-something.I also passed by the Catholic church, which was in full swing at the start of Holy Week. The sidewalk in front is lined with vendors selling, you guessed it, palm leaves. I don’t really know the significanceof palms and Easter week, but it seems pretty important to the folks of faith here.
It is Hash Monday for me, so I need to prepare myself for that adventure. Hopefully, it goes as well as yesterday did for me.
I’m still here. So far. I hope the transition to the new host goes smoothly.
I don’t much care for the Hare for yesterday’s trail. It was a hotter than usual afternoon. The trail started halfway up Rizal Extension, which made it a pain in the ass to get to for me. Which is why I said fuck it and made my own trail. Actually, I met up with Scott, whose healing ankle wasn’t up for a mountain climb, and did a street walk with him. At the end of our hike, we had a late lunch/early dinner at Sit-n-Bull.
I did the chimichangas.
After our meal, we walked up the street to the VFW for the Hash circle. I got called out for a Hash crash and was required to sit on the ice for my non-Hash-related drunken tumble on Friday night. That’s okay.
After the Hash circle, I joined the group at It Doesn’t Matter for some more beers. I was mindful of my inebriation level and departed prior to reaching the danger zone. It feels good to be back in control!
Hopefully, it will be a more normal Hash adventure next week with pictures and everything.
(With apologies to ZZ Top)
Hash shirt, hiking shoes
But I don't know where I'm goin' to
Fresh powder, bright chalk
And now I know where to walk
Gonna make it ON-HOME without any fails
'Cause Hashers go crazy about a well-marked trail
Steep hills, thick grass
But I ain't losin' my ass
Checkpoints, creek beds
But I'll keep movin' ahead
Gonna make it ON-HOME without any fails
'Cause Hashers go crazy 'bout a well-marked trail
Commenter Kevin asked for a post showing how a Hash trail is marked, so I will attempt to do so using yesterday’s trail as an example of a well-marked trail. The trail itself was overall the easiest I’ve done in recent memory. I forgot to turn on my tracker, but the Hare said the short trail was 4K. I finished in just over an hour, so I doubt it was actually that long.
The climb I did was of average difficulty and length, but damn, my poor old lungs were making me wonder if my days in the hills are numbered. I had to pause a couple of times to use my inhaler, but I finally made it to the top. After that, it was clear sailing without any issues. In fact, I was surprised to find myself at the proverbial end of the trail much sooner than I expected.
Let’s do it again through pictures, shall we?
The Hare, Yogini, did something a little unusual by demonstrating some of the markings we would encounter on the trail during the meet-up at the VFW.
So, you have the powder on the ground, which indicates you are on the trail. The chalk arrow points in the direction you should go, and the “1” confirms the marking is for the day’s trail, #1541. That’s important because we often encounter marks from previous Hashes, and without a number, you may follow an old trail. The circle with the “x” is a checkpoint. Some Hares will place a checkpoint when there is an intersection of trails. This requires the Hashers to explore the various options until they find the right path. If they come to the three lines, it means On-Back; you are on the wrong trail. You know you are on the right trail when you find a chalk or powder marker, which indicates you are “On-On!” I personally despise checkpoints and never incorporate them into my trails as a Hare.
The Hare provided last-minute guidance to the kennel at the VFW starting point.And we are On-On!A chalk arrow points the way.And the powder on the ground affirms you are indeed on the right trail.Ah, the dreaded checkpoint. The original intent and purpose of a checkpoint was to help close the gap between fast and slow Hashers. So, whoever got there first would explore the options, find the true trail, and then indicate the proper direction with a new chalk marking. That doesn’t happen here in the Subic Hash; it’s every Hasher for themself. And as the person who is perennially at the back of the pack, it just puts me further behind. I guessed right on my first try at this checkpoint, though.Powder on a tree…...and chalk on a rockDo you see the arrow?On-Up!Each step is one step closer to the top.By golly, I think we done it!My little townAn Easter mountain viewJust follow the powder, and you can’t go wrongOne of the factors I consider important to a well-marked trail is frequency and consistency. There should always be some kind of mark when there is more than one option, like at an intersection. I also like to see a mark at regular intervals (I think every 50 steps or so is good). If I haven’t seen a mark in a while, I know I must have missed the trail, so I can turn around and find it.Plodding alongThese kids seem to know when I’m coming…Let’s go thataway!As usual, the runners on the long trail passed me before I finished the short trail.Babes in the shadePowder AND an arrow…I like it!Made it to Alta VistaSeems clear enoughHard not to see that turnWe exited Alta Vista in an unusual way, climbing those steps up to the water tank, then coming back down through a squatter village.The view of Alta Vista from the water tank. That’s actually the street I live on down there.“Beer Near” is probably my favorite trail marking.I know the way from hereOn-Home at Johansson’sA gathering of HashersI had the chicken cordon bleu for my post-hike nourishmentHash GashCircle up!It’s nice on ice!A visiting Hasher from Puerto Galera is given a special Subic greetingWatching the festivitiesHere’s a useful tip: DO NOT wear new shoes to the Hash. Unless you want to drink out of them.Turns out, it was also our visitor’s birthday. Happy 28th, and enjoy the cake we made you!
After the Hash, I had some more beer at Sloppy Joe’s. I even bought Jamaica a lady drink. When I was walking back towards my end of town in search of a nightcap, I heard Jenn calling out to me from across the highway at Whiskey Girl. So, I got to finish the day with some cuddling. That’s always nice!
Here’s the original version of the song I re-wrote for this blog post:
Feedback from yesterday’s trail was mostly positive, although we could have done better marking in a couple of places where the path was unclear. Hey, nobody’s perfect! I’ll share the pictures that others took along with a few from me taken while laying the powder.
Our trail. The white line represents the shortcut (avoiding the second hill climb) for those so inclined. Or should I say, disinclined?Gathering for the start at the VFWAnd they are On-On for trail number 1540 of the SBH3Halfway up the first climbThe view from the top of the firsthillIn the foreground, you can see some of the powder I laid earlier that morning.Dripping Pussy on trailLeech My Nuggets with Stuart right behind him. Stuart got named during the Hash circle. I threw out a suggestion I thought was funny but that no one would get. To my surprise, the name I wanted got the majority vote. So, welcome to You Can Call Me Martha.A couple of visiting Hashers from Puerto GaleraAbout where the short and long trails splitEaster mountain from the groundAnd from the top of the second hillAnother view from the topThe long and short trails came together again in San IsidroA little confusion about which way to goThat morning, we marked this burned-out truck hulk (see to the left of the window). And then someone moved the truck!The trail came back through Alta VistaAnd if you followed the powder, you cut through Purok 13……and found yourself on the Matain riverOn Baloy Beach roadOn-Home at Da’KudosThose of us who got On-Home early (you can’t drink until 3:30) spent the time on the floating bar.Let the drinking begin!It’s nice on ice!Another Hash is in the books!
This an earlier-than-normal post today because I’ve got a Hash trail to mark this morning. I prefer laying the powder the day before, but my co-Hare was unavailable yesterday, so here we go. We’ve got one or two hill options available, so hopefully, the kennel will be satisfied.
Here’s a low for you–Mary told me she had posted in one of the Barretto Facebook groups that she was looking for part-time work cleaning houses. Some dude responded with this message:
It’s hard to fathom what kind of asshole thinks it is appropriate to send a message like this to a total stranger. Honestly, I wouldn’t treat a bar prostitute with this kind of disrespect. Disgusting!
Mary reported him to the group administrator, so hopefully, this guy gets banned.
Speaking of Facebook, I hadn’t heard from Nerissa for a couple of days, so I went to send her a message only to discover she had blocked me on Messenger and unfriended me on Facebook. I have no idea why; everything was fine the last time I saw her on Friday night. I am thinking that maybe she saw me with Mary on Saturday evening during our rooftop visit at BarCelona.
That’s Cheap Charlies in the circle. You get a pretty good view of what’s going on at BarCelona from there.
I’ll try to stop in at CC tomorrow and see what’s up with her.
I guess to finish this post on a high note; I can show the Hideaway feeding photos from last night.
My new Sunday tradition is ordering dinner from the Jewel cafe and having it delivered. Pork sisig and chicken wings……lasagna and a chef’s salad were Joy’s selectionsAnd brownies for dessertJoy appeared satisfied with the meal
While I was busy imbibing at Hideaway, I got a message from Virginia that she had returned to work at Alaska Club. I told her I’d stop by for a nightcap later. And I’m a man of my (drunken) word!
Long time no see. Welcome back, Virginia!
Heh, I was just thinking of the incongruity of having to go to Alaska to see Virginia. Hideaway is next door to Arizona, so it makes for a long trip!
My co-Hare and I did some scouting yesterday and pretty much finalized our trail for Monday’s Hash. We’ll go back out in the morning and put chalk on the trees and powder on the ground for the Kennel to follow.
The long version is a little over 8K with two hill climbs. The short trail only has one hill.Stuart (foreground) was the only other person to show up for the Friday group hike, so we invited him to join us on the scouting expedition. The beginning of the first climbNear the topA view from the other side of the hillOn the ridgeDown in the valleyYour day is drawing near, Easter MountainA farmer’s field, we had to find a way aroundI get it that Korean food and culture is popular here, but who willread the Hanguel? I never see any Koreans in the countryside, although Korean men occasionally visit the bar scene.A busy back street in San IsidroWalking the plankOn the riversideAnd the On-Home will be at Da’Kudos on Baloy Beach
That’s the trail; you can Relive the scouting adventure here:
https://www.relive.cc/view/vNOP4yY8n2O
Now, about my Friday night. I did decide to skip the SOB. Back in the old days (pre-scamdemic), I only attended the SOB once a month or so. When the SOB resumed last year, I went every week as a show of support and appreciation to the sponsoring bars. Lately, they have had more attendees than they can accommodate, so I can take a break and give my seat to someone else to watch the show.
I started out at Cheap Charlies, where I enjoyed some facetime with Nerissa. She’s definitely not the typical bargirl type, at least not yet. I need to decide if I want to take the next step toward a potential relationship. As with Mary, I’m just not sure I want to give up my freedom from drama and my ability to do as I please. I know some positives come with having a girlfriend, too, but damn, why risk it?
After I left Cheap Charlies, I was feeling a little hungry. Running through the options as I walked down the highway, I decided to pay Thumbstar a visit. It’s rare for me to patronize this venue for various reasons, but their shwarma shop was enough motivation to overcome them. Plus, a girl I met at Queen Victoria several months ago messaged me that she was working there now, so it seemed appropriate to pay her a visit too.
It was weird being in Thumbstar on a Friday night during the SOB. Thumbstar briefly was a participating bar in the SOB, but because of some disagreement over something, pulled out. And now Thumbstar’s management is engaging in a Bar Wars tactic–a competing event on Fridays they call the SOP. It’s ridiculous and, frankly, one of the reasons I don’t visit this bar very often, but by chance, here I was, experiencing my first-ever SOP. It’s nothing like the real thing, though. No dance competition, just the regular Thumbstar crew.
When I arrived, I saw Che, the former Queen Vic waitress, on stage dancing. So, I called her down to join me. She tried to order a bottled beer double lady drink for a whopping 350 pesos, but I put a stop to that, and she settled for a more reasonably priced single drink. I did buy her two (or maybe more), so it’s not so much the money as it is the principle. My waitress had difficulty understanding my drink order (a shot of gin in a tall glass and a can of soda water on the side). Seems simple to me, but it was confusing to her, and I admit I got a little frustrated and cranky with her. Felt wrong about being a grumpy old man, so I bought her a drink too.
The best part of the SOP is that drinks AND food are all buy one get one free. So, I got two chicken shwarmas for the price of one. Che wanted chicken, so the second order went to our waitress. The waitress wanted fries, so we shared those as well. The way I drink, every order is a double–the shot of gin and the can of soda. So, last night at least I could get my soda water for free.
And in a first for me, the waitress picked up my phone from the table and took a selfie without being asked (or asking permission). I didn’t care, of course, but joked that my wife would be very angry when she saw it. That made her nervous until I explained I was kidding.
The selfie of which I speak. Not really my preferred body type, but I’m sure some guys would get off on those boobs.Che is definitely more my type. (I lifted this photo from her Facebook)
And then a two-week millionaire (the name we expats use for free-spending tourists) came in and called most of the dancers down from the stage to join him at his table. I snuck a picture of his bounty and their booties.
And yes, he bought them all bottles of beer at double lady drink prices. No wonder they love him!
I have to admit; I had a better time at Thumbstar than I expected I would. I decided to make Queen Victoria my nightcap destination, and I appeared to be the only customer in the bar. No idea how they stay in business, especially when they were paying a live band to perform with no audience. Anyway, I was joined at the bar by two friendly waitresses, and I enjoyed sharing a drink with them to end my night on the town.
And now it seems I have a dinner date with Mary tonight. There’s just no telling that girl no.
Oh, I almost forgot. I came across this post of mine from 2009, back in the days this blog has some substance. I found it especially interesting given what’s been going of late with the media covering up the sins of our government rather than reporting them to the people. Our founders believe a free press was the “fourth estate” that would help preserve our freedoms. Instead, they are facilitating their destruction.
I got drafted to be one of the Hares for the Hash next week. Only one other person showed up for the Wednesday Walkers group hike, so I drafted him to help me scout a trail.
Thanks for the help, Ed.
The On-Home venue next week is Da’Kudos on Baloy Beach. I used always to enjoy walking the river bank to Baloy, but someone blocked access a couple of years ago. I wanted to see if anything had changed recently, so off we went. Before we reached the cutoff to the Baloy road, a woman said, “you can’t get through there, it’s closed.” Damn. But then she told us, “you can come this way” and led us through her yard and pointed to a path leading to the road. I thanked her gave her some cookies and asked if we could have a group come this way on Monday and she said that would be fine. So, we’ll have something new next week at least.
Once we were on Baloy I suggested we do my idea for the trail in reverse and that worked out fine. My co-Hare is going to add a loop with another climb (my trail only has one hill) so the die-hards will be happy. We’ll finalize our plans this weekend and mark the trail on Sunday or Monday morning.
We did almost 8K yesterday, but it was the flat portion. It should be a good trail for everyone with the hill options included.
I baked a carrot cake for the Hideaway feeding last night. Actually, I added raisins to the recipe, so it was technically a carrot-raisin cake I guess. The girls went crazy for it and it disappeared quickly. I got lazy and sent Joy out to buy whatever food the girls wanted. She came back with fried chicken and some pancit, a Filipino noodle dish, and that was popular with the girls too.
What pancit looks like.How is it, Joy?Yummy!
Eating, drinking, and some pool filled the hours at Hideaway. It took Joy three games to beat me twice this time, so I guess that shows some improvement on my part. Griff, the manager, is trying to recruit me for a new dart league team, but I’m really not sure I want to get back into that routine. We’ll see if the bug to play bites me again.
Did my nightcap at Wet Spot, then brought home some chicken fingers and a slice of pecan pie from Sit-n-Bowl. Went to bed fat and happy.
Half a trail is better than none, I suppose. And while I avoided a couple of hills, my trail, including the distance gained when I walked to the start from my house, was a respectable 8K.
The red line is the trail as planned by the Hares. The white line is the handicapped modifications.So, my trail looked like this with the 3+K walk to the start.In the ‘hoodLeaving the ‘hoodOn the National HighwayArriving in Barangay Calapacuan (Cal-ah-pock-u-on)The start of the modified trail at the Calapacuan market streetThat’s Pubic Head in the background enjoying his first Hash trail since breaking his ankle a few weeks ago. Buddy Fucker and his gal, Fuck Buddy, and I constituted the group that walked the handicapped trail.We got this!Yep, you can see Easter mountain from here.Our path was mainly the second half of the Hare’s trail. This trail marking indicates we should take a climb up and over Black Rock. “Fuck that!” was our response.These flat paved streets worked just fine for us.Good to know where this place is if I ever need me a BJ.Where does this narrow passageway lead?We did have one climb ahead of us…a hundred steps or so…Let’s get on with it, thenPubic Head takes a breather on the way to the topAlmost there!The view from hereThe first of the runners from the long trail to catch up with us.Here comes Anal ReceptiveLeech My Nuggets, one of the Hares, catches me in this alley near the trail’s end.Further up the alley, I was surprised to see a former Hasher, Arcel (on the right), and her child. Naturally, I made a cookie delivery.Our On-Home venue was Smokes and Bottles.The Hash circle in progressUm, not to be a dick about it, but…Another Hash birthday cake, this time for Titanic DickheadNot a bad day, all and all.
When the Hash was over, I walked back to Barretto and stopped at Snackbar for my nightcap. It was nice to visit with one of my old favorites there, Heidee, again. During our conversation, she asked me how my girlfriend was doing. I was surprised and told her I didn’t have a girlfriend, then asked what made her think I did. Heidee said to me that Lydell and another Snackbar waitress saw a girl on the Jeepney, and she had a keychain with my picture on it.
One of these.
A friend had gifted me several of those key chains, and I gave them away to some young women I know. I’m unsure who it was on the Jeepney, but she wasn’t my girlfriend. This is just another example of how everyone *thinks* they know your business in this little town. Kinda scary, in a way.
This provides a good segway to me telling about some edits to yesterday’s post. I had revealed some private and personal information about someone I know, and a regular reader commented that I was wrong to do so. When I took a step back and looked at it again, I realized he was right to call me out on it. It was not my intention to cause anyone pain or shame, but if the information that I shared came back to her, she would likely be devastated. No excuses; I just wasn’t thinking about the potential repercussions. I appreciate that thanks to this reader, I was able to make the edits shortly after publishing the post, and hopefully, no damage was done.
I tend to forget that this blog isn’t a personal diary and that what I share has a potentially larger audience than I imagine. Perhaps some with bad intentions. Like that Dick who tried to use my sketchy history with love (i.e., four marriages) to undermine my relationship with a woman I cared about. You’d think I’d have learned by now.
Are you talking about me? Well, I guess if the shoe fits, I’ll have to wear it.
Anyway, I’ll try and do better in the future. I have taken to changing the names of some of the people I write about here. Going forward, I’ll keep in mind that some things may be best left unsaid. But don’t worry, dear readers; I’m quite sure that I’ll continue to serve as a bad example.
Yesterday’s Hash was a good one. Not only did I enjoy the trail, but it didn’t feel like I was going to die from shortness of breath. That’s a nice change and hopefully a sign that my condition is improving.
There was a long trail of 9K and a short version coming in around 5K. Of course, I took the short option, which featured only one big climb and a couple of shorter ones that I handled pretty well. Half the trail was familiar territory, and I hadn’t hiked the other half in quite some time, so that was nice for a change.
The Yellow line is the short trail bypassing a big-ass 4K loop.Gathering up at the VFWSome last-minute guidance from the Hare, Anal ReceptiveAnd we are On-On!This narrow walkway near the start was all uphill, and I was a little worried that it had winded me a some. But I pressed on, and I must have caught my second wind by the time we got to the big hill. I’m not saying it was easy by a long shot, but I felt strong and in control.Back down into Alta VistaOne of my regular neighborhood paths that lead up to my streetThrough the field and then out of the ‘hoodIt was a very well-marked trail and easy to follow.The only dwelling in this area. It must feel lonely out here, especially at night.It’s always weird to be marching through someone’s yard like this, but the resident seemed friendly and okay with it. Maybe he was just glad to see some fellow humans. Or the cute Filipina Hashers.A steep and slippery downhill slope.And then things flattened out for a bit.My first cookie recipients of the day as we passed through Marian HillsDoing the big climb of the day. Easter mountain through the trees on the way upAnd at the top of the hill, the option to go left for long or right for short. I made the right choice.It was good to see my mountain family friends again. “Long time no see, John.” Nice to see you again, Olivia. Have some cookies!”A clear view of Easter mountain from hereAnd then came the final down of the day.Some words of wisdom left by the HareBut what are you going to do?Almost down nowThen it was all pavement the rest of the way back to the On-Home at It Doesn’t Matter.We weren’t the last ones back, either.Yours truly demonstrates Hashin’ in Action!R & R as we wait for the circle to commence.Circle up!Hares on the iceBum Burglar being recognized for completing 650 runs with the SBH3“Hashy Birthday, Fuck You” is the song we sing while making the cakeAnd that’s the way the old guy sees it.
I’m just happy that I’m still able to participate. Going to enjoy it while I can.
Yesterday’s Hash trail proved to be quite the challenge. A long hard climb to the top of Kalaklan ridge, and then stroll on the ridgeline before descending back down to Barretto and the On-Home at the VFW. My tracker says it was a 7.7K journey, and that was on the SHORT trail.
It looked like this from above. The yellow line was the shortcut avoiding another down and up on the long version of the trail. I further deviated by using the down path past Rolly’s Place (the yellow pin in the middle of the map with no trail line) to avoid walking back on the highway.
Anyway, despite the difficulty, it was nice to be up on the ridgeline again. I was recently looking up at Kalaklan from my barstool at Cheap Charlies and missing the views from up there, so it was good to see them again. There are no really easy ways to get up there, but the one taken was at the higher end of the difficulty scale. My poor nephew Josh wasn’t in condition for such a challenging hike, and I was worried about him completing the journey safely. Luckily, he made it back down. Once we were on the street again, I asked if he wanted to trike back to the VFW, but he insisted on completing the trail with the rest of us.
Heading for the hillsWe had some street walking to do to get there.Enjoy that flat ground while you can.And so it beginsSteppin’ it upThe steps ran out long before the climb didA brief respite on relatively level groundThen on up in a final push to the topJosh says, “I got this!”Or maybe not. It was touch and go towards the end of the climb.Thanks, Cum Slinger, for hanging back and helping Josh out.Pausing to take in the viewsThat’s Easter mountain way off in the distance.And a bay view. It’s burning season, so the air quality is not as good as it usually is.Fortunately, this burn was done before we arrived.Alright, that’s more like it.On the ridgeline roadWhat goats do in the woodsCookie deliveryTime to head back downHung out to dryThe famous (to us hikers) Mr. Rolly and family. He asked me about Scott, who is still recovering from his broken ankle.A little tricky in placesBut we all made it down in one piece.And enjoyed some liquid refreshments at the On-Home.
Some after Hash beverages at It Doesn’t Matter, then home for some well-earned sleep.
You can Relive the hike here if you are so inclined:
https://www.relive.cc/view/vAOZoj3XVo6
And now my masseuse has just arrived. Time to enjoy some Valentine’s Day comfort.
Camp John Hay, that is. This is the second time I’ve had the pleasure of hiking through the forested trails on this former U.S. military installation. The path we took on the short route (6.5K) had its ups and downs, but no exhaustingly long climbs. And the lungs didn’t give me any trouble during the hike. Thanks to the La Union Hash House Harriers for the invite and for providing everyone with a Hashy good time.
I didn’t count the number of Hashers in attendance, but the sign-up cutoff was 100.Here are the attendees from Subic Bay H3The Hare gives last-minute guidance.And off we go!The first 2K was on pavement walking to the gates of Camp John Hay.The long and winding roadBe careful, Josh; one false step and you are a goner!I didn’t take the pledge, but I did hug a tree.Finally on the forest trail. I’d never seen a handprint Hash mark before, but they are easy to follow.Hopping a creekThrough the woodsOne of the upsAnd a down. Easier trail than most of the Subic hikes.More signage to provide inspirationJosh is making his way past the defunct zipline, presumably another COVID casualty.Hello down there!Hello up there!Almost finished now.Subic Gash enjoying some beverages post-hikeSubic Gash on the iceAfter a brief circle-up, we moved to the On-Home hotel and had dinner by the fire.The view of the hike from above. A very pleasant afternoon.
After dinner, the Subic group gathered at the small bar back at The Log Cabin hotel.
Guys on one end of the table, the gals on the other. Funny how that works. Lots of beers were drunk before the 9 p.m. last call. Actually, the bar ran out of beer before 9:00. Guess they didn’t expect a group of thirsty Hashers to invade the place.We enjoyed this duo’s music again, and once the alcohol kicked in, we engaged in some sing-along fun. It really was a good time.
Made the long drive home after breakfast, and I’m a bit exhausted, but it is Sunday, and that means there are hungry girls at Hideaway to feed. And I’m sure they will be expecting some pasalubongfrom Baguio.
Luckily, I am prepared for those expectations with some Baguio delicacies (and refrigerator magnets). And yes, those are fresh, locally grown strawberries. I bought some for myself too, and will be enjoying a strawberry smoothie when I return home from tonight’s mission.
Oh, here are a couple of shots I took on the drive down the mountain looking back at Baguio:
It’s a city literally built on a mountainside. I’m talking way there in the background.I did a zoom shot so you could see it better.
Time for me to get on with it, then. Back tomorrow with more of the inanity you’ve come to expect from me!
It’s strange sometimes how your mind takes you to places you never thought you’d go. I took one of those little side trips this morning, and it turned out to be kinda fun. I’ve already forgotten what the Quora question being answered was, but the response included a reference to Paul Newman playing the banjo in a scene from the movie Cool Hand Luke. Wow, I hadn’t thought of that film in years, but it has always been one of my favorites. Recalling that scene of Newman with the banjo got me trying to think of what the song was that he was singing. I knew I really liked it, but I was drawing a blank. So the search was on. And with the help of Duckduckgo (fuck you, Google!) I found it:
The clip’s context is that Luke, a prisoner, just received word that his mother had passed away. The other inmates give him some space, and he picks up the banjo and sings this song. The Quora answer that led me down this road talked about Newman learning to play the banjo for this scene.
Here in the real world, yesterday’s Hash seemed to go well. There were many positive comments about the trail from the Hashers, and no one got lost or injured. For some inexplicable reason, three of the girls voluntarily took the long trail and were the last ones to reach our On-Home at Johansson’s. I was worried about them and relieved when they finally showed up.
Hashers gathering at VFW for last-minute instructions from my co-Hare, Anal Retentive.And off they go.On-On!
Sorry, I haven’t seen anyone posting pictures from the trail, so that’s all I have for now.
While the Hashers were out, I went to the Outback pool bar to check on Josh. He was ensconced on a beach-view stool and tapped into the wifi, working on a course assignment for his Masters in Divinity he is completing online. Josh had asked me earlier where he could buy some shorts, and I suggested he take a trike to Divimart, a few blocks up the road from his room. He was wearing shorts, so I was glad to see they had his size. I asked how he liked his first trike ride, and he said it was pretty cramped and uncomfortable. Then he told me the driver had charged him 300 pesos. What? That’s a 50 peso ride at most, even with the “skin tax” (a Filipino wouldn’t pay more than 20P for such a short trip). I felt bad that he had gotten scammed on his first day in town, but he really should have known better.
Josh is trying to get back in shape after being laid up for months with a severely broken leg. He walks with a limp now and has this massive bump on his hip that will require surgery to remove. He did okay on the Baloy hike, but no way he could do some of those trails up in the hills. Still, he is lucky to even be alive after getting run over by a truck while riding his motorcycle.
Josh sent me this photo of the aftermath of the accident.
The On-Home was where Josh is staying, and I invited him to watch the circle proceedings (he’d have to buy his beer from the bar, though). He seemed to enjoy the spectacle, especially some of the Hash songs. We’ll see if he wants to participate in the Hash rituals sometime during his visit.
I was feeling tired at the conclusion of the Hash (the Angeles trip had interrupted my sleeping hours), so I went home directly after we finished the free beer portion of the circle, and I was in bed by 7:30. That might be a new record for this oldtimer. Josh was already “home” and hung out with a couple of the female Hashers, Trouble Cumming and Black And Dick Her.
It looks like they had a good time! Josh told me they did a couple of more bars after the Hash together. Glad there was a McCrarey around to fill the void.
Today is Joy’s birthday, and I’ll be doing a special feeding at Hideaway bar in her honor. I invited Josh to join the festivities, gave him directions, and told him no more than 50 pesos for the ride. We’ll see how that works out.
It’s Hash Monday, but since I’m a Hare, I have already made the trail. I’ll meet the group at the VFW starting point, offer guidance, and send them on their way.
The short version is 6K with one big climb. The long trail is 8K with two ups.A view from the top of the first climbEastern mountain valley viewMy co-Hare and the Blessed Virgin Mother. Ed and his girl came out last week and repaired and repainted the statue.Near the end of the trail, the descent into Barretto.
I hope everyone enjoys the trail. Nothing all that new to see and not particularly challenging for most folks, but it’s still a pleasant hike.
The Hideaway feeding went well last night. I had several dishes from the Jewel restaurant delivered, and the girls devoured the feast in record time. My cornbread also seemed quite popular.
Isn’t that right, Joy?
I had a few and bought a few, as usual. I got home and set my alarm for 12:30 in anticipation of my driver’s 1 a.m. arrival. I woke up a little after one to pee and had an “oh shit!” moment when I remembered where I was supposed to be. I’m not sure what happened, but my phone was lying on the floor, and the alarm had been turned off. Next time I will keep my phone out of arm’s reach.
Anyway, we arrived at the airport just as passengers were beginning to exit the terminal. We were loaded up in the car within ten minutes and headed home to Barretto.
I took Josh for a walk on Baloy Beach this morning and followed up with lunch at Sit-n-Bull.
The floating bar is still a work in progress, but progress is being made. Looking forward to having a water view now and then when I’m drinking.
A tough enough trail yesterday, even with all my shortcutting. My trail had that additional 2K I accumulated hiking from my house to the starting point. And yes, I hiked alone over the hill to get there and managed to survive.
The first climb was a new way up for me (or one I didn’t remember), and it was long and hard. Got me wondering how much longer before my lungs render me exclusively a flatlander. Well, I ain’t giving up yet, but I also knew I didn’t have another up in me, and the Hare’s trail (Leech My Nuggets and Nosey Bastard) had a couple more to come. Fortunately, the end of the unfamiliar up put me on a path I knew, and when the trail went down and to the right, I turned left and hiked my old favorite, My Bitch, almost all the way back to the On-Home. In another odd coincidence, the gal who had given me the cold shoulder treatment at Alaska Club the night before shortcut with me, so I had some company on the hike. A couple of kilometers later, the Hare’s trail crossed paths with mine again, and it was On-On!
Max (Nosey Bastard) was celebrating his birthday and hosted the On-Home at his house in Barretto. The highlight of that event was free food for all the Hashers, and damn, it was all good. Best sliders I’ve ever had. I drank beer again for the first time in a week (my cheat day), and all was right with the world.
The purple line is the Hare’s long trail, and the green is the Hare’s short version. The blue line is the way I went.Gathering up at the starting point on Rizal Extension. I had a good climb just to get there.Leaving the pavement behindClimbing down into a creekbedThe long, hard path to the top.I made it, but it took just about everything I had in me to get there.Where my trail rejoined the Hare’s trail. I was surprised to see these three Hashers when I arrived.Evidence that we were indeed on trail.Feeling a little grassy.The view from hereMade it to Max’sMax’s view from the front porchThe food Max provided and the Hasher who prepared it, Gangster Bitch.And, of course, the traditional Hash birthday cake for the birthday boy.
All and all, a good day to be a Hasher. But when you shortcut as I did, sometimes you miss seeing something unusual on the trail.
Mind you, that’s not always a bad thing! I’ve never seen a snake in almost five years of hiking in the backcountry. A couple on the streets here in the neighborhood, but never on trail. I hope that is a trend that continues. I mean, I know they are out there, but as long as we go our separate ways, that’s fine.
On the Hash Facebook page, Scott provided this information about the snake: Paradise Tree Snake (Chrysopelea paradise). They are mildly venomous with rear fangs and also can constrict their prey, which consists of mostly lizards and bats. This species has the ability to “fly” between tree tops.
Scary shit. One more thing to think about when I’m hiking alone.
Speaking of snakes:
Yeah, it seems like it is always “ouch! oh shit!…already?”
And from Facebook memories, one year can cast a long shadow.
I survived another Hash. The way my tired old lungs were screaming during the climb, I started imagining the day when I just collapse, gasping on the trail. I did fine on the flat ground, though.
What made it all the more challenging is that in a “let’s go, Brandon” moment, I forgot to bring my trekking pole with me when I left home. I’ve really come to rely on that tool for balance and stability when I hike on uneven ground. I missed it most on the steep descent because the stick acts as a brake to my gravity-induced forward momentum. I didn’t fall, though, so I’m thankful for that.
We started the hike in Calapadayan, and I walked to the trailhead. I was somewhat regretting that when my lungs were poofed out early on. Nice trail of about 6K (plus another 3.5 for me). There was a second climb at Black Rock that I avoided. I might have tried it with my pole, but not worth the risk without it.
The trail as set by the Hare. At the top, you can see that the beginning of the trail was a long slog to the top of that mountain and then a steep down to the valley. The second hill is in the middle. That purple line was a lesser climb for those wanting an easy route. I did them one better by walking the streets back to the On-Home.My version started at my house and avoided that nonsense in the middle.And we are On-On!The first part of the trail was through a neighborhoodLeaving the pavement behindAnd now for the fun part. Not!It got a bit jungle-like in places, too.But it was a hot day, and the shade was niceThis Hare is known for his well-marked trailsGood job, Leech My Nuggets! Leech also likes to do his trails again in reverse on Hash day. i met him coming up while I was going down. He immediately noticed that I was struggling and said, “where’s your pole?”Came across a family living high up in the hills on the way down. I made sure they had some cookies to snack on.And then I encountered a whole passel of kids when I hit the bottom. They were gleeful to receive a treat.Back down safe and sound and ready for a trek across the valley. Coincidentally, the last part of my trail was exactly the path I had walked on Sunday. Carabao may not grow on trees, but they lounge under themOn-Home was at Yero’s, a pleasant open-air venue in barangay Matain.Fifty Hashers were in attendance yesterday, including photo bomber Whatever You Want.The SBH3 motto is “It’s nice on ice!” Be that as it may, I try to avoid it as much as possible.Wonder Woman, the gal in the middle, does seem to enjoy pulling down her shorts and melting the ice with her hot ass.Wonder Woman also earned the Hashit and seemed happy about it.Pubic Head continues to recover from the broken ankle he suffered during a hike with the Wednesday group. Good to see him back out at the On-Home.
As usual, many of us made our way to It Doesn’t Matter at the conclusion of the Hash circle activities. And that’s where the fun ended for the night. And so does this post.
Not much to say about yesterday’s Hash trail because I didn’t do much of it. The meetup was at Columban College (near Barretto High School, where the Friday group gathered last week), and so once again, I opted to take the shorter route through the hills to get there instead of doing a long-ass street walk or using a trike. I’m still uncomfortable being unaccompanied in the wild, but as a commenter here pointed out, there is danger in everything, so just man up and do it. I’m paraphrasing, but with the exercise of prudence and diligence, it is not inherently unsafe to hike alone.
Anyway, shortly after leaving the house, I realized that I had neglected to use my nebulizer before departing, as is my custom. My lungs ain’t what they used to be, and even a minor climb will often leave me feeling breathless. Well, shit. I didn’t have enough time to return home and still make it to the start, so I just pushed on. I always carry an inhaler in my pocket, so I took a couple of squirts from that and hoped for the best. Turns out Columban is exactly 1.25K from my house, and the one climb involved wasn’t a killer. So far, so good.
I headed out with the Hash group and went as far as the beginning of the first climb. I’d done it before, and it was not all that tough, but a voice in my head said, “are you sure you want to do this?” It turns out the answer was no. I told my fellow back-of-the-pack Hashers that I was going to keep it flat and I’d see them at the On-Home. I did around 5K before arriving at the Hare’s beer stop at McCoy’s on Baloy Beach. The Hare had arranged for a short banka boat bay tour, which was a nice break from the norm, although I declined to participate in that event as well (I didn’t want to wade out to the boat or take my shoes off). Yeah, I guess I was just in a lazy mood. I had a couple of beers at McCoy’s, then walked up the bach to Da’Kudos, this week’s Hash venue.
I didn’t take many photos, but here are some from others who did:
Seeing the trail map now, it probably wouldn’t have been a problem; after the first climb, mostly a stroll along My Bitch, then back down the way I had come up earlier on my hike to the start. Oh, well.The gathering at ColumbanBoarding the bankaRiding the bancaA view from the bancaDisembarking from the banca My view from McCoy’s wasn’t as good as the ones from the boat.The Hash circle at Da’KudosHash Gash on iceAnd the sun went down on another Hash MondayWe packed into It Doesn’t Matter for the post-Hash revelry.
I guess it is no real surprise that there are a few assholes in our group. And yes, I recognize that some of my fellow Hashers may consider me to be one. But generally, I don’t engage or interact with the jerks. Still, I encountered two at IDM last night. No big deal, I can handle it, even if I don’t much care to have my buzz killed by self-important losers like those two.
And on that note, I think it may be time for me to take a break. I’m leaning toward not Hashing next week at all. Maybe a little distance will improve my perspective.