One thousand five hundred runs by the Subic Bay Hash House Harriers. And I’ve got the hat to prove it!Fading memories. This is the third milestone cap I have received since my Hash “career” began on January 1, 2018. Coincidentally, yesterday was also my 200th run with the SBH3.
The Hares, Leech My Nuggets, Vienna Sausage, and Fuck A Duck laid a well-marked and quite impressive trail, featuring a 10+K long version and a 6+K version more suitable for us “sane” Hashers. There was even a portion that was new to me, something that I appreciate but is becoming pretty rare after 200 runs.
As usual, I’ll tell the story of the Hash run in pictures:
The trail for run #1500. The green line is the short version, avoiding that bitch of a climb to the top of Kalaklan ridge.The Hashmobile died, so we rented two Jeepneys for transport to the start of the trail. It may not look like it, but the ride is WAY more comfortable than being crammed in the back of a truck.Jeep #2 arriving at the drop-off point.Hashers disembarking.And we are On-On!The trail began with a river crossing on bridge #4.Pubic Head and Black And Dick Her bringing up the rear. No pun intended.A nice flat beginning as we skirted the edge of the Naugsol valley.The group begins to spread out as the faster Hashers take the lead.I’m at the head of my only little pack.What lies before us.We’ll have to go up eventually, but not just yet.Through the tall grass.A nice spot to rest.An 18 Kilo poser.A house in the middle of nowhere. I honestly don’t know how they manage it.A couple of Swedes from out of town joined in the fun.I’m not sure what’s going on here (not my photo), but the climb, while not steep, was a long and steady slog. I’m not sure which is worse. With steep, you get it over with quicker, at least.Onward and upward.Kevin, does this qualify as a, shit, what are those outdoor gazebo-like things called again? I want to say Shinto, but that’s not right…It’s a good thing this is the short trail; it kicked my ass pretty hard as it was.But things did flatten out eventually.A hazy view from up top.Easter mountain was on the far side of the valley, but I still felt obligated to snap a photo.Some of the Gash (female Hashsers) did a little harvesting on trail. They paid for their “crime” with some time on the ice.The final push up to Alta Vista.On-Home at the Alta Vista clubhouse.The view from my poolside seat.Me in said seat.Circle up!
There were a couple of glitches–the food arrived late, and the beer ran out early; that’s the way it goes sometimes. Since I hadn’t gotten my fill of beer when the Hash was over, I hoofed it out to the Snackbar for a couple more.
Cold and wet, just the way I like it!
Alright, I know most of you don’t come here to see pictures of me.
I hope this shot of my lovely waitress will satisfy your craving.
And then eight o’clock was approaching, so I paid my tab and caught a trike to take my soggy ass home where it belonged.
Run #1499 of the Subic Bay Hash House Harriers is in the books. Feedback on the trail I helped Hare was positive for the most part. Next week’s Hare, Leech My Nuggets called it a “pussy trail” but conceded it was well-marked. A few Hashers missed a critical junction, but others said they had no trouble finding it. The folks that like challenging climbs didn’t get one, but 7K pushed the boundaries for people used to shorter hikes. The truck ride out to the start was crowded and very uncomfortable, not to mention unsafe. I’ll be pushing the idea that we should hire Jeepneys for transportation at our next leadership meeting.
It was an interesting experience walking my own trail the day after we had laid powder, paper, and chalk to show the way. In my view, we did an adequate job, but there were places I thought the marking could have been clearer. I still believe there is value in making an initial trail setting the day before the Hash and then doing a follow-up on the morning of the Hash. That way, you could refresh powder where it had been washed or swept away and clear up any ambiguities in showing the intended path. I wasn’t able to convince my fellow Hares of the value of this approach, so perhaps in the future, I’ll be making the second trip alone. It’s all good; just looking for ways to provide the best experience possible for my Hashing brothers and sisters.
To the photos then:
The path we laid. Beginning at Bridge #4 on Sawmill Road, going around Easter mountain, and ending on Baloy Beach.The ride out to the start took about twenty minutes and was very uncomfortable.And also unsafe. At least the guys standing in front have a metal framework to hold onto. The guy holding onto the guy in front of him doesn’t have that stability. Losing your balance and falling out of the truck would likely be fatal.We had the good fortune to all disembark safely.“Gather round and let me tell you what’s in store for you poor souls.”And we are On-On!Through the open fields…Just follow the trail and see where it leads…Uh oh, a goat block! No kidding.They are all going My Way. Well, mine and Pubichead’s.No tolls are required for smiling faces!Making our way to the highway.Into this little shanty village…My kind of climb.And then back down again.Leaving my mark on the world. Well, on this abandoned suitcase anyway.On the wall.Chalk and powder show the way to go.You coming, Gasman?Going down for the last time.The empty sidewalks of this sleepy village in the foothills.The local watering hole. (the well on the right…that building is a sari-sari, but maybe they have the local brew, Red Horse, available there.The final stretch on the backstreets of Matain.Loading up the boat. A lot more comfortable than the Hashmobile!On the shore at Baloy Beach after a successful river crossing.On-Home at Da’Kudos.A roast chicken salad for my after-hike dinner.Chillin’ out waiting for the Hash circle to commence.Hares on the ice. The woman was a newbie who confessed to liking the trail. If you admit that, you join the Hares on the ice.Then they sang us this song: S-H-I, T-T-Y, T-R-A-I-L. Shitty trail (it sucked!) Shitty trail (it really sucked!) The Hares have laid another shitty trail. I would rather drink this beer than run your shitty trail. S-H-I, T-T-Y, T-R-A-I-LA newly named Hasher. Meet Harry Fucker.(someone had said he looked like Harry Potter)Deflowering a couple of Hash virgins.And then the sun went down on another Hash Monday.Hare today, gone tomorrow.
Not that kind. This is a Hash post. Sorry to disappoint.
I was anticipating a challenging trail, and Guenter didn’t disappoint. And that’s just the half of it. Our “sane” group elected to bypass this first portion of the trail that featured a climb to the top of Kalaklan ridge on a path everyone calls “motherfucker”. No thanks! Even so, the remaining portion featured two climbs and steep descents. In fact, the last down I hadn’t attempted since my virgin Hash way back when. Yesterday was a good reminder of why. Anyway, I lived to tell about it, so let’s get on with the story in pictures:
The white line is the way our group chose–hiking up Rizal Extension to where it intersected with the purple trail. Rizal was all uphill (about a 100M gain in elevation) but at a relatively gentle slope. Regardless, I was huffing and puffing before we ever left the pavement.I hate riding in the Hashmobile. Getting out isn’t much fun either.Is everybody here?The big guys in our group–18 Kilo Ass and Gasman.They’ll be leading our special “sausage walk” in Castillejos on Friday.Working our way up Rizal Ext.The upper echelon of Rizal…I was already breathing heavily.Off the road now, and the real climbing begins. My poor lungs!On up!Having fun, Dripping Pussy?The view from here.Our path took us past the house of my mountain friend, MJ. Nice to see you again!You can see Easter mountain from MJ’s front yard.Onward we march.The first climb is done.A pause for a photo of the sane group of Hashers.And now to get down from here.Overcast skies helped with the heat, but I was still soaked with sweat.Watch out for spiders!.In the valley.Doing the best you can with what you have.One more climb to go.Getting there.The end is almost in sight.That really gets my goat!Sticking together through the ups and downs.Mountain vista.It was a well-marked trail. Good job, Vienna Sausage, and Fuck A Duck.Leech My Nuggets did the entire trail, and this is where he passed us short cutters.The end is almost in sight. I really mean it this time!And there it is, Barrio Barretto in all her glory. On-Home is at Guenter’s place, but how do we get there from here?What’s Up Doc says, “We just go down, silly. Let’s do it!”Okay, if you say so.Damn, that’s a steep ass down.I lived to Hash another day.The view from Guenter’s place.The view of gash on ice.
After the circle, I stopped by for a couple more beers at IDM. Then I popped into Sit-n-Bull to get some takeout.
The pulled pork sandwich was one of the daily specials.And the rarely available pecan pie. I added the ice cream.
In unrelated news, I didn’t lose any weight this week. Go figure.
Survived another week on the Hash trail. This one really wasn’t so bad. A challenging climb with lots of steps early on, then a steeper than normal descent. After that, practically a walk in the park. The overcast skies also kept the heat down some, that was a plus!
We did a new On-Home venue, a place called Yero’s, on the Subic side of the river. It was an outdoor resto-bar setup, which I prefer these days. The food was surprisingly good too. If it were more convenient to home, I’d likely be a frequent visitor.
As usual, we’ll let the pictures do the talking:
Our trail for the day. The purple line is the “shortcut” our group took. Not much shorter, but it avoided a second climb.Gathering up at the VFW.And we are On-On!The first flight of steps begins.Are you up for a climb?Step it up.The first flight ended, and then a second began.The stairs gave way to a trail, and the trail featured views like this one.Catching our collective breath.The final push to the top.Heading towards Four Corners on My Bitch.You coming, Pubic Head?The mountain family.Mountain mama Olivia is preparing a meal for her brood.Hello again.The beginning of the downhill.Steep it was.A couple of kids encountered on the way down.Cookie time!Did I mention it was steep?I got this!What’s Up Doc patiently awaits for us slowpokes to make it down.Flat earth!Over the river.Through the fields.That wall is a real pain in the ass to get down.In the shadow of Black Rock.The lonely life of a Hasher.Wide-open spaces.Ducks on a pond, er, puddle.On the Govic highway, headed for On-Home.First time at Yero’s. I expect we’ll be back.A full house of Hashers.The garlic parmesan wings were quite tasty.An example of the wall art featured at Yero’s. This one loosely translates to “I don’t give a fuck if you don’t think I’m handsome.”Perhaps you’ll notice the feature that led to What’s Up Doc getting her Hash name.Hanging out until it’s time to circle up.
So, that’s the way we rolled yesterday. Hope you enjoyed sharing the ride.
I’m going to work on rewriting these lyrics into a Hash song.
It’s that time of year again. HOT season. It’s always summer weather here, but this is when you can really feel the heat. I know it is searing when I find myself longing for the rainy season. That’s just around the corner, and it will be good to complain about being wet and muddy again.
Amid the sweltering summer of Cape Canaveral, when the relentless heat has everyone yearning for the relief of the coming rains, there’s a group of individuals whose steadfast presence provides its own form of reassurance. Among them is a long-time family friend, whose role in fire watch security in Cape Canaveral is rarely in the spotlight yet always on alert. As we all look forward to the season’s change, he reminds us of the comfort found in preparedness and the peace of mind that comes with knowing professionals are ensuring our safety against the risks that heatwaves bring. His dedication is a silent sentinel against potential fire hazards, allowing us to enjoy our summer moments with a little less worry and a little more gratitude.
Well, the Hash goes on, rain or shine. And so did I. Granted, I only did a portion of the Hare’s intended path, opting instead to follow a trail more suited to the heat index. All in all, it was still a pretty good hike. Sweaty, but nice.
As is my new custom, I had a pre-Hash lunch at Sit-n-Bull. This sub featured ham, salami, and pepperoni.
There was a Hash meeting to attend prior to the start of the Hash. We finished that meeting at 1:30, so headed out right afterward. That meant the remainder of the “sane” group not at the meeting were on their own. They all seemed to do alright.
And we are off! And now for the first climb of the day.Oh yeah, nothing like stairs in the scorching heat!Yes, this does indeed suck.Damn, and I thought I was already tired.One tiring step at a time.Be careful what you wish for. The tires ran out, but the climb got steeper.Come on up, the weather is, er, hot!You can barely make out the Great Wall of Barretto up there on the ridge. We opted out of doing the rest of that climb, taking a more sensible path. We even had some shade.Pubic Head is still making his way up.Ah, a shady spot to catch your breath.The view from up here.A comfortable place to sit and rest.First time I’d seen these kids. Living up here on the mountaintop must make it hard to go to school, but the little girl said “thank you very much” in perfect English when I gave her the cookies.A bit later we encountered this group of regular cookie recipients. They are sweeter than the goodies I give them.Back on flat ground for the long, lonely walk to our On-Home at VFW.A little street basketball along the way. Packing it in at the VFW.Crash Test Dummy was one of the Hares. I guess he’s telling me about all the good parts of his trail that I missed.
When the Hash was done, a lot of us made our way to It Doesn’t Matter for some after-Hash revelry.
I took this picture of my leg for some drunken reason.
That young lady in the background is Armie, my waitress last night. She was also one of the contestants in the Fralics beauty pageant. She’s about the cutest girl in town and has a very sweet personality. Sadly (for me), she also has a boyfriend.
Well, I’ll confess to having a tad too much to drink last night. Just one of those days where I was in the mood to let it go. But, I had the good sense to make one last stop before heading home.
Some carrot cake to go from Sit-n-Bull.
I’m also happy to report that I did not leave my cake in the trike like I did the last time I tried to bring dessert home with me.
I’m also ashamed to admit I forgot to bring my backpack home from It Doesn’t Matter. Didn’t even realize I had left it behind until I got a message from Scott saying that my upstairs neighbor, Joanna, was bringing it home with her. Thanks again, you two.
A successful afternoon going up, over, and down the other side of Easter mountain. Surprisingly, it wasn’t as hard as I expected and remembered. That could be a manifestation of the Hares having found a more hiker-friendly way to the top. Which is not to say the climb was not difficult–it was. The steep downhill may have even been harder than the up; it was certainly more potentially treacherous. I slipped a few times but never lost my feet. Since I lived to tell the tale of my adventure on Easter mountain, let me get to it. And since a picture is worth a thousand words, this post will be almost book-like. Only better!
Given the special nature of the hike and the length and difficulty of the trail, the start time was moved up one hour to 1:30. And since the “sane” group always gets a headstart on the hardcore guys, we made arrangements to leave at 12:30. Since the VFW is right around the corner from Sit-n-Bull, I figured grabbing some lunch before the ordeal was a good idea.
I’m not a big burger eater these days, but this big burger was on the specials menu at a reduced price of 350 pesos (normally 420).It loaded up nicely.
Wolfed that burger down and then headed over to the VFW and loaded up in the Hashmobile for the ride out to the trailhead.
The trail. I did the Easter mountain portion, then hoofed it to our On-Home in Calapadayan on the road. The crazy Hashers did a second climb and some extra distance.Offloading at the start of the trail.Our sane group is ready to tackle the mountain.“This way everyone!”The fun is just beginning.Onward and upward.A rest break and photo op.The view from here.What lies ahead. If you look closely in most of these photos you can spot the Hashers on trail ahead of me. Their size provides some perspective on what we are dealing with.Making progress.A pause to refresh.Keep on keepin’ on! I wrote about the big fires on Easter mountain a few weeks ago. Turned out to be a blessing in the sense that we didn’t have to fight our way through tall thatch grass.Getting closer, but the hardest part is still ahead of us.It was a very well-marked trail. Good job, Leech My Nuggets, and Vienna Sausage!A look back down at where I came from. If you look closely maybe you can see a couple of stragglers still making their way up.Looking up to where I need to be.Crash Test Dummy experienced a bout of acrophobia. He eventually made it to the top though.That’s the way to go!Getting it done, step-by-step.A nice view of Naugsol from here.You comin’, 14 Kilo Ass?Almost there!I’d actually forgotten that there is sort of twin peaks up here. That’s the one I want over there. Made it!A view from the top. That’s Black Rock mountain dead ahead.Another view. Here’s one of me if you are looking for documentation that I achieved the summit.That concrete slab is a bit of a mystery. Not sure what it was for, but damn, getting the materials up to construct it must have been crazy hard.Not much to see up top except the graffiti…There used to be a shrine for the Virgin Mary here, but it is no more.Here’s something I didn’t want to see. Who litters in a scenic spot like this? Good Friday is when a lot of the locals come up here and picnic. I guess carrying their trash back down is too much work. This compunction compulsion to litter is one aspect of Filipino culture I don’t like or understand. I see it everywhere and no one, rich or poor, seems to give it a second thought. Time for me to head back down.It was a steep motherfucker.Be careful!Looking back up to the top from whence I came.Caught up with one of our newer Hashers, Liv (no Hash name yet), and wound up walking the rest of the way back to the On-Home with her. Interesting person. Danish gal who has been living in Manila for several years, having just recently made the move to Subic. She said she had hiked the entire length of the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Impressive!Still going down but not so insanely steep.Quite pleasant, actually.Passed by a runner (don’t know his name).Back down on the Govic highway. That’s the Hash truck waiting to take anyone too lazy to walk back to the On-Home. I was feeling surprisingly strong still, so I did the 3K+ walk but stuck to the roads. I had my fill of mountains, thank you very much!On-Home was at a place called Jurrasic. It was the first time the Hash has used this venue. Everything was new and pleasant, and the bay views were nice. They weren’t really prepared for 50 Hashers and ran out of food early on, but otherwise, it worked out well.The Hash circle in progress.We made Hash cake for the birthday girls.And the sun goes down on another day in paradise.
But wait! The fun wasn’t over yet.
It Doesn’t Matter got invaded by a horde of drunken Hashers. I’m sure the owner appreciated it. After all, his wife received her Hash name last night. Welcome to the Subic Bay Hash House Harriers, Gangster Bitch!
And just for the record, I have confirmed that the mountain we call Easter is in reality known as Mount Batulao. You’ll always be Easter to me though.
UPDATE: Forgot to post the Relive video. Here it is:
Today is the day the Hash makes the annual climb to the summit of Easter mountain.
See you later, bitch!
I did the climb three years ago and it was a tough motherfucker. I’m attempting it again today as a matter of pride and also knowing it may be the last time I’m still physically capable to do so. At least I hope I am!
It appears that it will be a fine day for a hike if the morning weather holds.
A full report on the adventure (with photos) tomorrow.
The get-together at my neighbor’s place for an Easter meal was nice.
Ed carving up the ham he’d smoked on his grill.The meat and fixin’s.My fellow diners.
A little smaller turnout than expected (Ed had said 12 would attend). There was plenty of food to go around, that’s for sure. I reckon Ed and Helen will also enjoy the bounty of leftovers.
You might have noticed there is one thing missing in the photo above. Everyone is coupled up and I’m the odd man out. I don’t socialize much (outside of the bars, that is) but I did feel the absence of someone by my side to share the experience. It’s a sad commentary that I have no one in my life that I feel comfortable inviting to an event such as this. This may be my new normal and I should just get used to it I suppose, but I left shortly after eating because I felt out of place.
Of course, there are places where someone is always willing to sit by my side and have a drink with me. So, I walked my sorry ass down to It Doesn’t Matter and commenced to enjoy the company of Agnes and Armie. Later, my pal Max came by and we had some white man conversation with our adult beverages.
My next stop was Cheap Charlies and my regulars were quick to join me and rub my back while we drank. I’m actually rather fond of Alma and could see her playing the role of loving girlfriend under other circumstances. But yes, I know and remind myself that she is just doing her job. We are Facebook friends and the fact that I never get messages from her outside of work tells me everything I need to know.
I was sitting at the street-facing counter in Cheap Charlies when I spotted mama setting up camp across the street.
I sent one of the waitresses downstairs to slip mama the customary 100 pesos. She waved her thanks up to me.
Nothing like a little perspective to end the night. My bed may be empty, but at least I have a home to go. And really, despite my whining, I’m really doing okay. I still think of my recent failed relationship frequently, but in the wee hours of the morning today when I woke up with her on my mind, I asked myself, “if she wanted to get back together with you, would you do it?” Remembering the good and the bad times, I ultimately concluded I would not. I never want to be someone’s second choice. And as good as it could have been, she never had the time to do the things we talked about and dreamed of. A life of loneliness is far better than a life of disappointment. How’s that for climbing a mountain of discovery?
Last night’s full moon brought to mind the Don Henly song, “Talking to the moon”. I took that photo from in front of my house after I exited the trike that brought me home. Talk about being lucky!
I was just talkin’ to the moon Hopin’ someday soon that I’d be over The memory of you Too hard to hold
In fourteen hundred and ninety-two
We Hashed a trail that Guenter do
It wasn't long but it was hard
And when we got done, we was tired
Alright, I won’t quit my day job, but that verse did come to me while I was marching along yesterday.
Vienna Sausage (Guenter) was indeed the Hare for Hash run #1492. While the trail was over mostly familiar terrain, the “new world” to which I refer was doing a Guenter trail in its entirety. Granted, I took the short option (just under 3K) but this Hare doesn’t know the meaning of the word easy. The ups were all steep and so were the downs. And he managed to incorporate several of each jam-packed within a short distance. Still, I got through it alive and the miracle of miracles, I actually kind of enjoyed it. Will wonders never cease?
The long and the short of it. The “easy” trail started from the VFW on the green line and eventually intersected again with the harder trail.The “sane” group gathering at the VFW prior to our departure.And we are On-On!Assuming my natural position towards the rear.Let the climbing commence!The mountain dwellers have dug out some steps which made the going somewhat easier.Climb it while you can.It was more fun when I was getting high as a teenager.Are we there yet?And suddenly, no more dirt steps and handrails. I guess that’s the climb it change I’ve been hearing about.The first climb is finished!Movin’ on.No turning back now!“I believe I can fly!”Hey, that guy looks familiar!Up we go. Again.A rested development.Heading into a creekbed.Hello there, Alta Vista. I could actually see my house from here.Then through the woods.The lonely life of a Hasher.We were lucky that most of the thatch grass had recently been burned.Although there was still some around.The last climb of the day.Come on up!A view……or two……or three.A well-marked trail with chalk…...and powder.That’s always a good sign!The last down was the steepest.Almost there, Almoranus and Anal Retentive.On-Home was at the home of the Hare, Vienna Sausage.Gash on ice is always nice.Perhaps you recognize the gal in blue, Whatever You Want, as one of the contestants in yesterday’s pageant.Hint: Her bikini was also blue.The Hash concluded with the singing of our traditional closing song, Swing Low Sweet Cherry Ass.
A good day to be on trail. Next Monday, we do our annual ascent of Easter mountain. I’m not exactly looking forward to that hellacious climb, but I want to do it at least once more in this lifetime, so I’ll give it a shot.
There are other things going on today and I’ll write about them later. For now, let me post the photos from yesterday’s Hash.
I took the short version, only around 4K. Basically just did the part I didn’t do when I bailed on Friday’s walk. Familiar territory but a relatively easy hike.My fellow “sane” Hashers.We followed this road to the end, then began the big climb of the day.Up we go!Lots of steps in the beginning.Mother Mary keeping her eye on things.In the ‘hood.The runners approach...The best of times.Looking down on the less fortunate.A woodsy walk.It can get lonely out there sometimes.Rest stop.Carry on!Hillside walking.Almost like a walk in the park.I am always impressed with these big-ass roots the trees lay out.If you build it they will come.A bay view.Watch out for the barbwire!Where’s Barretto?Down there!Arriving at our On-Home venue, Blue Butterfly.
Sorry for such a lame post. Not sure what my afternoon holds in store for me today and wanted to at least share the highlights from yesterday. I am in the midst of a small adventure. I will write about that soon.
Meanwhile, here are a couple of memories Facebook found worthy to share this morning:
That was seven years ago, Kevin Kim. Where does the time go?I was pretty busy nine years ago too. That didn’t end well.
That’s all for now. Stick around, it might get interesting.
Good morning! Paradise as seen during my dog walk today.
But this post isn’t about today, it’s about yesterday. Hash Monday to be precise. We did a trail mostly through the foothills surrounding Naugsol valley as laid by our Hares, Leech My Nuggets, and Bug Fucker. Most of the Hashers caught the truck and rode it out to the trailhead but I chose to hike out to the start and that added 2.5K or so to my day. I did a shortcut around the last climb near the end, so it evened out I suppose. My tracker said I did a little over 8K–not bad for a hot day. To the photos then:
The trail as plotted by the Hares. It started at Bridge #4 as seen above to the left and ended at Leech’s house here in Alta Vista. So, I started and ended in Alta Vista. That bubble at the center-top is the climb I avoided–I just kept going straight instead.Heading out of Alta Vista. Only one other Hasher was with me at this point, Black And Dickher.We did catch up with two other like-minded Hashers, Almoranus and Fireman, along the way.A glimpse of Easter mountain.We arrived at the Bridge #4 start point about 10 minutes before the Hashmobile came rolling up.And finally, we were On-On the real trail.As usual, I quickly fell behind most of the other Hashers. Yeah, I’m slow, especially on hills, but I’m that guy always stopping to take pictures along the way, so that slows me down too.Some of the other slowpokes. Heading for the hills.A hot day, but very beautiful scenery.It’s the dry season so not much water to be found. That will be changing in a couple of months.It was pleasant walking, for the most part, which is a little surprising given Leech’s reputation.Hello there, Tinkerbell. She’s heading back to Belgium and doesn’t know when or if she’ll be back. Nice gal, she’ll be missed.Country living.My only climb of the day. If you are behind me you are definitely a straggler!A view from on high.Hello again, Easter mountain.Picture time!As is always the case, Leech marks his trails well. If you get lost when he’s the Hare you just ain’t paying attention.Eeking out a living in the backwoods.Where uling (charcoal) comes from.Almoranus showing off. He’s one of the handful in our Hash who actually runs a good portion of the trail.When I rejoined the trail after my shortcut, I encountered this group of Hashers. I also got to experience a new back way into Alta Vista by following this trail.That’s always a good sign!Getting up to Alta Vista always involves a climb, but this was a bit much.And it ended with having to climb up and over these big rocks. Won’t be taking this path again anytime soon. No thanks!Back in the neighborhood. That’s Leech’s roof straight ahead… Leech’s backyard at last and the end of Run #1490 of the SBH3.On-Home! Leech and his gal tied the knot this week and they provided some great eats to create a reception-like flavor to our Hash circle.Some of the food available (there was another table full as well)Onto my plate and into my belly! That’s Leech sitting in front of the banner proclaiming his marriage to Leech My Pussy (Reylyn).The food line…You snooze, you lose!Oh, and we celebrated the birthday of Bug Fucker, who just recently returned from being trapped in Australia for two years.
The circle ended but the drinking fun didn’t stop. A bunch of us made our way to It Doesn’t Matter and continued to party.
From what I can remember, at least two rounds of birthday shots were raised in honor of the birthday boy.
Well, I can handle my beer but when you mix hard alcohol into the equation, all bets are off. I knew I needed to get while the getting was good, so I headed out for home. No trikes were available outside IDM so I continued down the highway. When I got to Sit-n-Bull I remembered I didn’t have the makings at home to satisfy my drunken sweet tooth, so I popped in to see what they had in their pie fridge.
I usually go with their outstanding carrot cake, but when I saw this pecan pie I knew it was coming home with me.And I found just enough vanilla ice cream in the freezer to top it off.
We did the Hash On-Home way out at the end of Rizal Extension. Almoranus has a lot up there, so we had a bit of an end-of-hike campout. Since I wasn’t sure what the food situation would be, I decided to chow down at Sit-n-Bull before we started the hike.
The Salisbury steak was on the specials menu…came with two sides. Of course, I went with beans and coleslaw...And then it was time to Hash. Our “sane” group shortcutted the first 2K or so by riding the truck out to the valley. Then we did a pleasant enough walk on that flat and rarely dry ground, before beginning a moderately difficult climb up to the ridgeline. It was hot out which didn’t make life any easier.Off we go!Easy peasy so far.The lowdown. Most of the rice fields were dry, thankfully.Girls on trail.Heading towards Easter mountain. Turned off before we got there though.We took no off fence.Not my kind of hangout, but at least it was shady.Hup, two, three, four!Leaving the flatness behind.What an ass! Rumored to be 18 Kilos…For the most part, it was a well-marked trail.The first runner to overtake us head-starting, shortcutting, sane Hashers was Leech My Nuggetts. As usual.The only water hazard we encountered.On up!A house in the wild. The kids here were too shy to accept my cookie offer. I guess they don’t see many white folks in these parts.It wasn’t a steep up, just a meandering continuous climb.More runners passing us slowsters by. It was a woodsy trail for the most part which was a relief on a hot and sunny day.The end is near for this weary Hasher.Our campsite, courtesy of Almoranus (in the white pants).Chillin’ out in the shade.Grillin’ up some dogs.My weekend guest, Sweet Hash Hole, hanging out with Black And Dick Her.It ain’t camping without a fire, right?Returning Hashers on the ice. It had been twenty years or so for Sweet Hash Hole.I didn’t eat at the Hash, but did enjoy a nice bowl of chili when I returned home.
And that was pretty much how my Hash Monday went down. Said goodbye to my weekend guest this morning. More thoughts on that in tomorrow’s post. Got darts on tap for tonight.
I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it. –Groucho Marx
Turning the page on the calendar and marching on to whatever the future may bring. Taking my cue from Groucho, I intend to live each and every day to the fullest, making the best of each one, until my days are finally over. Practically speaking, just what does that mean? I reckon there will lots of hiking, darting, and drinking along the way. But I’m also going to be open to whatever new adventures that may come my way. I’m currently in the preliminary stages of planning a trip to explore Bohol, one of the beautiful islands here that I have yet to visit.
Alas, I’ll be traveling alone.
No worries, I’m pretty much reconciled to living a loveless life. There are worse fates. I don’t regret the loves I’ve found and lost in life. Things happen, dreams change, people move on, and that’s just the way life goes.
That’s just the way it happens sometimes You can hold on to the love you feel for someone even if you can’t hold on to them.
But enough about me, let’s talk about the Hash! A good trail by Leech My Nuggets that started and ended at his house here in Alta Vista.
The orange trail is the one our Hare intended, the white trail shows the modifications us “sane” Hashers deemed appropriate.You’ll never meet a saner group of Hashers!And we are On-On!Marching through the backroads of Alta Vista.And into Filipinoland.Where the natives are friendly……and the kids love cookies.The good, the bad, and the ugly.What’s up here?Big men on trail.We had one good climb on the day.That’s me finding my way.The view from the top.Despite our 30-minute headstart and shortcuts, we are always passed by the runners at some point.We were poles apart.I didn’t forget you, Easter mountain.Lead us On-Home, Pubic Head.Thanks for the nice trail and hospitality, Leech!
And that was my Monday. Well, I did get to spend some quality time with a very special friend after the Hash. We shared a chicken and some comfort. Sometimes that is all you need.
And now for today’s “sermon”:
Now, I don't want to lose you
But I don't want to use you
Just to have somebody by my side
And I don't want to hate you
I don't want to take you
But I don't want to be the one to cry
Andthat don't really matter
To anyone anymore
But like a fool I keep losing my place
And I keep seeing you walk through that door
But there's a danger in loving somebody too much
And it's sad when you know it's your heart you can't trust
There's a reason why people don't stay where they are
Baby, sometimes love just ain't enough
Now, I could never change you
I don't want to blame you
Baby, you don't have to take the fall
Yes, I may have hurt you
But I did not desert you
Maybe I just want to have it all
It makes a sound like thunder
It makes me feel like rain
And like a fool who will never see the truth
I keep thinking something's gonna change
But there's a danger in loving somebody too much
And it's sad when you know it's your heart you can't trust
There's a reason why people don't stay where they are
Baby, sometimes love just ain't enough
And there's no way home
When it's late at night and you're all alone
Are there things that you wanted to say
And do you feel me beside you in your bed
There beside you where I used to lay
And there's a danger in loving somebody too much
And it's sad when you know it's your heart they can't touch
There's a reason why people don't stay who they are
Baby, sometimes love just ain't enough
Baby, sometimes love, it just ain't enough
I survived another Hash. I didn’t particularly enjoy this week’s edition though. We had a crazy steep, long, and hard climb up for one thing. One section of the trail was covered in garbage. You know, I have empathy for folks scratching out a living up in the hills where conveniences like trash collection don’t exist. But there has got to be a better way than creating your own dump site behind the house. At least dig a hole and bury it. Anyway, rant over.
The climb to the top was on a trail we seldom use (I didn’t remember most of it) and I expect the reason for that is that it is just too damn hard. One of the visiting Hashers, from Manila I think, gave up and turned back about halfway up. Once we were once again on mostly level ground the trail wasn’t bad. My group opted out of a second climb towards the end and walked the streets back to our On-Home at Baloy Beach. A little longer in distance but much flatter. That’s the way I roll these days.
The course of action as planned by the Hares, Demolition Derby and Blow My Pipe.The “sane” group of Hashers I roll with. We get a 30-minute headstart and shortcut when and where we want.And we are On-On!The first kilometer or so was on the streets of Barretto.Fun’s over, let the climbing begin!Black and Dick Her posing in front of the abodes of the hillside dwellers.Behind those houses, our path was paved in garbage.Get Your Rocks Off points out the error of their ways.I hope you get a sense of just how steep the climb was from this photo.What’s Up Doc taking a breather.“Let me get a shot of this”As seen from above.Taking a sit.Vienna Sausage, one of the first runners to catch up with and pass the sane group.That really gets my goat.Meandering down the trail.That’s as close as we got to Easter mountain.Not the life for me.Soon to be uling (charcoal) no doubt.This was one of the most bizarre things I saw on trail. As we began our descent we came upon this staircase. Solidly built out of stone with unusually high-quality craftsmanship. The steps went on and on and must have cost a small fortune to construct. And then they ended at a barbwire fence halfway down the mountain. No idea what purpose they were intended to serve, but by all appearances, it was someone’s broken dreams.On down.Almost there. Back on the mean streets of Barretto at last.On-Home at the Viking resort on Baloy.
Lots of beer drinking at the Hash and finished my night with some more beers at the Car Wash. Slept the peaceful sleep of the inebriated.
VD fell on Hash Monday this year. That apparently caused a conflict of interest. The number of attendees was way down from normal, anyway. My girl wasn’t particularly pleased with my decision to Hash instead of romance, but as I explained to her, I could do both. I also noted that she could always join me at the Hash which seemed to end the debate. Anyway, I did the trail but skipped the Hash circle rituals. Yesterday was my 119th consecutive week of Hashing so I didn’t want to break my streak. Once I paid my fee, my record was intact so I could safely leave early and treat my gal to dinner at her favorite restaurant. So, win-win, right?
The trail as laid. I shortcut the second climb though.Only 5 of us “sane” Hashers yesterday, the smallest turnout in recent memory.Leaving Alta Vista. Yeah, I took a very similar shot of Easter mountain on my Sunday walk. Just in case this one looks familiar.Making our way through Marian Hills. The portion of the trail we did was all pretty familiar terrain. The Hares did a crappy job marking the trail though, which was pretty irritating.One up, one down, and the rest was flat.The climb wasn’t that bad either.Nosey Bastard lurking about at the top…Marks we could actually see were few and far between.12 Kilo Ass heading on down.ISD bringing up the rear.Maybe you can see the arrow on this post, but it’s a strain to do so. No powder at all on one of the major turns leading to the second up. I had no interest in making that climb and the poorly marked trail didn’t make me regret the decision not to do so.I got my rocks off making my own way back to the On-Home.
As I mentioned above, just a couple of beers at Blue Butterfly then I went to meet my dinner date. Other than her, the best part of the meal was the view. My dinner was served almost cold. Service was slow. I’m not sure why Papagayo is her favorite place but I’m reluctant to go back after my experience last night.
The view was good but not much else.
Finished the night at the GF’s new place, called The Snack Bar. More drama courtesy of the Dick, but I’m pretty much at the point where I just shrug it off. It must suck to be a loser like him and I can be thankful that I’m the better, and luckier, man.
There you have a snapshot from another day in the life and times of your humble correspondent. Stay tuned for more installments.
And man, am I getting dizzy. Not sure if it’s the spins or the ups and downs, but it has been quite a ride lately. I’m slowly adapting to my new lifestyle and might actually make this work despite the efforts of those determined to see me fail. If failure is to ultimately be my fate, it will be a choice, not something imposed upon me. Yeah, brave words I know. But my eyes are wide-open and I’m willing to make the effort as long as it seems worthwhile. Now, if only I could make all the drama feel entertaining. Oh well, that’s unlikely, so I’ll just have to deal with it all as best as I am able.
In the meantime, there are many positives to embrace. My gal and I continue to make progress, even if it is sometimes in a two-step forward, one step back, mode. We have good times and good experiences. We are getting better at communicating our thoughts and feelings with one another. And we share certain compatibilities that make it all seem worthwhile.
My lunch yesterday at her favorite restaurant, Papagayo. And the view from our table.
It was also Hash Monday, and in the afternoon I enjoyed a relatively easy 5K trail. Only one climb with a couple of dicey spots, and most of the rest was on familiar turf. Well, there was one section behind the squatter village adjacent to Alta Vista that is apparently a makeshift trash dump for the locals. We were literally walking through shitty diapers and other disgusting garbage for a bit. I know I won’t ever be going back that way.
Photos from our hike:
Up the hill behind Alta Vista, down Baloy Beach, over the river, and On-Home at Smokes and Bottles.Waiting to get started at the VFW.Last-minute guidance from the Hare.And we are On-On!Our climb began with some stairs.Lots and lots of stairs.That will get your heart pumping.The stairs ran out but the climbing continued.Not as fun as it looks!But we eventually got it done.Pretty much smooth sailing after that.A nice day to hike–cloudy skies but no rain.The Easter mountain photo you’ve been waiting for.We came back down into my Alta Vista neighborhood.An Alta Vista vista.Then we walked the beach at Baloy...And enjoyed a beer stop at Da’ Kudos…Preparing to cross the Matain river by banka boat.A river view.Finishing our journey on the back streets of Matain.Destination achieved, On-Home at Smokes and Bottles.
And that’s the way things have been rolling around here. Thanks for checking in!
Made it through one more day without any major disappointments, heartbreaks, or other self-inflicted wounds. That’s always a plus. A good Hash and some nice after Hash activities made for a full and satisfying day.
Our “sane” group of Hashers did a 7K hike with only one big climb. We walked around, rather than over, the second mountain as the Hares intended. That made it just about right for the likes of me. A good On-Home at Da’ Kudos on Baloy Beach with the usual beer-infused Hash rituals. You can see the photos at the end of this post.
The girlfriend messaged me that she wanted to meet up after the Hash at her favorite place to eat, Papagayo’s. Naturally, I did as I was told and caught a trike. Duh. When she finished her dinner, we walked back along the beach to her resto-bar. No easy trick on a dark night, even with a cellphone flashlight. I had some beers at the Car Wash and interacted with some of the other customers. At around 10 p.m. someone suggested going to Cheap Charlies and the girlfriend was actually enthusiastic about the idea. I was surprised because she had never shown any interest in joining me in my bar hangouts previously.
So, off we went. There were five of us all together (3 guys and 2 gals) and we were the only customers when we arrived at Cheap Charlies. The look on the bargirls’ faces, especially my regulars, when they saw me with a woman for the first time was priceless. A mix of surprise and disappointment. They knew there’d be no multiple lady drinks in their immediate future. Well, I did get my favorite, Alma, who dutifully served as our waitress, a drink and left her a nice tip.
One beer at Cheap Charlies, then we crossed the highway and gave BarCelona a go. Sitting outside on the rooftop was very pleasant. Music and service were good and we stayed until closing time at midnight. The rest of the group wanted to join the after-hours crowd at It Doesn’t Matter, but I was past my expiration date and headed home with the girlfriend in tow. We enjoyed a dish of rocky road ice cream and a short YouTube video from a vlogger we know, then hit the hay.
Alright, now for those Hash photos I promised:
The paths we took. Red is the Hare’s intended path. Yellow is the route of the “sane” Hashers.The actual start of the “official” trail. We’d done an extra 1.6K to get there from Alta Vista rather than ride in the back of the Hashmobile.Our path led to Easter mountain and that’s where we climbed.Not to the summit, but still a challenging up.Getting there required crossing a rice paddy. Thankfully, it was dry this time of year.Pack your bags, we’re going up!And up.Build that wall!The going got steep in places.Fuckin’ runners! This is where our 30-minute headstart was absorbed.Walk this way!A view from the apex of our climb.Poetry in motion.Heading down to the highway on the other side of the mountain.Steep going down.That’s one way to do it.Hello, ladies.Back on the pavement for a bit.Back on the trail.Just a hop, skip, and a jump!A crowded river crossing via banca boat.A river view.Disembarking on the other shore.A final stroll up Baloy road……before arriving On-Home at Da’ Kudos.A Hash circle at sundown…And a Hash birthday cake for 18 Kilo Ass.
I’ll be attending a more traditional birthday celebration at Martin’s house later this afternoon.
Life may not be perfect, but days like yesterday make it feel good to be alive. It will hopefully be fun, and at least interesting, to find out what happens next. Either way, come on back soon and read all about it!
I rather enjoyed the Hash trail yesterday. Even though the notorious Gunter (Vienna Sausage) was one of the Hares. Now mind you, it did kick my ass, even though it was only 5K or so. What I liked about it was there was nothing too crazy or dangerous, which is not always the case with this Hare. He even did an “easy” bypass to avoid one of the steep downhills and a climb back up through a rocky creekbed. This old guy appreciates that kind of gesture. What made it so difficult was an almost constant series of ups, then downs, without much respite of flat ground in between to recuperate.
Notwithstanding the relative harshness of the hike, I enjoyed taking some paths I hadn’t been on before. Seeing new sights on such a familiar mountain is another reason to give kudos to the Hares. Hope you enjoy these photographs of the trek:
The way we rolled.The trail started and ended in Alta Vista at Leech My Nuggets’ house. Here are the fellow “sane” Hashers who joined me on the hike.Leaving the neighborhood.The first climb begins. This was the longest of several.Are we having fun yet?Steppin’ on up!Laundry day on the mountain.Keep it up!Captain Prickhard flirting with danger…Still having fun?Getting it done.A junction in the woods. That’s Vienna Sausage in the black shirt offering guidance on which path to choose.What madness is this?Ah, I see! Yep, I’ve got a beer belly. This must be the trail for me!Pecker Checker and Cumslinger looking like I’m feeling.You got this!Easy compared to what?Leech My Nuggets, the other Hare, running his own trail and passing all of us slowpokes despite our 30-minute headstart.We had a virgin Hasher join us on the trail. Definitely a hottie.Still going strong.Damn, this is the longest 5K I’ve ever hiked!Stop being a showoff, Almoranus.What’s Up Doc refilling her water bottle from an iffy-looking pipe. I offered her one of my waters but she said that she was fine with this. I mentioned a bit later that I hoped it didn’t come from the creek I had peed in earlier.Do I look like I’m having fun?The obligatory Easter mountain shot.One of the downs.A simple shelter.Just passing through…Watch your step!It was a very well-marked trail. That’s something I always appreciate.I already have a girlfriend.Still climbing.On and on and on it goes, when it will end, nobody knows!The selfie I took near the end of the hike to capture the way I was feeling.And right about the time you start congratulating yourself on being such a stud on trail, you encounter a kid like this one lugging water up to one of those shacks on the mountain. Shame on me!At last, we made it back to Alta Vista!On-Home at Leech’s place. I’m in the back there ordering food from the Sit-n-Bull waitresses who came out to serve us.And speaking of Leech, it was his birthday on Sunday, so we prepared a traditional Hash cake for him to enjoy.
After the Hash festivities concluded, I caught a ride to the Car Wash. I was the only customer, so I bought drinks and nachos for the staff and my girl. Nice way to end the day.
I began my Hash career at the beginning of 2018 and look at me now–still alive! Just been looking at the Hash stats I see I’m in the top fifteen of active participants in the SBH3.
178 total runs, and the current leader in consecutive runs at 113.
Good times!
Yesterday’s Hash was a little different in that the trail started a good way up Rizal Extension. I had a long forty-minute walk (including an up and down on My Bitch) just to get there. Made for a longer hike than the 6.5K that the Hare laid out for us. It wasn’t a bad trail though; the climb to the top of Kalaklan was as hard as ever, but pretty much smooth sailing after that. I did “shortcut” one down and up loop, but the route I took was not much shorter overall. Anyway, it was definitely the best Hash trail I’ve seen this year!
The trail had its ups and downs.It was a well-marked trail though–beyond a shadow of a doubt.Let’s go up!Off the pavement.Bathing at the water well. Look at the old guy go!Cookie time!Hello daddy!About halfway up now.Cum In My Basement and Captain Prickhard.18 Kilo Ass and his gal. She got named last week but I can’t remember what it is at the moment.Nosey Bastard and what’s her name.Gordon Heights in Olongapo City.Life ain’t always easy.Heading back down to Barretto.Cum In My Basement, What’s Up Doc, and Black And Dick Her.Watch your steps!Safely On-Home at Blue Butterfly.
A long and flat trail, just the way I like it. The only downside was there was nothing new about it for me, been there and done that hike before; several times actually. Still nice countryside though, and we had some overcast skies and breeze to keep things almost comfortable. My group came in a tad under 9K, and that includes our shortcut negating a climb up Black Rock mountain near the end of the trail. We did some steps instead, so we weren’t totally flatliners. To the photos then:
The tale of our trail.A smaller than usual group of “sane” Hashers this week. That carabao didn’t hike with us, but the little girl did. Impressively, she didn’t complain until we were 2/3 done with the hike. And even then, it was because her feet hurt from not having proper footwear. Well done, child!We basically did a circumnavigation of Easter mountain.Let’s get this done!Bypassing the little Grand Canyon.Time out for a cookie delivery.18 Kilo Ass successfully traversed another rickety bridge without destroying it (or himself).Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow Easter, I will fear no Filipina…They’ve subdivided some lots at the far end of the valley, but there may be a flaw in their planning…This bridge is the only access across the river. You can barely fit a trike on here. Perhaps they intend to build another bridge for automobiles.The river in question. It is much more substantial during rainy season.Deep in the jungle.A banana plantation.A bridgeless creek crossing…just a hop, skip, and a heck of a jump to get over…Made it!On the road again.Up ahead you can see that burning season is in full flower.Hello, children. Don’t look at me like that, Christmas is over!Steppin’ it up near the end of our journey.Almost to the top, Bum Burglar!Jesus Christo! And during the Hash circle, we did sing the irreverent song about why Jesus can’t go Hashing, which includes a verse that “Jesus can’t go Hashing ’cause He’s hanging on a cross…Steppin’ on down to the highway and our On-Home venue……at Smoke and Bottles. I really like the picnic ground atmosphere here for some reason.Cooling those hot Filipina asses on the ice.
And that was the way Run #1477 of the Subic Bay Hash House Harriers went down. Thanks for joining me!
