A quick post about my yesterday because today involves attending a social event at the ungodly hour of 1 p.m. Yesterday was also out of the realm of normalcy for me. I attended a Saturday Hash. Sponsored by the Manila Hash House Harriers. And the event was held on SBMA (the old Navy Base). By way of explanation: It was a special Hash run to honor Hasher Long John’s birthday, a Manila group member who resides in SBMA now. I’m acquainted with Long John because he frequently Hashes with us in Subic. So, it gave me a good excuse to get off my lazy ass and hike in some unfamiliar territory. Here is some of what I saw.
The birthday boy. By my reckoning, he’s ten years older than me. I hope I’m still going as strong as he is in a decade.Gathering at the community center in Long John’s neighborhoodAnd of we go on what was deemed to be a forest trail. It was indeed!There were some ups and downs along the way, but for the most part it was a pleasant hike.The first of what I counted as five water crossingsSome folks opted to trying hopping across on the rocksLike these folks, I just went with the freedom of wet feetYou’d think a Swan would be agile in the waterI was beginning to feel bamboo-zeledBut there was room to pass through the jungleOn up on a well-marked trailRelatively wide-open spacesThis was the first of several fallen tree trunks we had to maneuver over.Up and overIn the woodsSwan getting back to her rootsMore waterWet feet againLow bridge aheadUnless you happen to be shortStill more waterA dry crossing this timeThis crossing had the added obstacle of a downed tree to limbo underThe last of the water crossings and the final hill climbThis massive trunk was too much for me to scramble over, so I found a way to walk around it.And then back to Long John’s neighborhood. The housing here is duplexes from the old Navy base days. Before I made the move to the PI, I looked at some of these options, but decidedI didn’t want to live in what felt like an American suburb.Our walk through the forest was 5K
There was some food, birthday songs, and a Hash Circle after the hike, then it was back to Barretto. I watched the second Season Two episode of “Squid Game” then hit the sack for some well-earned sleep.
Having only five after-hike beers helped.
One year ago I celebrated the grand opening of this venue:
I should go there more often
Today I posted this photo on my Facebook that I found on Kevin Kim’s blog:
And within five minutes, it looked like this:
Fuck you, Zuck. You suck!
Okay, I’m hoping Trump will convince China to back off on it’s dreams of war in the Pacific, but it won’t be pretty if it ever happens. Seeing that China could literally cut the power to the Philippines isn’t all that surprising.
Some humor before I go:
There is beauty in natureKeep your eyes on the prize!Sounds like she’s all in
Hike buddy Tim is leaving soon for his journey back to the USA. We’ve all been invited for a farewell gathering at his cool rooftop lodging at the Coffee Shop hotel. I’m not keen on starting my time on the town so early, but sometimes exceptions must be made.
3 thoughts on “Forest Hump”
Happy Birthday to Long John. I assume that’s his Hash name.
Swan getting back to her roots
That’s a Dao tree, yes? With “buttress roots”?
Hike buddy Tim is leaving soon for his journey back to the USA.
You said he’s planning to spend part of his year in the PI, yes? So this “journey” isn’t some permanent thing, right…?
Looks to have been a good forest walk.
Sorry. All of those “yes”es and “rights” sound as if I’m interrogating you viciously.
I had to look up the name, but yes, that’s a Dao tree. They are very impressive.
Tim is heading back but plans to return later this year. He’s got a few years before he can retire.
And I didn’t get an “interrogation” vibe from your questions. No worries!
Happy Birthday to Long John. I assume that’s his Hash name.
Swan getting back to her roots
That’s a Dao tree, yes? With “buttress roots”?
Hike buddy Tim is leaving soon for his journey back to the USA.
You said he’s planning to spend part of his year in the PI, yes? So this “journey” isn’t some permanent thing, right…?
Looks to have been a good forest walk.
Sorry. All of those “yes”es and “rights” sound as if I’m interrogating you viciously.
I had to look up the name, but yes, that’s a Dao tree. They are very impressive.
Tim is heading back but plans to return later this year. He’s got a few years before he can retire.
And I didn’t get an “interrogation” vibe from your questions. No worries!