Our “outstation” Hash trip to Pundaquit is in the books, and for this Hasher, it was overall the best trail I’ve ever hiked. Maybe the saddest too. I’ll get to that part in a bit.
The initial climb was long and hard, just as I expected it would be. The frustrating part was just when it seemed the summit was in sight, it turned out to be an illusion, and the uphill slog continued. That happened three or four times before the top was finally achieved. I was huffing and puffing almost as severely as I do after sex lately. Not quite that bad, though; otherwise, I’d likely have died on the mountain.
Once up top, though, it was like walking through a dream. Varied landscapes, lots of trees, and incredible views. Truly amazing. I hope the photos I share come close to capturing that magical feeling I experienced on the trail.
The down seemed eerily familiar, and as I progressed, I started to recognize some landmarks. Yes, I had been here before. Five days shy of exactly one year ago. Although on that previous visit, I was climbing up the mountain, not coming down. Looking back, that had been one of the best days of my life in the Philippines. Mainly because I had spent it with the last woman I loved. She’s gone now, and life goes on, but the hole in my soul remains. And as I walked that path we had shared in reverse, the memories came flooding back. When you are living those moments, you are just enjoying them for what they are, not worrying about what will happen next. When you are reliving the memories, knowing what the future has brought, it is hard not to feel regret. Still, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.
The On-Home was at Monty’s Riverside View Resort, a place I had visited with the Hash in 2018. No bad memories from that one, and after more than a few beers, I had drowned my sorrows and let go of the past once again.
Ready for some photos? Let’s do it!
There was another first-ever event in my Hashing experience–a search and rescue mission. One of the Hashers had burned out on top of the mountain (probably from dehydration) and didn’t have the energy to proceed. Anal Receptive and Vienna Sausage headed back up the mountain (from the way we came down) and brought some water, Gatorade, and ice. They soon enough had him back on his feet and back at Monty’s just about the time the Hash circle was concluding. Well done, gentlemen!
Another aspect of the outstation format is the bus ride home. Imagine, if you will, fifty drunken Hashers in a bus (with more beer on board for consumption) singing their Hash ditties in a loud and obnoxious manner that is the style and custom of the Hash.
Good times!
An especially beautiful hike. I guess memories of the ex are an inevitable blessing or curse.
Periodically, there would be places like this, the purpose of which I cannot discern.
That photo reminded me of some fortress walls here in Korea. I don’t get the impression that the PI has a lot of fortresses, castles, etc., though.
A burger at the end seems a good and proper reward for a hard day’s walk.
Nice looking walk.
Appears that there are a lot of unexplored areas to be found, all for the price of a taxi.
Well, that’s one of the aspects of the Hash I most appreciate–the experienced Hares finding new trails in interesting places. It’s hard for me to go out hiking in places I don’t know on my own, though. Too much can go wrong, and worrying about it takes the joy out of the adventure.
Kev, not much in the way of historical structures here that I’ve seen anyway. I saw an old Spanish fort out in Cebu, but the old Filipino tribes were more like the Native Americans as far as building relics–more nomadic and transitory. What I saw on the hike was relatively new.