Saturday morning and what about today? Of course, it’s Bush day! So ok, got that sorted but where it is and what about the time? "Somewhere down the 7 highway" i was told by a mate on the phone. Well it would be wouldn’t it, being a TICKLER run and all? So into the old banger and I’m on my way and looking forward to acouple of hours with the gang out in the Bush.
On leaving the 7, found loads of HHH signs all clearly and dutifully pointing the way to Tickler’s A-site. It was quiet to start with but then more and more people started to arrive with many of them speaking a strange herdy gerdy sort of language. Could they be Swedish I ask myself, na, must be Norwegians, has to be !!
The run was supposed to start 2pm but there was no sign of the bus or the Hares. I did see the Tickler’s driver milling around the place so presumably he was still out getting lost in the hills !
Well about half three, the bus arrived after getting lost again. The bus is always getting lost here for some strange reason. Must be the Tickler Triangle effect !!
So after a big rush to get signed up, we had a short’ish pre-run circle and we were away and trotting off into the distance with still no sign of the hares! Soon we started heading up and into thick and painful Bamboo trees that clawed and grabbed at shirts, shorts, skirts and human flesh and er …. Dogs. Yes, we had a dog and it didn’t seem to be doing too well, or was it just hanging back for it’s caring owner Vaseline Thighs?
Not to worry because after hitting the real peak (after many false one’s), we came out of the thick bush and onto very nice walking trails that wound their way this way and that, up and down, and past public toilets complete with running water and wash basins!! Time to cool down the poor ‘mutt’ and perhaps find a shortcut to the water stop? Not a chance, on we all went and after about an hour we came off the slopes and found the beer truck parked along a dirt road a few meters from the black top.
Still no sign of the hares though, only our new brew master ‘Liberaci’ who had been shown were to go by Tickler’s driver. After about 30 minutes, the last of the rear pack came into view and woe and behold the hares Tickler and Tonto too, looking severely dishevelled!! Maybe they really did get lost!
That must have been the signal as everyone took off looking for the paper to guide them on the second leg. Well apart from about 15 souls who made their way about 1km down the road back to the a-site.
Back at the a-site, V.V. and his helpers got the BBQ going and there was a very nice aroma spreading around the place. By the way, this was very different to that which can sometimes be detected when a certain Swirly Face arrives late at the ca-site in a panic after having a jar too much the night before!!
So, about 35 minutes after the short run runners had got back, the long runners starting to arrive at the a-site with more than a few cuts and scratch’s as souvenirs from today’s run. Well, nothing and no one is going to slow a Bush front runner down once he/she is in their stride. Forget the thorns, just carry on running right through them!!
Back to the A-site and alongside the BBQ, there was the famous V.V. stew which the Tickler had so generously paid for, along with several cases of Tiger beer too! That cold beer did go down well after all of that exercise in the heat of day.
After about an hour and a bit, the circle was called and at this point the Norwegians Vanished! Never mind, more beer available for the rest of us and within 20 minutes and in true Bush tradition, the circle took off with no going back. I sort of got lost myself here, but I do remember a nice young lass from Washington DC White House Hash taking hold of the old worn out bushmaster and handing out punishment to the many that deserved it. I think practically everyone had a go at being RA on this night and I'm pretty sure the hares spent a fair bit of time on the ice explaining away there mysterious absence at the start!
Alas, all good things must come to an end and so it was to be today at around 9pm when the circle was closed down with the hash hymn. After that even Meme was happy as there was still plenty of cold beer available for the long ride back to Pattaya. Presumably, the bus made it back to Pattaya with perhaps more than one ‘rest’ stop on the 7 highway!
On On
Mr Magoo
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