Run #20 – The Farkawe Tribe Run Rehashed

It took a little bit of negotiation but eventually the taxi driver accepted that I really wanted to go to the junction of Longjing Road and Wulaofeng tunnel. An odd destination indeed and not made any less so by the two hares (Acronymph and Pushupbra) standing round like a pair of hobos. By this point they were well in to blaming each other for the trail, never a good sign. The usual suspects trickled in over the course of the next 30 minutes. Several people failing to show, apparently as a result of the previous night’s birthday exploits. Down-downs to follow for this.

So at T + 40 minutes we finally set off. Yours truly, Yvonne (who would be renamed ExitStrategy before the day was out), Phonebox, BottomFeeder and Pelagic. The trail began well, though I’m sure I recall getting down-downs for using blue chalk on a black road myself. After about 100 metres there was a trail running down to a stream that could be forded by stepping stones and across the stream we went. Sadly on the other side there was CLEARLY NO SIGN OF ANY KIND OF ROUTE UP THE MOUNTAIN, but up we went.

After about 20 minutes of pulling (literally) ourselves up the side of a mountain through thick thorny undergrowth we finally emerged in a clearing at the top and a much needed regroup. Providing the opportunity for all to count and compare cuts from thorn bushes, mosquito bites, etc and for BottomFeeder to marvel once again at how easy it was to pull phonebox [up the hill].

On-up and we emerged quickly onto a proper path, which allowed for the first bit of actual running more or less since we set off. The situation quickly deteriorated though as Pushupbra’s infallible stair detector appears to have kicked and we went up stairs, stairs and more stairs. Eventually arriving at a pagoda at the top of a hill. Phonebox’s gender-defying navigational skills were once more in evidence as she was able to point out that we’d been here before, with Quasimodo and son. Another regroup was enjoyed and the collective wit of the pack was able to achieve a photo on a timer so all 5 of us could be in it.

On-on along the ridge with some interesting discussion of geology and we emerged at the viewing platform on South peak. Pelagic and BottomFeeder spent the time engaged in some bizarre experiment where they proved that Pelagic can indeed kick BottomFeeder in the head, in case you ever needed to know. The rest of us enjoyed the view, discussing how pretty it was watching the sun descend beneath the mountains the other side of Meijiawu. Strangely it didn’t occur to anyone to worry that we were watching the sun set.

On-on down the other side of the mountain and the light situation becomes apparent or rather the path was becoming less apparent, due to the worsening light situation. The pack enjoyed a fairly obvious check back into some caves where BottomFeeder was able to discover a truly horrible smell.

On-on down again in rapidly worsening light conditions until we arrive at a fairly large collection of tombs, this was the point where, ominously, the last slivers of daylight disappeared. We were 5 brave hashers, over an hour into an hour long run, now standing in total darkness, in a graveyard, looking for trail marks that would lead us to safety. The cries of on-on (largely unnecessary to this point with such a small pack) rallied as much to buoy spirits as to act as navigational aid.

Yours truly and ExitStrategy (how fitting) blazed the trail down and on to the road and managed to come out 150 metres further up the road than the right trail. Eventually finding BF, P and PB who had actually managed to stay on chalk.

Expecting the usual 1k run-in the pack set off at a canter through an odd village, consisting only of restaurants, that I can’t find on a map. Maybe a hungry pack dreamt it? Out of the village and into a choking 1.2 kilometres of tunnel where PhoneBox led a procession of 5 weary runners, a dozen professional looking cyclists and 30 construction workers on ebikes down the narrow path. The hares had helpfully marked the trail all the way through the tunnel thus preventing the pack from making a wrong turning into … where exactly?

Emerging into the suddenly amazingly clear Hangzhou air at the other side it was finally, 3k later, on-in to welcome beers. The verdict? An unnecessarily punishing ascent to particularly scenic run, ending rather dramatically in total darkness. Acro – don’t tell Push-up but I think that the pack enjoyed it.

During the down-downs we named, and wished farewell to ExitStrategy. Phonebox reasserted her right to be called the hash name she was given. Acro and Pushupbra pushed the buck back and forward to the point where no one cared anymore. BottomFeeder found new lows in dinner / circle conversation – all in the name of learning the language of course.

How many more times more will we able to enjoy diner outside before the winter kicks in I wonder?

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Run #20 – The Farkawe Tribe Run

Sunday 14th October – 16.00 – Meet on the corner of Longjing Rd and xxxxx Rd (the road between Jiqingshan and Wulaofeng Tunnels). Buses Y3, 27 and K27 go there, but make sure you get off at the right spot, it’s the busiest intersection on Longjing Rd.  Hares Acronymph and Pushupbra.

Ring Acronymph for multi-lingual directions 1373 2250 363

Yesterday, two Kiwis were returning to the antipodes from France after another unsuccessful Rugby World Cup campaign. One sat in the window seat, the other sat in the middle seat. Just before take-off, an Aussie got on and took the aisle seat next to the two Kiwis. After take-off, the Aussie kicked off his shoes, wiggled his toes and was settling in when the Kiwi in the window seat said, “I think we could do with a beer

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Taiping Meijawu Run Rehashed

It was very nice of the Shanghai Taiping hash to invite HZH3 to their run in Meijawu. There were several communications from Taiping to ascertain the numbers from HZ who would be attending their run for catering purposes, but given the variability of HZH3 turnout mismanagement avoided commitment. The triple birthday arrangements of Caris, Cigar and Acronymph required a 6.30pm start, which placed a limiter on the amount of time available for HZH3 hashers to attend and then return to HZ in time, so a van was laid on to pick up starters at the Maya. Pelagic, looking a bit  margaritaish, Yvonne, soon to return to the Vaterland, Doggie Style, Aimie, Lillian, Bottom Feeder and scribe then headed to Meijawu to search out the run site. The friendly folks in Meijawu put on a great welcome for the HZ contingent; people waving at the group in front of almost every restaurant and tea house. However it was then 1.10pm and the Taiping group were not due till about 1.20pm, so the opportunity was taken for a scenic tour of Meijawu right down to Zhijiang Rd. No sign of Taiping H3, so back through the village, where the welcome stayed warm. U turn, back through the village, a royal wave to the crowds, back to Zhejiang Rd, U turn and stalemate 3.0 km back up the road according to the directions to the start. No sign of chalk, hashers, suitable Shanghai buses, indeed anything. The group disembarked, and demonstrated that they had all been in China too long by congregating on the carriageway, rather then the wide and safe footpath, forcing buses, cars and trucks into impassive faced avoidance. Bottom Feeder entertained the troops doing squats with Pelagic on his shoulders, and then auditioned for a role as restaurant road-front spruiker. He starts work on Sunday. So, the deadline hour passed and with no sight, sign or message from Taiping, the collective decision was made to abandon the project and return to the Maya. Mismanagement strikes again.

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Shanghai Taiping H3 hits Meijawu

Saturday 13th October – Shanghai Taiping Hash will travel down to Meijawu Tea Village for a run, and the HZH3 is welcome to join them. The run will start approx 1.20pm at Meijawu, so HZH3 hashers should meet at the Maya at 12.15pm to collectively take the Y4 bus to Meijawu. Or you could make your own way there. The cost will be about RMB100 per hasher and this will include the run, drinks and meal.

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Run #19 – The “Anyone For Tea” Run

Sunday 7th October – 16.00 – hares Caris and Ernie – Dragon Well Tea House at the end of Longjing Road. Take buses Y3, 27 and K27. The meeting point is the Tea House, from where the pack will be led to the start. If you are lost, Caris’s number is 15824125347. Hash fees are RMB10.00 for the run and a few down down beers after.

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Run #18 – The No Surrender Run Rehashed

Hare – PushupbraThe start was at the large set of stairs in Wansongling Rd, off Nanshan Rd.The hare struggled hard with himself to avoid the obvious start up the stairs, where any number of punishments could be found for an unsuspecting pack, but instead opted for a mild and innocuous crossing of the road and an easy jaunt into the forest alongside the Sadsong academy. The diminished pack of Pelagic, Caris, Phonesex and Doggie Style, all refugees from National Day gatherings of family and friends, were not at all intimidated by the name of the “no surrender run

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Run #18 – The No Surrender Run

Sunday, September 30th – 16.00 – Wansongling Rd – Hare Pushup(bra)

Wansongling Road starts at Nanshan Rd about 300 metres short of where Nanshan Rd turns right at the junction of Yuhangshan Rd.  Go up Wangsongling Rd about 350 metres. The run starts at the big steps (it’ll be obvious). A K102 bus goes past, but from where and to where is not known. Appreciate it if somebody could take their camera on the run and get a few shots for the album. Venue for the On On will probably be the FengDu next to the Maya.

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#17 The Lingyin Temple Run Rehashed

Hares – Pelagic and Bottomfeeder 

Sunday, with fine misty rain all day, would have kept the hares guessing as to turnout, trailmarking durability, catering and timing, let alone issues of trail. So It followed that Yvonne, Caris, Phone Box, Doggie and scribe were joined by virgins Ernie, Luis and Carlos, other runners apparently dissuaded by the less than conducive weather. Hares Pelagic and Bottom Feeder returned looking a bit crestfallen as to the run they had set, fearing a Far Cup presentation. To head off any later critique of their run marking skills, the hares gave the pack a variety of convoluted descriptions of bamboo, tombs, bridges and numbers, all of which made little sense at the time, and less later as it transpired. The pack is above all that of course, having been recently bloodied by Acronymph and Cigar at Meijiwu, and now fears nothing. The trail followed the footpath up through the HZ Tyrolean quarter, past one of the three temples until it crossed the little stone bridge and ascended the tea terraces opposite. Doggie was taking bets on how many of the pack would go down on the wet and muddy paths, and most enjoyed a complimentary slide or two on the descent. Back on black top and up to Meiling Rd. for a bit of traffic dodging, before entering “Wild Boar

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Run #17 – The Lingyin Temple Run

Sunday 23rd September – 16.00 – The Lingyin Temple Run – Hares Pelagic and Bottom Feeder – Go to the end of Lingyin Road, past the taxi rank and the tourist shops. There is a footpath at the T intersection – the run will start near the archway just to the left.

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Run #16 Hangzhou Flower Nursery

Hare: Doggie Style The runners Caris, Pushup (Bra), Pelagic, Mike, Nicky, Yvonne, Skidmarks, Phone(sex)box, AcroNymph and Bottomfeeder.  Beautiful weather, beautiful location, beautiful run, all of it only surpassed by the beauty of beer.    Doggie Style sent us off by saying “over the nursery, and through the field, and off to the tea field you go.

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