So we were 50+ km down the Hang Dong road to a resort for the outstation – Chuckie had teamed up with the Super family to set a trail and organise the outstation. Chucks had been concerned for weeks about the numbers, but it took 3 packed trucks to deliver all the runners to the start some 5km or so away from the hotel. An A->B – where the hell were we and where were we going – it was going to come down to luck on the checks, and I didn’t get any.
Off we set across the bridge and immediately I screwed up on the first check – not sure what Turkish Delight was doing – he certainly wasn’t checking properly as I met him as I headed back from my first bad choice. Nevermind, Shagless found the trail – so shocked from being the FRB he forgot to call and just waved paper at us and let us call. On to the next check and the uninviting uphill trail seduced me, damn – wrong again, and we set off into the rice fields. Normally Chuck Wao is adamant about the inappropriateness of running through rice fields, but he’d found good trails through and soon we hit the hills.
I hit a couple of checks, but then took the wrong way on the only V check – damn, a big group together again. These hares were good – I was with Belly Dancer late into the run and picked the wrong trail at every chance I could. Some army dude called Aey was the FRB picking everything right – nice hashing! As it was A to B we had no idea where we were heading or how much further we had to go – finally we emerged from the hills and appeared at a great waterfall with the hares smiling. A great set, and a good run…
After a coke and a beer, Skiddy suggested running back to the hotel – it was only another 5km and we had no idea how much longer we’d be waiting for the DFLs so the two of us set off to rescue the kids from their housekeeper. We nearly made it back when the trucks picked us up. A good preparation for next weekend.
The circle was back at the hotel and Horny Monkey was duly abused for his absence, welcome back – hash style. On to the food, and then the karaoke – good times!