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msparks
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Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Posts: 3182
Location: Jammin' at the Frim Fram, Frippin' in the Krotz
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 Posted: 04/23/06 - 19:03 Post subject:
Saturday's Hash Trash
DH3 - Run #740. Earth Day Hash. Gilmore Ponds Interpretive Center, Hamilton, OH - 4:00 p.m.. Hares: Elvis & Hot Tub Slut.
The sky was clear and the temperature hovered in the low 70's. A perfect day for Earth Day...and a hash.
The hares patiently waited for the pack to assemble, affording almost everyone the opportunity to enjoy a little pre-lube refreshment.
The Gilmore Ponds area is a protected wildlife area. Unfortunately, the protection didn't apply to the hashers. The ponds and wetlands attract a large variety of waterfowl and is a favorite spot for birders...and heartless hares. (The pack was a bit curious as to why the hares were wearing long pants.)
The hares gave the chalk talk, then departed. After giving them the usual 10-minute HEADstart, the pack followed. A few free-rangers took a different route, choosing to shun the trail laid by the hares. But the dutiful pack of hounds followed trail. They enjoyed dry feet for at least the first five minutes. After that, there was no such thing as dry.
The trail lead to a creek and the hares' cruelty really began. There was no passable way to follow the creek without actually wading through the knee-deep water. This watery trail was approximately 0.5 mile in length. At least the water wasn't cold.
After exiting the creek, the pack would enjoy running on concrete - for about another 0.5 mile. That would pretty much be it for trail being on something other than than Mother Earth, including trees and shiggy. But soon after the pack said goodbye to concrete, the first BN appeared on the other side of some railroad tracks.
After the first BN, the pack was off again. Trail led them behind Fairfield High School and skirted the northern boundary of the practice ball diamond. Fortunately, practice had concluded by the time we ran through right field.
HEADing north from the school, the hares laid trail into the thick shiggy, including a large stand of bamboo. Fortunately, the bamboo was young. By this time, the trail led through shiggy so thick that there was no running, only walking.
Trail eventually ran across railroad tracks and through an industrial park. Symmes Road was crossed and the pack followed trail, moving in a mostly-northerly direction. It was also mostly-dry. But this section of trail led through shiggy filled with thistle and bramble - the kind of stuff that opens small wounds on uncovered flesh...such as legs.
Finally, the flesh-gouging portion of the trail ended, only to be replaced by swamp. There's nothing quite like swamp water to cool and soothe (and infect?) the hounds' lower extremities. At least the swamp wasn't knee-deep. Mid-shin would better describe the depth. Traversing the swamp lasted for about a 0.5 mile and, shortly after exiting said swamp, the second BN appeared. The pack was somewhat fractured at this point, with the lead group consisting of six hashers. And it turned out that these were the only hashers to make/find the second BN.
Trail to the On-In would last for another 1.5 - 2.0 miles...some of it (for at least one hasher who shall remain nameless) through additional flooded wetlands. The nameless hasher spotted three great blue herons and three white-tailed deer, having chosen to take an alternate route to the On-In.
Most of the pack arrived at the On-In within a few minutes of each other. However, four hashers were rounded up near the second BN, and transported via automobile to the On-In.
Circle was surreptitiously formed, in part because a Hamilton police officer was within sight of the site. He'd pulled over a speeder and was issuing a ticket. This kept the singing at a low volume...which was fortunate. The singing was quite lame. After the down-downs were drunk, about half of the gang HEADed to the Brown Bar, in Hamilton, for more drink...and Helen's meatloaf dinner.
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