Deeper Shade Of Seoul

Saturday marked the 50th trail for my beloved LVH3, of which I am proud to be a co-founder. I really wish I could have been there, especially after I heard about the V.I.P visit from none other than Tumbling Bill Panton himself. I'm looking forward to my welcome home pub crawl (you have started the preparations, right QNL??) and especially looking forward to the St. Patty's weekend. For a variety of reasons (namely beer, soju, and other random alcoholic beverages) I haven't been able to make the Sunday A.M. trails here in Korea, and I'm definitely missing hashing. Congratulations LVH3, hopefully there'll be many more trails in the future!!

Here's a copy of QNL's hash trash...check out the website for more info and pics.

"When I began hashing, KL was the only hash in the world" (Tumbling Bill Panton)

LVH3's 50th hash has come and gone, but it will not soon be forgotten. You may remember this hash for the freezing cold temperatures or maybe because of the visiting dignitaries on hand, or perhaps because of a trail that came as close to hash perfection as is humanly possible. Yes, dear wanks, this was a hash for the history books.

A sub freezing January afternoon at the Little Lehigh Fish Hatchery was the setting for the forty or so half-minds that gathered for LVH3's momentous 50 th trail. A great collection of the Lehigh Valley faithful, along with 6 Virgins, were joined by Rumson's Dave the Mason, H5's Tour de Puke, Fart Connor, and Quaterstick, Pittsburgh's Flicker, New York's Cider Man, H5 and Reading GM's Bushrat and Over Exposed, Philly's Otis, and Kuala Lumpur's Tumbling Bill Panton (sorry if I missed anyone). A true honor to have Bill at our hash, a KL original, from the days when the mother hash was the only game in town. Known as the "Father of American Hashing" Bill founded the DC hash, The Bangkok Hash, and is the official hash historian and genealogist. He came to visit on our 50 th to record LVH3's genealogy. (Incidentally we found out that we are a 6th generation hash through Okinawa rather than an 8th generation through New York as previously thought, page to be updated soon). But enough of the history, on to the sordid details of the hash.

Hares for the day were your's truly and our religious advisor, Holy Sh*t. Trail was a mix of up and down hill shiggy, some streets, a lot of prickers, thorns, briars, and nettles, and yeah, about a quarter million trout. First leg took the pack immediately into the woods, and presented a Turkey/Eagle split. Turkey's took a long, but straight walk on a nice path through the woods, while eagles climbed a shiggy hill, r*n some deer paths, scared a few horses, and came back to the original path. Most hounds short-cut the final check at the bottom of the hill and proceeded directly to the church yard, cemetery and new shiggy paths. Others found their way through the Christmas tree dump and eventually to the same woods. Both groups soon found the first BC, tucked away in a thicket of trees, and libation was had by all.

Shortly thereafter we were out on leg two. This leg took the pack immediately through the woods and into a pine grove. Searching out true trail, it was back into the cemetery, through an apartment complex, a neighborhood, a school yard, baseball field, and farm and on-on to BC # 2, once again placed in a shiggy filled gully. Various "ground scores" were found in this area including a broken basketball backboard and rim, Wolfram's softball, and of course Quarterstick's arrow (see pics). Once again, the hounds were watered and we were off on the final leg of the hash. Holy and I were well on our way to laying the last bit of trail when we were snuck up on by a short cutting bastard called Bushrat. Yes, we were caught by Bushrat, who was posing as a fitness walker, on the path below us. I've been caught only twice as a hare, both times by Okinawa born hashers (Grabbag being the other). What the hell are they teaching them over there? Relax boys, drink a beer…. Anyway, this leg took the pack up and down some hills, through some corporate parking lots, and back to the hatchery, where the pack cooled off or warmed up and got ready to leave for the on-after.

However, there was still a pack of DFL's out on trail including a few of our virgins, Grab Here, Succubus and the wonder pup, and Tumbling Bill. I left to do some recon in search of the stragglers, and, about 500 yards from the pack, I noticed a great blue heron flying next to me along the stream. Just a quarter mile from the raucous pack, I trod the cinder path alone, in silent awe of this giant, beautiful bird. As I r*n along the stream, he glided effortlessly just a few yards to my side. As I slowed down, the herron also came to rest, descending majestically into the stream. He took his perch, turned his head, looked into my eyes and said, "Check your cell phone you dumb bastard". And I did, and it was Holy telling me that the DFL's had arrived and it was time to head to the Liberty for religion and pizza. And so it was done.

The Liberty proved a worthy host for this debaucherous pack of hounds. Pizza, wings, beer, beer, beer, beer. Our RA called everyone into the poolroom for the circle and began with the hares. What was wrong with the trail? Too warm, too few thorn bushes, not enough hills, and the like. Next were our virgins, and then our visitors. Missing hashers, hash crashes, false accusations, when one GM drinks, all in, etc. The highlight for me, however, was the ability to hear from Tumbling Bill about our lineage, and to toast both him and LVH3's 50 th at the same time. A truly memorable event.

The circle concluded with a rousing Swing Low and final blessing. Some stuck around for more singing, some left for more refreshment. The pack trickled out a few at a time, over the next couple of hours, until a small core group decided to on-on-on at Mangina's. Nightcaps, guitars, war stories, and the night ended happily ever after.

On a personal note, it was kick-ass to celebrate our 50th hash yesterday. Major props to all of the LVH3 hashers who have kept our hash thriving, (even if it did take us three tries to get here). Thanks as well to our visitors who helped to get us off the ground and who came to celebrate yesterday (especially the half-minds of h5 who were sometimes half the pack in the earliest times. H5 does "rock" as you all like to say…). A big nod, as always, to Grabbag, who kept hashing alive in the valley during the "dark times". ON-ON to the "third time's a charm" LVH3!!

QNL