Perhaps not quite the run the hare set and certainly not that which he intended, after an early bath knocked out the spare GPS as well as his smart phone, rendering him incommunicado as well as directionally clueless. But the result was declared generally satisfactory with the front end of the pack mildly enthusiastic and the late arrivals less complimentary.
Total distance was measured at 6.1k with the total ascent just under 300m and the maximum height 189m. But some indication of the difficulty factor can be gleaned from the fact that the run took just under 1 hour 30 for the FRB's with Fuckin'Lucky and Buk Toy closer to 2 hours. Much of that time was spent laboriously seeking the hash equivalent of the North-West passage, a route along the ridge above Ban Chumpor, which Stick Insect swears he found but which perished with the demise of the GPS. He came within 300m of his goal before being forced down into the valley to ascend more or less by the conventional route although eschewing the nice path up the valley in favor of laboriously pruning a "trail" up the river bed.
The descent was via the now largely concreted Chumpor 1 with a final check at the bottom which seemed to defy any form of directional logic but was actually only about 300m from the run site. Short Screw who got away with a combination of short and long runs was somehow first home closely followed by Sex Sprinter, Beaver and a dog-encumbered GM who got away with some GPS guidance over the final stretch - look high office has its benefits!
As befitted a birthday run, the hare provided free beer and the beer truck did precious little business. With the pussies otherwise engaged, only City Tits and the returning Handjob contributed food, and he apres-run was truncated by a rumor of a visit to the ailing After Ours in hospital. Happily she was later released and was at home before the curfew fell.
Just a thought. It is possible that with a little more effort directions may be made even more obscure and this would be a great way to ensure that even fewer people came to the Songkhla hash?
ReplyDeleteOne question: Was there a sign (or even paper) on the old Yala road, at the end of the soi – thanon at 4.20 - 4.30? There was certainly none at 5.30.
Of course for anyone coming the 7.1km from Songkhla it was no real hassle. They may have even known Thanon Chompu. But for people rushing the 25km (by motorbike) from the other direction………
He's right you know! Putting out signs is not an optional extra and never has been. It is an obligatory duty on the hares. There are currently 3 signs available at Bai Meang and others available if needed with me, Buk Toy or Sex Sprinter. If there is any problem with collecting or putting signs out I, or one of the other sign holders can always help - it only takes a phone call.
ReplyDeleteMaybe some hares (ahem) still don't understand the importance of marking the site. There are almost always people who don't have a chance to check the website or who just give it a quick look and count on finding a sign. Yesterday we lost only one potential runner because of it, but given our numbers lately, it's something we really don't want to have happen again.
ReplyDeleteref, Run #1719: Having missed the New Hat Yai Rd turn-off due to lack of sign (even though I should know that route), I agree in principle; however, in the hare's defence, misdirections did clearly state right after the 7km marker when approaching from Songkhla... there is only one 7km marker on one Old Yala Rd. Having said that, as above, if you only glance the misdirections or hear on the grapevine, it is nice to be able to fallback on cruising the given highway on the lookout for the famous sign.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, t'was a decent run/hobble and the beer was much appreciated, cheers Stick!