January Hash Report

2017 kicked off with 8 great hashes, the first being the North of Seventy Eight (NOSE) hash #149 in Morristown, NJ on Wednesday January 4^th. About 15 hashers showed up at the Speedwell Park ruins for a trail laid out by “Not in my Hair” who received his running kilt the same name for hashing 78 times with NOSE H3. The trail included lots of stairs, hills, false trails and a section of the Patriots Path. After the run we all moved to the Famished Frog for food and beverage.

 



Next up was the newly formed Taco Tuesday Hash House Harriers’ 2^nd hash on Tuesday January 10^th. Road Runner Sports generously offered up their store for a meeting location and a discount for those in attendance. Roughly 30 came out to run around Cherry Hill, NJ but mostly for the tacos at Chili’s after.

 

The next night was to become a night that the NOSE runners will not soon forget, although we’d like to. It became to be known as the night of the tickets. We had a great showing this night with 17 hashers eager to run the trails on Pyramid Mountain and so we did. It wasn’t until we were enjoying the view of distant city lights that we found out it was actually illegal to be up there after dark. We observed blue lights down by our parked cars and the night’s silence was interrupted by a voice on a loud speaker demanding we get off the mountain. By the time the night was done, Morris County had earned itself some $1207 in fines as we each were charged $71. On the bright side I did earn my NOSE hash socks for picking the NOSE 24 times!

 

The next Thursday night, January 12^th was a full moon so Princeton H3 popped up a Full Moon Hash with trail set by “Hair in my Zipper”. It was a beautiful night, especially for being January. With temperatures nearing 60 degrees and the full moon it was without a doubt the best night I’ve run in a long time. Seven hashers and one trail dog, “Flip Flop”, came out and enjoyed the trail which took us through parts of Village Park, Mercer Meadows and Rosedale Park. Two more hashers met us at the house of “Yo Hey Pauly” for pizza and beer.

 

Wednesday, January 18^th, NOSE met at the house of “A**-Q” in Boonton for a hilly run and pizza party after. Wednesday January 25^th we met at the Morristown Train Station for a trail set by “Stretch” taking us out once again to the Speedwell Park ruins followed by food at the Tavern off the Green.

 

Two nights later the Bimbos of Jersey hosted a birthday hash for “Go4Hole” in Jamesburg Park section of Helmetta, NJ. Six runners enjoyed the trails, a beer stop that included hot-toddies and Jiff Pop Popcorn, and then pizza after at Maxi’s Pizza.




Finally, on Sunday January 29^th I hosted a combination Hashrun/Pub crawl through Browns Mills, NJ. Unlike a normal pub crawl, this included 4 sections of trail and a series of clues written around town, in chalk, where to look next.

 

 

Dec 2016: Goal Achieved

Goal achieved! On July 1^st I set a goal of running 50 hashruns for 2017; and, on December 18^th I realized my goal. I actually finished 52 by year’s end. Here’s how December went:

On Thursday, December 1^st I travelled down to Washington D.C. to attend the Albanian Independence celebration. As soon as I found out I was going I started my internet search for a Hashrun I might attend. I found out that Everyday is Wednesday Hash House Harriers (EWH3) run on Thursdays and they were hashing in nearby Bethesda. I quickly left my travelling partners at the hotel and found my way to the Red Line train. As soon as I got off the train and ran up to the street level I found an arrow pointing to the gathering place where some 60-80 hashers were milling around. The theme for their 977^th Hashrun was “Farewell to Fidel” since he had recently died. Setting a diabolical mix of true and false trails were: Pinocchi-Ho; Goldman Ballsacks; Atari 6900; Don’t Ask, Don’t Smell; Just Hanna; Just Franny. They took us down busy streets, walkways, alleys and numerous parking decks. Thankfully they also included 2 beer stops and 2 shot checks. The On-after was at the Barking Dog Pub where I hung out with fellow visiting hasher, Dazed and Confused from the Beijing Hash House Harriers. A couple of local hashers were kind enough to ensure I made it back to the Red Line for the last train back to D.C.

(Fidel hanging with the hashers) 

(Here I am with my new friend "Dazed and Confused" from the Beijing Hashers).

On Wednesday December 7^th I made my way up to Woodland Park, NJ for the North of Seventy Eight (NOSE) hash #143. I arrived early enough to get in an extra run on nearby Garret Mountain Reservation and checked out the views from Lambert Tower. Just Guido laid a fantastic trail in the historic Rifle Camp Park where Washington’s troops used the elevation vantage to observe British movements during the Revolutionary War in 1780. Trail included great views off northern NJ and New York City’s night skyline. We went to Joey McBride’s Pub Bar & Grill for the on-after where 2 of our hashers participated in the Open Mike night, after much bantering. Nocturnal Emissions delighted the crowd with his vocals as he sang the Sound of Silence. Just Guido on the other hand put the likes of Stevie Wonder and Elton John to shame as his fingers banged out the tunes on the keyboard, song after song. This earned him his new hash name, Finger Bang Her.  

(NOSE #143) 

 (Beer with a view)

On Saturday December 10^th I travelled north to River Road Park in Bedminster, NJ for the Summit Hash #1767. Fourteen hashers braved the frigid temperatures and cold winds. Secaucless set a great trail which included thick forest, open pastures and horse paths.

 (Summit #1767)

On Tuesday December 13^th I again joined Summit H3, this time for their monthly Full Moon Hash. We gathered at the Galloping Hill Hot Dog restaurant in Union, NJ. True trail ended up being about 6.5 miles with some of us running closer to 8 while we searched for trail marks. We passed through one neighborhood that stunk of so much weed that I almost thought I was back home in Jamaica.

 (Summit Full Moon)

The next day, Wednesday December 14^th I drove north to Millburn, NJ for the NOSE Hash #145. The hare, Deer Bitch, did not use traditional hash markings. Instead he wrote clues around town telling us where to go next (i.e. “Fire” clued us to go to the Fire Dept or “PO” for the Post Office). Since none of us were familiar with the area we had to ask people for help as we passed them on the street. We eventually climbed our way up to the top of South Mountain were we enjoyed a beer stop with another fantastic view. All but three of us opted to run back to town using the roads. Three of us followed true trail back by literally running down the Rahway River, through the canal, and passing under 5 bridges and even one building before climbing back up to street level. The on-after was held at Liberty Tavern. This place was awesome! Not only did they have Guinness on tap; but, the juke box had the long versions of Led Zeppelin’s “Dazed and Confused” (28 minutes) and Iron Butterfly’s “In a Gadda Da Vida” (17 minutes). Oh, and the owner gave us all free shots of Jameson! How cool is that?

 (Kings of the Mountain)

 (Quick break before passing through another tunnel)

Saturday December 17^th I travelled to Metuchen, NJ for the Summit Hash #1769…who said 69? Trail weaved its way through street and woods, through Centennial Park, and ended with a pot luck dinner and Secret Santa gift exchange.

 (Summit #1769)

 (Post run party)

The next day, Sunday December 18^th, I achieved my goal as I hit my 50^th hash for the year when I travelled to Roosevelt, NJ for a combination MDL/ Bimbos of Jersey/ Princeton hashrun. Rear End Wrangler set a fantastic trail which included stream crossings, lots of false trails, hills, fields, and lots of home brew and a pot luck dinner.

 (Pre-run photo)

 (One of the many water crossings)

 (These ladies were so happy to see the "Beer Near" sign)

On Wednesday December 21^st I drove up to Morristown, NJ for the NOSE Hash #146 “Holiday Pajama Pub Crawl”. Fifteen runners showed off their pajamas to the town as we stopped at the Hops Craft Beer & Wine Bar, Revolution Bar, Sona Thirteen, and the Famished Frog.

 (NOSE Pajama Pub Crawl)

My last hash for 2017 was our own MDL Hash #12. Bragadeer General set trail in the Brendan T. Byrne State Forest. We had 2 beer stops along the 6 mile route which circled Lebanon Lakes, crossed icy streams and passed through old cranberry bogs. The 8 hashers and 4 traildogs congregated at Bragadeer’s house for dinner and drinks. The deer meat and chili was awesome!

(Beer stop)

 (Blood on trail)

(Swans)

(Traildog Sparta wanted to play with the swans)

 (Honda the Aussie and Roller Girl crossing the bog)

That’s it, 52 hashes, goal achieved! Hello 2017.