Great event today, runners came in plural! There were 3 of them: returner Front Running Bastard; Stinkfoot who really enjoyed the company, and Icepyck, a visitor from the Surrey HHH. Unfortunately I had been a lonely hare that morning and had set both trails thinking that after more than three years of experience, I would be able to set a fool proof trail. So the runners were left on their own, after a few instructions. Well, this is a lesson of humility my friends, however perfect you think your trail is, a mistake is still possible, and it happened, so the poor runners ran, oh yes they ran, ad nauseam around a checkpoint until they discovered the real path, marked on the left side whereas the hare had told them all marks were on the right. (Reminder: when you give instructions, make sure they are really accurate!) The trail started as a city run in Kompot, but very soon left the city, going uphill and towards orchards, farms and properties that belong to the zoo where strange birds were admired.
As usual the uphill part had been grumpily greeted by the walkers. ‘Pencil Pusher, Push Pornographer!’ ordered Pedfac. But he was struggling against sleep, distracted only by the cannabis plants he had spotted during the walk. Temir Dick, blushing at the thought of his phone and shopping violations at the beginning of the trail, behaved quite properly afterwards, whereas Pedfac and Pornographer were letting turtles hurry past them while they picked apples and berries. Eata my Pussy was proud of her trail until Icepyck joined the walkers, exhausted by the extra miles. Then she dived into shame and worry for the other runners, who finally caught up with the walkers (how often are we able to say that?) and decided to skip the second extra loop specially designed for them. We then returned to the lower city part, runners and walkers together. The trail followed a busy road, then cut into the neighborhood gardens to go through a secret entrance to Gorky Park and ended up on Tole Bi, reaching the long awaited circle. After this long Hash, the beer and water were really deserved, beer which was cold thanks to the very nice personnel of Stalker! Special Down-Down for the hare, who trembled so much expecting the worst trail vote ever, that she dropped a bottle! (Infraction documented by the Hash Flash. Pictures will be posted ASAP)

For pictures with no runners: last week's acting Hash Flash, Pornographer, invites hashers and friends to her latest photo exhibiton in the art gallery inside the House of Sciences, on Kurmangazy/Kunaeva, until the end of September . Once you enter the building, go through a big hall and then up the stairs, on the first floor there is a thematic part about demonstrations and the like, on the second floor different kinds of photographs, some with a great sense of humour!

At least the first delivery, straight from Temir Dick's digital camera. Mine will be added in a few days.

I just love the number 4, it brings me luck or so I think. So when I saw that run number 444 was coming up, you can imagine how pleased I was, and I definitely had to set it!
I will leave it up to you to decide whether this good Hash owed it all to its number, or to the presence of great hashers, the nice weather, the air and the beauty of the mountains, and the uplifting mood of it all.
Anyway, the pack gathered at Stalker to rejoice over the presence of many returners: Pink Traffic, soon-to-be-named-Ainash, One Man and All Inclusive, Sveta the newly wed and Temir Dick (hey, again a returner who sets the Hash, he just volunteered over the phone! hint!). And then, off we went all the way to Medeo, where we happily sang Father Abraham.

The runners started running immediately, away from the ice-skating rink and up the mountain. And the walkers bravely followed, at a much slower pace. After a while, I realized that One Man, All Inclusive and I were WAY ahead of the pack, and out of voice reach. So I invented a new sign, body language rather: put your hands on your hips and move your right foot, symbolizing impatience, exaggerating the movement to be seen from a distance, so that the walkers who pretend to be walking but are actually strolling about in a very contemplative mood understand that they need to hurry up.

The first checkpoint went all right, All Inclusive enthusiastically checking to the right next to the waterfall and beautiful flowers and rundown bridges, and Pink Traffic courageously checking a trail that was even more uphill than the rest! (‘It is part of the fun’ was this true hasher’s comment) At this point One Man was sitting down (hey I forgot, this is a violation!) and Pedfac actually thought of taking a taxi for the uphill part of the walk, for which she duly received a Down-Down later on. More bucolic scenes were admired, with cows and horses and the fragrance they leave behind. Pornographer cheerfully documented the walk, for she was acting Hash Flash. Ainash was very amused at my joy and pride as a Hare when the runners finished their first extra loop and returned to the main trail right on time to meet the walkers. And we kept getting higher and higher, soon reaching ecstasy just from seeing the mountains around us.

This Hash was set by a fishy couple, who decided to conceive a few strange signs with flour on the trail, starting with a somehow cabalistic circle, which you will all appreciate in the (one and only) picture.
Historic picture I dare say, first circle at our new meeting place, and I personally take it as positive omen that the turnout was better this time! No virgins today, but five returners: Pornographer, who hesitated to brave the danger of a Down-Down in case her cell phone rang, Altar Boy, who stayed with the walkers to spend more time with his nephew, Stinkfoot, still unnamed Richard, and Blow Fish. By the way, we just love returners who volunteer to set the hash! (hint, hint)

Blow Fish and Sucker Fish set a city run, albeit mostly in their old tree-lined neighbourhood, Kompot, which allowed the air to be breathable and not too hot in the welcoming paths along the Small Almaty River. There was a long enough walkers trail, even though we could not figure out why hare Sucker Fish had decided we would walk on a paved road, when there were perfect paths for pedestrians right next to it, which would have been more pleasant than slaloming between the cars (I am from the South, you know, so I tend to exaggerate a little) Some spots were perfect for sightseeing too, such as the square next the Science House building, where we admired the strange animals that compose the fountain.
What about the runners trail? Not much was commented, except that they must have made a wrong turn at some point… whatever the reason, we found them, not waiting for us at the circle, beer fetched, piss-pots aligned, but lazily sitting inside Stalker café. But I must say they seemed happy!

Then there was the circle, led by Stinkfoot so that EMP could act as Hash Piss, with a few violations of course, such as Altar Boy’s showing up late, Hare in front for Blow Fish and for her too: shopping on the trail! When a mother feeds her son ice cream, it is still shopping, all the more so if she leads almost all the hashers into temptation!