The Friday the 11th of August Hash was almost unbearably hot and windy - the Hare Wise Pranker nearly passed out after just walking the trail and teaching Richard how to set it. (But he still run it afterwards). The site chosen was off the old Beirut highway, just before it joins the new one (it has got a number but I do not remember it). It began pleasantly enough in the pine forest, but soon deteriorated into a dismal area strewn with blown away plastic bags etc., from the rubbish disposal heap above, through which some destitute people on donkeys were sifting in search of reusable items. Mercifully, the hot wind did not carry the myriads of flies inhabiting the rubbish heap proper (thoroughly explored by the hashers about a year ago). One point of interest was a possibly Roman tomb, unfortunately stripped of its treasures by now. Since the last hash there, the area has become more military - the road just beyond our downdowns site is now symbolically (the fence is not up yet) barred by an iron gate. This development rather spoiled the walk, as some walkers thought it unwise to venture behind the barbed wire to complete the intended circle; they were probably right.
Still, nobody was shot at and when the runners caught their breaths and wiped the sweat off their brows (White Trashed being the FRB, full of chocolate beans after his refreshing stay in the cold and rainy Belgium), we enjoyed a varied barbecue, provided both by Wise Pranker + Cunning Stunt and Omar Sharif + Mamoen, all the while being entertained by Richard's singing and guitar playing. While the meat and chicken wings sizzled, the RA Littlejohn went through a longish list of downdowns: there were quite a few Virgins, though some were seasoned hashers, like Oily Belly, a resident of Dallas, his lovely dark wife (Bandy Legs, which Littlejohn thought were shapely enough) and their three eloquent offspring. Their holidays in Lebanon having been somewhat thwarted, they landed in Syria, where Oily Belly's roots are. He was also yet another person that had acquired some Czech via matters of the heart. One of the Virgins was in fact a returnee, together with Mardik.
Hazar, was given a downdown for being a tired lady - sitting down once (according to her) on the run; I don't blame her, it must have been tough with all the clothing she wore - a scarf, a sweater and a the Hash t-shirt over it, which she had to spoil with nasty brown Coca Cola stains, and another one for whinging about having had to spoil a number of other T-shirts in the same way.
White Trashed's complaints about some technicalities concerning the trail only got him a joint downdown with Richard, the deceived and the deceiver; seems like he just needed another beer. There was a '10 runs' downdowns for Richard, but no hat, and the Virgins from Dallas were summoned up once more as leavers for the safety (?) of the US.
Onon,
Diplomaniac
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