Rehashed Run No: 1599; Hares: Au Kiat, Websitekang, Debbie Lee; Date: 16th August, 2005; Runsite: Tehel.

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                                A CONFUSED RUN OF THREE MUSKETEERS

For the past couple of weeks until two days ago, Melaka was covered wtih haze. Although it was not so badly hit as certain districts in Selangor which attained an API (Air Pollutant Index) level of above 500 which is hazardous, it was bad enough for out door activities such as hashing. As such, it has made many ardent hashers gloomy, groggy and cocky.

It was a haze free and sunny Tuesday afternoon. Anxious to attend the run set by the three musketeers and accompanied by my partner, we arrived at the runsite early. It is a popular hashing runsite which is made up of oil palm plantation with fresh air tucked away in the outskirt of Jasin town. Unexpectedly, new GM Garfield was already there taking down attendance with early birds Vijay and Dr. Tan. Having retired as an RSM (Regimental Sergeant Major) of the Malaysian Armed Forces for umpteen years,  he still maintains the discipline of arriving early to check on his fellow hashers.

It was at 5.30 pm sharp that senior citizens Vijay, my partner and I sought permission from the GM to start the  run as early birds. As junior citizen, Dr. Tan was left behind with no alternative but to stay back and wait for his peers to start the run later at the scheduled time of 6.00 pm.

The paper led right on a laterite road into a fully grown oil palm plantation. During our leisure stroll, we were engaged in leisure talks. Vijay informed us of his recent pleasant excursion to Mulu and Niah Caves in Sarawak for which I have not visited since 1974. A short while later, it hit the first and only check at a junction on a gentle slope.  It was the simplest check in hashing history. Without dropping a single drop of sweat and spending any time, the connecting paper was seen on the laterite road on the right some 20 meters away. It then went abreast the Tehel/Bemban road for a short distance before turning left. It was there that we were caught up by Dr. Tan, Pramjit and his partner who were believed to have sneaked in early. Instead of dragging straight for a longer run, the paper made a U turn. From then on, it twist and turn like a turban for a short distance before it came to an abrupt end near the first check of the in-trail on the left. The time then was 6.00 pm. Reluctant to make a search for the connecting paper, Vijay, my partner, Pramjit and his partner chose not to proceed with the run by taking the home trail. Not satisfied with the short run, Dr. Tan and I spread out to look for the connecting paper. It was found 10 minutes later in the bush on the left of the said abrupt end. It was then that I saw a few scheduled front runners running in-trail from the opposite direction. They included ex GM Vibrator who was trailing behind Lynn, his other half. Surprisingly after trailing the paper which zigzagged uphill and downhill for a short distance with Dr. Tan, it came to another abrupt end.  Not wanting to waste any more time in finding the connecting paper. Dr. Tan and I headed north, west, south, uphill and downhill on the laterite road in the oil palm plantation to arrive back at the runsite at 7.00 pm where most hashers were alreadly there enjoying their cold beer. The distance covered by us was about 8 km whereas the distance set by the three musketeers was assessed to be 5 km. From observation, the hares had put in some efforts to lay a good run. However, it could be improved if reccee were conducted at this unfamiliar runsite.

Hash circle was conducted by the new industrious GM. In attendance was a pack of 30 odd hashers which included a few guests. Among them were a Korean on vacation and a long lost ex MH3 member Tan Joon Hai. As usual, a few sinners were put on ice and on-downed.

On-On was held at the popular New Good World Restuarant in Melaka Raya. It was well attended with 5 tables. A 7-course Chinese dinner was served. Each table was given 5 bottles of cold beer by the hares. Anotlher on-down session was held for the hares. The food was good. It was on the hares. Thanks. On On!   .. High Tech hares, read on ..

Scribe: Drug Buster                                                   Date: 18th August, 2005.