Penampang Tuapaau Hash House (PTH2)

Penampang Tuapaau Hash House (PTH2)

RUN 26July2009 Sunday

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Driving The Wanderers & me to the run site at Kg. Madsiang, Tambunan Road, Lim Joo Seng “d’Lost1” remarked that the best option at that time was a long nap, considering the dark horizon and a great lunch earlier. When we arrived at the run site, the expanse of the parking lot was already full and got a glimpse of Terry “AhFook” Dukeswho was still loitering around the ground. Apparently, gf Tracy went in for a head start hoping to be out before the heavy rain comes.
We started off with a brisk walk trailing behind Bill “Mr. Wanderer” Jamieson, whose gf Rina “Wanderer” was about 20 meters ahead of him in the company of Uncle Lee’s gf Michelle & her family. When we had to cross a shallow stream with unstable stones to step on, we still have to pass a mud path and there was no way to stay dry. From there the assault to the trail began which would take us to the ridge of the cross-point for the long & short runs.
Leaving “The Wanderers” & “D’Lost1” behind, I slowly followed Terry as he scaled the hill with shredded paper generously thrown along the way. I decided to pace with Terry as he started to overtake early starters until we reached the dense rubber plantation where our paces could shift from slow to fast depending on the terrain, but mostly we were on slower mode. From time to time, we took advantage of the a near-flat ground and double-up our time then shifted to slower gear again when we hit a steeper one. Most of the time we were grabbing vines, protruding roots and bushes to clear the side of the slippery hill then plunged into the ravine only to be led uphill again.
We came to an open space with inter-locking pathways from so many directions, yet the paper took us to another hill with a steeper slope and again we slowed down while at the same time catching for our breath. This time banter with Terry was becoming more & more irregular except warning for thorns, holes & loose stones. Earlier on “D’Lost1” told me he would do the long run and knowing his poor sense of direction, I couldn’t take chance for him to get lost in the jungle. Otherwise we would be stuck at the base waiting for him and God knows for how long. Moreover, I promised to take my family out for dinner so, I told Terry to carry on as I would wait for “D’Lost1” at the cross-point.
While Terry continued his assault to the dense foliage of the jungle overtaking more and more early starters, I took my time to climb the hill hoping to regain my stamina when I’d reach the cross-point. For the next 10mins, I was on my own walking with no more souls in front of me nor any sound of “On-On’ from the fore-runners. Finally I reached the cross-point on another shoulder of the ridge where a few hashers took advantage to take a rest while at the same time re-assessing whether or not to do the long run.
Mr. Wanderer was the first one to reach that cross-point and later “D’Lost1” emerged from the bamboo groves fully depleted of energy and right then I knew he was not in proper shape to do the long run. Checking the time with Mr. Wanderer, we were already walking for 40mins and I was already drenched with sweat. Then a gust of strong wind blew on us followed by heavy rain which made the trail even more challenging.
The short run cut through the left side and followed the trail along the skirt of the hill down to a ravine then go up the next hill. On the other hand, the long one diverted to the left snaking also along the rubber-tapper’s trail with a wider pathways that led to a gentle slope up the hill. Since I opted to do the long run, I was on my own again and the surroundings seemed creepy as it was also dark inside the jungle. As I gained my momentum, I started running uphill, ducking on few uprooted trees and falling branches at the same time crawling underneath giant ferns. There seemed to be no ending of the upward trail even when I came out to an open space again. The hill was really high but manageable with light breeze blowing at my face. Passing more and more big trees, it was really evident that it was a primary jungle and the hares had to cut their way out to connect to the next hill.
Then the trail shifted to the right which would then converge toward the exit trail of the short run. Though it looked like a downhill trail, it wasn’t any easy run, ‘coz all the way I had to grab saplings, trees and even thorny vines to break my fall. Slipped a lot times and landed on my bumps a few times, I had no choice but to slow down. While still struggling to swing to the next mound, Uncle Lee caught up with me. From time to time he would suggest the best possible way to go down in the midst of slippery rocks, thorny palm trees whose thorns at the base could grow up to 2ins. At least at that time I wasn’t running alone anymore. Mountain Goat also caught up with us as he effortlessly skipped from rocks to rocks then disappeared into the thickets.
After running for another 15mins, we finally reached the kampong house with well-stocked fishponds. Then off to the gravel road, Uncle Lee & I continued running at a more regular pace slowing down only when we reached the stream. Back at the base, The Wanderers, “D’Lost1” & the Dukes were already fully rested and of course had cleaned-up!It took me almost 2 hours to finish the run; not a good time though. According to Mr. Wanderer two weeks from now, they will run the alternate long trail designed for the 12th BNH. On-ON!

Penampang Tuapaau Hash House (PTH2)

Run site: Tenaki, Penampang, Sabah

18July2009

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While I was waiting for Vicky ‘Vic Vapourub’ & her bf Lim Joo Seng “D’Lost1”, The Wanderers (Bill & Rina Jamiesons) decided to make an early start at around 4pm by crossing the hanging bridge towards the school compound. 10mins later, the Lims joined me to follow the packs as we made our way to the foot of the hill. The weather started to change from bright sunny day to a gloomy dark afternoon.
The first hill had a graduated slope and Vic Vapourub had no problem maneuvering the winding trail but as we gained height, the trail started getting steeper & steeper. Soon FRB’s after FRB’s started to overtake us even on slippery trail just as we also overtook the slower ones. When we reached an open space, Terry ‘AhFook’ Dukes joined the other FRB’s rampaging down into the ravine.
From the ravine, the paper took us to another hill that seemed to be winding around its side making it look like it was just an easy run. Sure enough after puffing for breath for about 20mins, we were at the crossroad between the long & the short run and Mr. Wanderer was patiently waiting for us while Wanderer opted for a shorter trail. The shorter trail just followed the rubber tapper’s pathways as it wind thru’ a labyrinth of rubber trees.
Checking the time, it was already 4.40pm and the sky started to get dark, yet Vic Vapourub still chose to go for the long run. From the junction, the trail had a steeper drop on a series of terrace-like tracks. Following the paper down our paces could go at full speed or slower leisure walk at the same time balancing our steps on roots, loose rock & vines. While trying to lower ourselves down, Vic Vapourub was almost hit by a falling rock which the bastard from the top uprooted it. He should have called “Stone!” or something to warn the people below. A few minutes later another rock whizzed pass me, but it was too fast to shout and it hit the leg of “D’Lost1”. Again that other bastard didn’t make a warning sound, nor did he apologize to “D’Lost1” even when I was making a remark about his insensitivity.
From the ravine it was another climb up, by that time the wind started to blow and I kept of prodding “D’Lost1” to go faster. Sooner it started to rain and we could hear the rain on top of us, but since we were under the canopy of thick jungle, we hardly get wet. It was a slow climb up but because of the weather, we tried push our limits. Just before we reached the trig-point, strong wind came and that worried us even more, as it seemed to break all dead trees and uprooted some. We could hear branches after branches kept crushing down and by the time we stopped at the trig-point another ‘kuilau’ came by.
From there it was a long way run towards the base. Yes, the slippery trail made it longer for us to reach home. Vic Vapourub & Mr. Wanderer took advantage of the slope and just ran down and in minutes they were gone. We were still struggling going down the slippery trail when few FRB’s overtook us. Soon we were already on the trail that linked to the exit of the shorter version of the run. All the while, I was with “D’Lost1” hoping that he wouldn’t lose his way and together with Will, we slid down using our bumps or tumbled down into the ferns at the same time grabbing whatever stand on our way even thorny branches. While "D'Lost1" just recovered from another fall, Uncle Lee GM of Moyog Fullmoon H3 also slipped and landed on his bumps with crotch almost got stuck on protruding tree but in minutes he was also gone.
Finally we reached the bottom of the hill and had a chance to wash our bumps on the river. Upon checking with bill, they reached the base around 6.05pm and most probably it took us almost 2½ hrs to finish the run. Apart from the dangerous falling rocks, it was a very good run.
ON-ON.
S-Tripper

K2H2 Run 2040

Run2040 08 July 2009 Co-Hare: "Julieh"
Runsite: Chinese Temple Scribe: BullShit 4 Lilian
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A good turn up today with over 70 excited hashers congregating at the temple ground for another Bunnies run. Among the 70 odd people at least 40% went inside to have a taste of Co-Hare Julieh’s another signature run—just catered for the Bunnies. Guest runner from Bangladesh Juned a.k.a “Rail-Jerker” together with his wife & another senior lady who was with $Bunny all the way survived that wonderful run.
10mins before the horn was blown, a pack of ESB’s (Early Starting Bastards) led by the Hiew Family were already inside the jungle to the amazement of S-Tripper. Even with FRB’s like Fansoo, Ah Fook & S-Tripper, they only managed to overtake them when they hit the ravine just before the last hill to go out!
The trail started from the left side of the temple up on an earth ledge which was covered with ashes and dead leaves as an aftermath from the recent bush fire. It used to be greener with thick foliage from the top of the hill to the bottom, but that day, the whole hill was bare & parched brown. Practically one could just go up easily from any direction and end up on the other side of the hill. As we continued our way up, more & more parched areas were visible; sadly enough nobody seemed to care.
From the top of the ridge, we continued down thru’ a rock-face paved with loose gravel, stones & earth that made the trail looked very dangerous, but somehow rather everybody seemed to passed that hurdle with no report of accident. All along the trail was on the exposed rock bed as a result of years of erosion and to paint an even uglier scene of the area, there were isolated dumping sites far from the eyes of the public. By the time we passed that bare landscape, the paper brought us down to a cooler enclave of rustling leaves & soft earth.
There were lots of trees to hold onto even as we snaked our ways along the skirt of the hill, thus making the trail gentle enough to any able Bunnies. In fact on my 2nd round when I caught up with Julieh who was then standing as bobtail for Roselyn, our senior guest was just doing fine inching her way down onto the ravine.
Then it was a slow climb up to the only hill of that run and just before I pulled myself up on that steep ledge, Ah Fook whizzed by us followed by Vic Vapourub. Rail-Jerker, our Bangladeshi guest struggled a bit to negotiate that last hurdle, however in the company of NiNi, Boss Bunny, $Bunny & Dorice his tiredness seemed to go off faster than the time he’d stopped for a breath. Once in a while we could hear sT. BeRnarD singing On-On just to encourage our guests.
Finally we were out to the main ‘hi-way’ which would then lead us to the base. The rest of the pack followed the open space to link to the starting point, while Julieh & I followed the correct trail out. It was still very bright when the last Bunny reached the base.

ON-ON
When we reached Gaya Seafood Restaurant for our On-On, there were already 3 tables fully taken and so Boss Bunny, Nini, $Bunny & I were allowed to have half-a-table setting altho’ our two guests made up to 7 pax including Kartini who joined us later. Tofu in thick chicken sauce came in first followed by eggplant sauté with minced meat. Later sweet & sour fish fillet was served then the fried chicken (just half of the bird after all we had half a table). The Hare was not around so we all paid the full price at RM10.0 per pax. After the meal, there were still a few Bunnies stayed behind for coffee and long chat. A MILLION THANKS TO JULIEH FOR ARRANGING EVERYTHING FROM RUNSITE TO ON-ON VENUE.