Sunday, July 19, 2009

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

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