Starting point for Hash #665 was Largo da Capela in Penedo.  This was the first Hash where the prime meeting point was also the starting point.  Several Hashers did meet HM Sunflower at Casino Estoril and follow him to the starting point.

Hares for the day were Sunflower and Depth Charge, neither of whom had set a trail in recent memory, so it was good to have them helping out again.  In spite of being out of practice, they should be credited with having found a quite good trail with numerous beautiful views over the hills and beyond to the sea.  Additionally, they should be commended for having found the longest hill in all of Portugal, or perhaps the entire Iberian Peninsula, or so it seemed.  Approximately 8 Rambos completed the runners’ route, estimated at 8-10 km (if they ran the entire route, which curiously, some apparently did not); approximately 19 Wimps completed the walkers’ route, estimated at something less than 8-10 km.  The highlight of the route, at least for this reporter, was the Hash Halt.  The contents of the Hash Halt, that being cold beer, were ideal.  The location of the Hash Halt was less than ideal, coming as it did approximately 100 meters before the end of the Hash.  All in all, it was a great Hash, and not nearly as painful as #664.

There was one Virgin, Miguel Correia, who was introduced to the Hash by Lucilia Pereira.  Their self-reported close relationship might now take a hit, as he has to ‘thank’ her for introducing him to this craziness.

We had numerous Retornados, including a few Hashers we hadn’t seen in quite a while.  Retornados were:  Flat Pack, Jackpot, Lord Egg, Party Pants, Wanna Bet, Flying Mum, Mismatch, Meatballs, Ready Steady Stop, Not Tonight, Scarcely, Big Chopper, and Big Whopper.

We celebrated several birthdays, as follows:  Jackpot (160); Sunflower (50); Meatballs (33); Wanna Bet (232); Not Tonight (88); Oval (295); Voldemort (35).

Misdemeanors were meted out to the following:

   Ready Steady Stop – new shoes

   Jackpot – not completing the Wimp route

   K2 – not writing down Big Chopper and Big Whopper as retornados

   Mismatch – not wearing a Hash t-shirt

   Voldemort – for arriving at the Hash late, then running the route in reverse, then turning around and running it normally

   Party Pants – for wearing a hat and sunglasses in the circle

   Meatballs and Ready Steady Stop – for short-cutting on the Rambo route

   Meatballs and Lord Egg were both made to drink using the Sleeve of Shame (although not at the same time, and not for the same reasons, said reasons escaping my memory at this time)

A special farewell was bade to Meatballs as he returns to Sweden to finish his studies.

A special announcement was made concerning the upcoming Hash #666 – Hashers are encouraged to wear red and/or black attire.  The requirement to wear an LH3 t-shirt is suspended for this Hash.

Upcoming Hares are as follows:

   Hash #666 – Mismatch and This Won’t Hurt

   Hash #667 -  Voldemort and Party Pants

All Hashers are encouraged to volunteer to serve as Hares, as there is a continual need for Hares – we can’t have a Hash without Hares.  Benefits to volunteering as a Hare include some or more of the following:

   – The opportunity to run and/or walk the entire route at least two or three times

   – The opportunity to be exposed to new and varied terrain (as opposed to being exposed to new and varied – wait, I won’t go there)

   – The opportunity to wake up extra early on Hash Day and go out four hours early to set the trail

   – The opportunity to listen to your fellow Hashers complain and grumble about the route you chose (too hot (the Hash), too long (the Hash), too hard (the Hash), too many hills,  ‘Where are we?’, ‘Why are we here again?’, ‘Where is the beer?’, ‘Why is that dog pissing on the water bottles?’)

   – The opportunity to have Sunflower kiss your feet.  That is a sight which I desperately wish I could erase from my memory.

If you are interested in serving as a Hare, see our co-Hare Raisers, Mismatch and Detonator.

K2

Hash Scribe