Twenty-nine unhopefuls couldn't believe it - a Canuck Hash without the usual chaos, hill grind, hares taking their own separate paths, and general disregard of other Hash rules. The pair even managed not to get lost on their own run!!! (hang on MacP, you obviously didn't notice your fellow hare getting a down-down for losing his own paper - GM)

The run started by crossing the Bagmati River and soon split into the usual two Himalayan Hashes: (1) everyone following paper and (2) The Fox doing his own thing. Well, lucky for the pack at the stupa holding check. Front runners Casper, Jodi, Grumblewald, Torsten and Mad Cow were about to head for the Shivapuri hills if The Fox hadn't come totally the wrong way and accidentally crossed the real trail.

Paper led back down onto the flats, re-crossing the Bagmati and up to Phuyalgau (pronounce that, Rotter). Some cunning false trails kept the front runners reeled in for a few moments at Phuyalgau but they soon blasted off up road toward Dhakalgau. The hares had cleverly arranged a 100 metre sprint between checks 4 and 5 for a fleet-of-foot race, but sadly it was like pearls before swine: no one noticed check 4. After check 5 at the peoples' tree there was loop allowing the pack to run in either direction until they tired or darkness fell. Sideways tempted some front runners onto it but most waited at the holding check until the pack arrived. The walkers and leverets shortcutted back to the cars via People's Road while the main pack headed up to the foot of the Shivapuri before cutting across to Dhakalgau and the final leg-stretcher back to the cars.

The run earned 9.8 cows, accolade, and beers as "least worst Canuck Hash yet". Another way of saying "great run in fine countryside". Sideways was called back to the centre for completely forgetting where he had laid paper after check five, having to be helped by Jodi to get back on his trail.

The hash welcomed virgins Hari and Bharat, locals who had been introduced by the Myers family. Sean, Natasha and Jasmine were perhaps trying to maintain hash numbers after their departure for India and down-down-under, which was celebrated next. They were followed by Gabbi, who has had enough of 69 and decided to get back to even numbers in Germany.

Conditions were pretty slip-free on the run, so identifying a reason for the numerous crashes was hard. Why did Grumblewald (three times), the GM, and Hari fall to earth? The hares' narrow, terraced, minds, methinks.

Hash names were confirmed for Grumblewald (previously John Grunewald) and Hurry Krishna (Maharjan). Both had lived up to them today; Hurry roaring up late on his mobike, and Grumble subjecting the circle to his usual non-stop complaints. This all got the circle in a denominating mood. The GM had just had a down-down for relieving his bladder in a Hash Flash down by the Bagmati. It remains to be seen whether his suggested renaming to PissPotter will stick.

The Hashit went to The Fox for religious intolerance. He had contrived to avoid completely one of Buddha's Big Ones at check two. Will he ever follow the TRUE PATH?

OnOn

MacPole and Rotter