Balatoni Hash Trash

[Ferenc Domján]

Incredible Hulk wrote last week:

"Hi guys - we did not have a hash trash from the Balaton away hash. Any volunteers???  (We do have a lot of great photos!)"

I'm eager to see those promised promising photos, so here are a few words on that frenetic hash event:

Almádi Outstation Run No.#09 & BPH3 Run No.#1842, respectively.

Date: 26/July/2025, Saturday.

Birthday child and absolutely generous host: Paprika Smiley (PS)

Hash Hare, local farmer and incredible British scientist: Incredible Hulk (IH)

The Pack:

All together a pretty good turnout it was, some 20 hashers showed up from all over the world, a few (more or less) regulars, long not seen returnees and many visitors.

From Switzerland, Thailand, Azerbaijan, Australia, GB, USA, etc., next to the local ones.

A typical hash mismanagement chaos started and worked well from the very beginning, when many of the hashers (coming from Budapest) were late and missed to deboard the train on time at the Almádi railway station, blaming later the (stupid?) carriage doors, of course.

However, at the next train stop (Alsóörs) they could break free from the train and managed to join the core of the Pack, by renting local taxi cabs, plus some extra walking.

Starting from Alsóörs they reached the Hash Trail's starting point near before Felsőörs, although walking in the opposite direction sometimes, as it was clearly seen through the windows of the scheduled bus going from Almádi to Felsőörs.

After all and at the end of the day, with a little delay the Hash Run could take a proper(...) start. 

Quite unusual, but IH must had been in a merciful mood, or he just respected the average overage of the attending hashers, because this time the Hash Trail he laid was surprisingly tame.

Not too long, not too steep, not too bushy, and most of it went in the shade under the trees.

An abandoned concrete geodesic surveying tower stood in the middle of the forest at the summit of the Hash Trail, out of use since the beginning of our GPS age, when the old triangle measurement method became outdated.

Doors wide open, but entry was strictly forbidden, according to a sign on the concrete wall.

A few shots of the 50% alcohol content spirit (consumed during the official Pálinka Stop break at ground level) rose the Hash spirits also high.

So high that some of the brave, daring (and half drunk) hashers risked to climb the tower, up to the top, despising the official prohibition, the dirty garbage, the disgusting smell and the rusty ladders inside.

Strange, but all of them survived and returned unhurt.

And the view from the top was just fantastic, at least they said so.

The next lookout on the Trail was legal and indeed nice, a view down to the huge and peaceful Balatonfűzfő-Almádi bay of the large lake.

The lookout terrace was occupied by two photographers and an apparently just married couple canoodling around, so we had to walk down the stairs to perform there our Father Abraham song, also as a tuitional musical piece for a just married couple.../:+))

The first (and only) official Hash Beer Stop came short before beginning the ending rituals.

The traditional Circle Ceremony (and the abundant Hash Debauchery) took place in the garden of Paprika Smiley's luxury cottage in suburban Almádi.

Beer was free, by courtesy of our kindhearted Hash Host, (PS), so the first 50 liter drum was emptied fast and fresh replacement supply had to be purchased during the proceedings.

The tasty Hungarian "gulyás" stew was also on PS, so the huge cauldron full of it was quickly emptied, too.

Visitor BB, the Aussie-Thy friend of PS "volunteered" to RA the Circle, (after some arm-twisting), and Gosh, he did a perfect job.

A talented but hidden gem he is, I must say, a star of this pearl of global subculture called hashing.

His - almost full lifetime - hash experience did show.

For instance, by the way of leading the performance of the bombastic "Bomber Mission" skit, a top secret Hash event since WW2 ended, also involving 4 (four) pilots found amongst us in the Pack.

As one of the actors, I laughed my heart out, no matter that with frozen balls, because having to sit on the ice bench.

The whole event went so well that I started to envy myself, and (with a little exaggeration) I began to feel sorry for those who have missed this extraordinary Hash experience.

Big thank you, PS, IH, BB and everybody else who made it possible to happen.

On-On, 🙃Rabies

_______________

Ps:

Lately on several Sundays I had to hash alone in Budapest, lacking other hashers to show up on time at Batthyány square, the standard BPH3 meeting point.

Time to time I used to scribe hash trash reports also on these lonely hash events, just to call the attention of the missing ones.

It didn't always work as intended.

For instance, here is a sarcastic and malignant comment from PP:

"And Rabies apparently prefers hashing alone."

Wrong conclusion, absolutely!

I know well that hashing is a social game on the first place, but it is hard to do it without partners, on the other hand.

And a lonesome hash is still better than none.

In my opinion the point is that there are a few lazy, ignorant, irresponsible bastards and/or bitches in BPH3, with a big mouth and with or without pet beasts, who neglect age old hash traditions, undermine hash morals and scare off potential other hashers.

Ough, I spoke.

On-On, Rabies (the sometimes solo hasher)