MORE MOOCHING IN MANLY
At 18:23 outside the North Steyne Surf Club the Trailmaster turned to acting scribe and remarked on the small number of Hashman present (busy watching the tight little bums running up and down the esplanade) however by 18:29 the numbers had swelled to usual 40 odd and the hares breathed a sigh of relief; the possibility of them paying for 20 odd uneaten meals now not an issue.
So at 18:32 without any comment from the hares regarding the run the pack set off towards Fairy Bower following the Trailmaster, who appeared to be setting the run as he went; not a good sign. As it transpired the run did not appear to have one check so the fairly long run along the esplanade to Fairy Bower soon had the pack strung out. So much so that the walkers/runners divide at the Bower Café gave those who had had enough the chance to turn around and walk back along the flat whilst the runners did a loop that would bring them back to the remainder of the walkers in Bower Street.
The only option now was to go uphill away from the beach and take the trail into the grounds of the Cardinal’s Palace to meander through the opulent residential suburb on top of the hill. After a scramble through a bit of bush the trail came out at the oval and followed the track leading to Darley Road. Arriving at Manly Hospital there was a sigh of relief from the runners as it would now be downhill all the way home, it was just a matter of working out which way the trail went.
Those in the know opted to turn left half way down the hill into Marshall Street, right into Osbourne Road and back to the Manly Surf Club for the run home along the esplanade to the bucket. Being a short run the front runners had plenty of running left in them and decided to made it a race to the bucket. Moishe however misjudged the distance and took off too early only to run out of steam and be passed by the wilier speedsters.
The run was so short (35 minutes), without checks and without incident that there were murmurings of going round again but the lure of the bucket was too strong and the chance of an early dinner beckoned. However the distance must have been just right for the walkers as they dawdled in around the 55 minute mark and were happy with that.
The On On at the Honolulu Grille was hosted as usual by the Moochers and the Mamma San in her usual unflustered way, ably assisted by her attractive waitresses, kept the food coming until even Copra was full.
Down downs were given to the hares whose age does not seem to weary them, Centrepoint for spilling the communion wine, Hanoi Bills love child and of course the restaurant staff.
Humour was a little light on with the back-up crew of Dr Jekyll and Hanoi Bill doing their best to make up for the loss of Pee Dub – hors de combat (went home early), Wee Willy – absent and Tic Toc – impotent.
It was good to see Jungle Jim at the On On, and report that JTR is recovering well from pneumonia.
On On
Ring-in Scribe
Superglue writes nearly as good as Bigamist