It looked like it was going to be another one of those nights: all sausage, no breast meat. But thankfully Pubic Housing arrived just in time to break the curse of RIH3 gayness. And no Bondo served as an added bonus. Starting from the parking lot of Papagino’s next to the Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, the hash almost immediately entered the woods and headed south. They came to the Boy Scout trails. They split into two groups; one found true trail heading southeast, the other bushwhacked over to the powerlines.

The group rejoined and headed south, encountering lovely thin break-through ice in pools along the powerlines. A check before the switching station had them going in all directions. Ultimately Flexi and CEP found that true trail reversed itself and followed the switching station path north back to, and across the road. As the group waited for a break in the traffic, they were amused to see Basket and Cosmo threading their way through cars further up the road towards 295. Fortunately, the dog was not injured. Unfortunately, Basket also was not injured.

Following true trail at this point was a big mistake. Anyone with more than half a brain would have realized that the beer would be on one of the scenic high points on the powerline. But anyone with more than half a brain would not be hashing anyways. The pack continued, and turned east. WHO predicted that the beer would be found near the cemetery overlooking the Target store in Smithfield Crossings, so he encouraged the leaders. They came out to the spot, after a short bushwhack and found no marks.

Basket, Oozing and Donkey Punch missed the turn into the woods. By blind (especially in Basket’s case) luck, they came to the out marks, and followed them back to the beer check and the hare. The rest had turned west to try and get back to the powerlines, and finally found a few marks. At last, they came out to the powerline path, and followed marks turning south to the beer. The beer was located, and the whining almost drowned out the singing (not for the first time, I might add).

Trail back continued south on the powerline paths, crossed Rt. 44 and turned back to the cars. The circle was held in the woods of the Wildlife Refuge. This violated basically every rule that the Audubon Society had listed near the entrance: Closed after dusk, No pets, No profane language, No smoking and No alcohol, to name a few. They should just simplify it and post “No Hash-like behavior.” Much simpler and more inclusive. The run was rated. Minimal pavement, no Bondo, some nice frozen-water shiggy, and at least one fine bimbo were the pertinent positives. But, Basket and Oozing short-cutting to the beer, no one killed crossing a main thoroughfare twice, and not one inch of virgin territory! Total: +0. There were no backsliders, so the virgin was initiated, and told a joke. Hashit went to Donkey Punch, for following Basket.