Write Up Run 1016

FLASH BACK TO RUN 1016, THE RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER ……. OR THE MAD BOATMAN OF KHLONG BANGKOK NOI

It was one of those days but then don't we all have them occasionally, nothing would go quite right and the traffic at the HASH bridge was its usual mess, thanks to our experimental traffic police, don't we love them really! However a few phone calls saved the day and I made it safely to board SS PINK PANTHER one of the more interesting boats that (so it seems ) is still plying the Chao Phraya and would look more at home in the Bangkok Maritime Museum than decorating the beautiful landscape of Bangkok Noi.

Bullet as usual, speedy man that he is, arrived in the nick of time, the BUG doing the necessary heroics and boarding the ship (ok - poetic licence) which had precisely no effect whatsoever.

Our ship duly cast off and we majestically sailed slowly up stream wallowing in the wake of the accompanying escort of long tails, short tails and any other tail boats that obviously had come to gawp and stare in amazement of this floating relic of a gone by age. Naturally the "all mod cons" facilities of our Klong Liner had to be checked out and Weed eater was seen to be first to sample the en -suite bathroom facilities. As we gracefully sailed round the bend (was this a sign of things to come) and into the welcoming arms of Bangkok Noi the Hash crowded to the front of the boat for a vision of things to come, - and this is when it all started to go wrong.

Our native boatman, sorry captain, started to weave erratically up the Khlong - was he avoiding the heavy river traffic that was accompanying us, had he celebrated a late lunch under the auspices of Singha or was he already lost and where was Capt'n Eric in our hour of need?? However nothing can upset a happy band of Hashers and we duly docked at the first temple on the port bow. And then the rot set in. Ou est le papier?

After an enjoyable tourist inspection of the Wat and its environs without achieving contact with the shredded stuff which was our 'raison d' etre,' the boatman, (sorry Master Mariner) was seen circulating the landing dock and muttering to himself. In the absence of the GM, JM 'minus thirty' was called upon to take charge and make an executive statement. Somewhat nonplussed at being called upon outside of his usual working environment to actually make a decision he declared that it wasn’t necessary since there was no paper anyway.

Part three - how to re board our landing craft and carry out a tactical retreat.

ON back was called and Bullet valiantly leapt on to the errant tub to save the day. 30 odd Hashers re embarked and we sailed majestically (further) up the Khlong to the consternation of Spinning Dwarf who was left to do his own thing on terra firma. The next Wat proved to be more helpful and had a landing stage decorated with shreddy of all sizes. We duly dropped anchor and commenced the sortie somewhat later than expected but relieved to have found our destination. However The Captain of our valiant craft continued to exude a peculiar air of bewilderment mixed with a somewhat vacuous look on his face. (see part five) Not to worry we're on our way.

A great run in the usual traditions of the Hare for this beautiful area of Nonthaburi , even if we were running partly in the dark , but you can't have it both ways can you?

Ok so its not every day that you lose all the visitors not to worry, but why was there a distraught look on the Pink Panther's face.

Hare to Bullet: “You did pay the boatman didn't you?” Bullet to Hare. “No why should I” ?

Hare to Bullet. “Don't you remember on Saturday at the run I told you the name of the Wat for disembarkation and to pay the boatman 600 baht”

Bullet to Hare “B****cks any way I was into my 3rd beer at the time and I have witnesses to that effect.” (that you didn’t tell me).

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