Tulip Bash...

Due to a longer winter than usual, the bulb fields were really late to bloom this year. However, when they finally did bloom, they completely exploded in color. Perfect timing too, as they bloomed just in time for this year’s Amsterdam H3 Tulip Bash.

The hares also picked the perfect location: Hillegom. Amazingly, I took these first few photos from the train platform.

The great weather attracted a larger group than usual.

Steve especially got into the Dutch spirit and cycled the entire 35K in wooden clogs, likely not one of his better ideas as his feet were sore by the end.

Hangover Hash...

Lisa and I coordinated to be twins in our new Amsterdam H3 shirts for the Hangover Hash on Sunday morning.

After breakfast there was a Bloody Mary Contest. Jimmy altered the traditional Bloody Mary recipe by adding Belgian beer and teriyaki sauce.

Despite cool graphics and a lively description, he didn’t win as the judges thought he went overboard with the teriyaki sauce.

The hash itself was a bit of a cluster with a big group of us accidentally shortcutting about half of the trail, but at least we didn’t miss the beer break. Along the way we saw this cool historic building...

...and the bar with the neon signs from Friday night. 

We circled up in front of the hostel. I’m sure Reinhardt had a good reason to call Jimmy into the circle. 

After being doused in flour during his naming as Sugar Tits, this adorable hasher who’s in the Belgian Special Forces was especially punished for committing various sins. He was made to assume a bug position while beer was poured into his mouth, first from a standing position...

 ...then from someone’s shoulders in a stationary position, and finally from someone’s shoulders while they walked around him. Needless to say, he was a very good sport about being covered in flour and beer. 

The World in 24 Beers...

Here’s some of my favorite costumes. Fenella placed beer stickers all over her dress...

...while Fred was a German beer wench.

This was a very creative use of beer caps...

...and of beer mats. 

When Inga and Reinhardt made an appearance late in the evening in the coolest costumes ever, we finally understood why they couldn’t fit us in their car. It was especially impressive that Reinhardt had the baskets custom made in Ghana by a basket weaver who was quite confused why anyone would want baskets without bottoms.

Party Time...

After an enjoyable day of hashing in the woods, it was time to party. This year’s theme: The World in 24 Beers. Opee had fun converting the orange jumpsuits that Ashlynn bought on Brick Lane in London into uniforms for the Beerbusters.

He originally thought of putting beer in the squirt guns, but then realized that might be getting a bit carried away.

Steve and Lisa dressed as a sailor and his escort for the evening.

We weren’t the only ones who danced until the wee hours in the morning, but we were amongst the last hold outs when the DJ finally finished at 3 AM.

A Weekend in Hasselt, Belgium

We caught a ride with Lisa to Hasselt, Belgium for Belgium Nash Hash. Before checking into the hostel, we toured the Jenever Museum. 

Jimmy was excited that they were selling old mini beer glasses at the bar in the museum, where we all tried a shot of jenever.

That evening there was a walking pub crawl around town, where we saw this strange mural...

...and these cool neon signs.

Rings Beside the Sea...

The following day, Terri and I walked from the AWC Clubhouse in the Statekwartier to Scheveningen Beach where we came across these giant Rings Beside the Sea. It took 2 weeks to build the 20 giant 500-foot (150 meters) by 1,000-foot (300 meters) rings representing 200 years of beach culture in Scheveningen. 

Terri didn’t hesitate to climb up, so I followed.

After lunch, we climbed some stairs, asked someone to take our photo...

 ...and saw some of the remnants of the WWII bunkers that were part of the Atlantic Wall.

While walking through Scheveningen on the way back to the AWC, we passed by these cute murals on the side of a building.

Training Begins...

In late November, Kent proposed another one of this wild ideas: trekking in the Himalayas to Everest Base Camp. Even wilder is that I agreed to go along with him and Carlin. Between the training and the 2.5 week trip to Nepal in late August, Jimmy couldn’t commit the time to joining us as he’s trying to start a business. I was thrilled when Terri accepted my invitation to join us. In early April we finally started our training with just us girls on this walk from Wassenaar Beach to Katwijk. 

As always, Kati enjoyed running through the dunes...

...and to the beach. 

We added a few up and downs to the beach in an attempt to get a little hill training.

I felt really bad that I forgot to bring any dog treats along, but Kati was one happy dog when Carlin and I ordered ham and cheese sandwiches and told the waiter to hold the ham to give to Kati.