Date: 27/28 March 2010.Venue: Paradis Villa, Pak ChongHares: Carl "Dyke Diver" R, Paul "Klingon" H and Martijn "The Inseminator" SScribe: Martin "Passing Gas" RTiger! Tiger! burning brightIn the forests of the night,What immortal hand or eyeCould frame thy fearful symmetry!In what distant deeps or skiesBurned the fire of thine eyes?On what wings dare he aspire?What the hand dare seize the fire?And so the Hares went into the ancient forests of Khoa Yai in search of a trail to capture the ‘Spirit of the Tiger’!!On that sunny Saturday afternoon a great mass of 113 riders assembled to pitch their mettle against the steely cunning of the Hares. Who would catch the Tiger by its’ tail??? Who would be the first FRB to return from the forest trails?No sooner had we left the Resort gates than we were into the first testing hill climb to see who had the ‘Spirit of the Tiger’ with them and who would fail miserably! With so many riders there wasn’t much room to maneuver on the upward trail but it did result in the pack thinning some, allowing space between riders to enjoy the following descent!The Hares had laid the trail to use the best of the countryside's 'deeps', craggy sides and stone scattered cattle tracks under the clear skies with a welcome cool breeze. The Trail lead out into open countryside with many small Thai farmsteads and the usual smiling, laughing children eager to shout out a greeting with the more brave ones holding out a hand for ‘High Fives’!With the FRBs speeding away into the distance we Slow Coaches were left to enjoy the scenery and the splendid views. Circling one such farmstead and having to move to the side of the track to avoid the oncoming farmer’s pickup caused some of us to brush under the mango trees in the grove. Shortly afterwards intense pain of needles stabbing our arms and shoulders saw us throw down our bikes and tear off our clothes. As always, there’s the ever helpful fellow Hasher close by to help remove the painful little red ants!! Thanks Margharita. Beware of mango trees in future!!The Hares had gone to great lengths to choose trails with many technical sections to keep the keen mountain bikers interested and for those not so skilled, plenty of walking with wet feet rather than riding through the small rocky stream!Most of us prefer 'rocks' in our drinks rather than the Rocks-the-Grass that caught many a rider out and put a few on the ground with loud “Umphf” followed by a string of swear words, and that was just the ladies!But even the FRBs had to wave the white flag at the tough, vertical rocky section as the valley sides closed in. It’s great to see the smug smiles wiped off their faces for a change!! Visitors and returning Hashers (that includes you Chris-Who!) came from far and wide, China, Singapore and they weren’t disappointed if the big smiles on their faces was any indication.Tin Pussy or Iron Man, your choice, which is it to be?!! There were those that for the sake of face chose the latter only to walk up, and there were those who claimed to have rode up!!! You know who you are!! Awesome ride down the other side rewarded all, whichever route you took and however you attained the summit.Once again the GM’s wife showed her skill and strength on the bike, particularly on the uphill sections, as she left her husband far behind eating dust. Much amusement was had by Hashers watching the GM nearly kill himself trying to keep ahead of his wife on the Sunday ride!!Behold, what a surprise was waiting for us towards the end of the ride. The Hares had found an oasis of beautifully manicured gardens on sweeping slopes right in the middle of jungle!It has been said before that Aussies are poor at judging a length and so it was proven once again at one of the checks when an Aussie scouted a trail only to return to the check reporting no paper for 500m. Others rode the trail and found paper after 150m, Aussies always exaggerate their lengths!Naming of the returning Hasher, Chris, who from hence forth shall be known throughout the Hashing world as “Sack-a-Shit”!!So did the Hares capture the Spirit of the Tiger with their Trails in the ancient Forest of Khao Yai? You bet they did!! Thanks Guys, a great weekend’s riding, see you next year on the Tiger Trails!!And what shoulder, and what art,Could twist the sinews of thy heart?And when thy heart began to beat,What dread hand? And what dread feet?Tiger! Tiger! Burning bright In the forests of the night,What immortal hand or eyeCould frame thy fearful symmetry?