投稿日: Oct 03, 2010 1:46:14 AM
From: Cliffhanger
First, I have to get something off my chest. “Mismanagement, mismanagement, where art thou? Rome thou be instead of enjoying the 4H Hash Run that you created. That is two in a row you have missed, not that I am counting.” We miss you.
4H Run no.22 started at Uraga Station minutes after the advertised 1600 start time. The On-On start point (Uraga) is where Commodore Matthew Perry, an American Officer, compelled the opening of Japan to the West. The virgin hare was Colin (no-name) Mason with a worthy and trusty side-kick “Muff Diver” who helped our virgin create an awesome and historic trail of five (5) check points and five (5) check backs. The weather was extremely hot for a September run but approximately 15 or so hashers (to include three (3) virgin hashers) endured the heat and were ready for what the trail and hare had in store.
As promised, it was a major adventure. The trail had us going up and down hills, through woods, a cave, a temple and parks with breathtaking views of Tokyo Bay. We debated if it was 8K, 10K or 12K but the heat had us all delusional. Although we passed many statues and monuments, I can’t confirm that William Adams or Miura Anjin (三浦按針), a English Navigator and believe to be the first Briton ever to reach Japan, was one of them. Why I mention this…because our hare promised us!! Furthermore, since he is from England, I assumed this would be his historic priority.
The On-On finish point was at Hashirimizu Park where François Léonce Verny, a French Officer, created the birthplace of the Yokosuka water service. Although many Japanese were seen standing in long lines gathering water in large liter jugs from a free water source nearby, the true hashers consumed beer to quench their thirst. Ahhh, how refreshing a beer or two or three taste after you are yearning for liquids to cool you down from the summer heat. “Tapeworm” took charge and led the circle of introductions, marking of the trail (likes and dislikes) and the naming process of our no-name hare.
Time was a wasting so off to Kaneyo restaurant we went for some well deserved cuisine, drinks and pleasing conversation. The food was outstanding (this is why we hash??) which included clams that were actually gathered from the sea just a few meters from were we sat on the beach. Pizza, sashimi, salad, beer and then it all became a blur. Isn’t that how all our dinners end? The naming process continued with a possibility of “Perry Mason”, a play with words with Commodore “Perry” and Colin “Mason” last name. At the end it was a unanimous decision and our hare became “Bugger the Commodore” and ended the no-name saga.
After viewing the beautiful sunset, the harbor darkened and all ships appeared to look like the historic “black ships” that Commodore Perry rode on. Like the Commodore, we refused to leave the Kaneyo restaurant until a proper treaty was signed and food bill paid in full which came out to the usual 3,000 yen per person. It was a pleasant conclusion to a great Hash Run. “Bugger the Commodore! Bugger the Commodore!” You have been appropriately named.
P.S. As a naval officer, this run’s naval history really touched my heart.
ON-ON