投稿日: Sep 20, 2009 3:52:42 PM
[Reported by Crusader]
Water was what the Hare had promised us in his pre-run write-up, and water was what we got! But more of that later.
Your scribe arrived at Hinay Hinay fashionably late, having been totally bamboozled by the Hare’s instructions that the start was on “Yamate-dori”. Arriving at Hayama station in very good time, I asked a number of locals (who had probably collectively lived in that fair town for at least half a millennium) where the said Yamate-dori was, and I was met either with blank stares or with the Japanese equivalent of “There is no f***ing Yamate-dori in Hayama, you gaijin idiot!”. Undaunted, I jumped on a likely looking bus, and arrived in the nick of time as the Hare was rounding off his chalk-talk. A quick change, and we were on our way.
It is at this point that you have to bear in mind, firstly, that your scribe’s knowledge of Hayama can be summed up as either negligible or non-existent, and, secondly, that 20-plus years of Hashing have not only ruined his liver but also destroyed most of his brain cells. Details of little things like Hash runs are quickly lost in an alcoholic haze.
Our trail initially took us in the direction of the sea, and past a yacht club where absolutely no-one fell for what was an obvious check-back. (Even your average Hasher has the intelligence to realize that when the trail enters a narrow peninsula there is only one way out again). We then had a leisurely stroll along the beach, before ducking under one of the underpasses and heading right back in the direction we had just come from. A left turn took us away from the sea, but from that point on the trail passed every other body of water in Hayama: rivers, streams, gulleys, sewers, puddles, baths, etc., etc. Thrown into the mix was a cunning little check-back into a cul-de-sac that had a couple of natives practising their golf-swings mildly amused. We then reached the far point of the trail at a bridge where the Hare was lurking in his garish yellow Fiat. He seemed mightily relieved that, against all the odds, we had somehow managed to make it that far.
The trail then began winding in and out of the back alleys of Hayama, before heading up what must be the steepest hill in the neighbourhood. Naturally we were suspicious of the Hare’s intentions, but we slogged on. Then, sure enough, just as we approached the very top of the hill, those letters that break every Hasher’s heart, “CB”, appeared. At this point Sweetie’s life expectancy was dramatically reduced as various threats and oaths completely unsuited to a family Hash were uttered.
So back down into the town it was, before another hilly detour that took us through a very pretty shrine and once again into the arms of our Hare. (Has he no confidence in his own marking?) A fairly flat section followed with another cunning “CB”, and then we were back into the car park for our well-earned beers. The FRBs were back in about 50 minutes, so the distance was just about spot-on and the trail had been very well marked. The only downside was that the promised spectacular view of Fuji-san failed to materialize.
A couple of beers later we adjourned to Hinay Hinay to enjoy Sato-san’s excellent cuisine. The fish and chips, German potatoes and pizzas were all they were cracked up to be, and a good time was had by all. Some names were assigned, though I have to confess that I can remember none of them. (More of that alcoholic haze). Plans for the next outing were discussed, somewhere in the vicinity of the Imperial Villa. That raises the question: will we be Hashing in even more distinguished company than usual, and, if so, what kind of Hash names will be sufficiently deferential? I guess we’ll find out tomorrow.
On! On!
Crusader