Run No.104 12 February 2017

Scribes: Benjoguchi

Hares: Pasoconti, Sweetie

Date: 12 February 2017

Start Time: 14:15

Start Location: Jimmuji station (Keikyu Line)

Weather: partly cloudy

Run Type: A to B

Hashers: about 25

Ahh Valentine’s Day. A day of retail madness, true love, followed by a massive row about who ate the last MeltyKiss or Guylian seashell. That may be true, but when a hash is more down your doorstep than the Big Breakfast, it is an opportunity that can’t be passed up at this time. Substituting Cupid’s arrows for chalk, we all met in the sun at Jimmuji station, ready to set off just as the clouds came out to play.

The good thing about Jimmuji is that if you walk down the flat main road for about 20 minutes, you can go to Zushi fairly effortlessly. Of course, Sweetie and Pasoconti had plenty of other ideas, ideas that took us on a lovely excursion up into the surrounding hills, with plenty of checks on the way and even a ride on a zipwire for the brave. The highlight has to be when the clouds cleared, and we were treated to a wonderful view of Mt. Fuji and Sagami Bay.

Coming up? Or more likely going up? Ah yes, the ‘ji' of Jimmuji is a must-see, and resides on top of a mountain, one end of the tricky Takatori mountain trail. Of course it would be rude not to take in both. A trail not for the faint footed, but incredibly fun hopping over rocks, amateur mountain climbing classes, and more Oohs and Aahs from the passing walkers than a Gina G number. And this was only the first half!

Coming down the mountain, we had our first introduction to our friend CB, who told me we would be sure to meet again. Having bid them a due, we set off winding round the houses in... Oppama? Mutsuura? Nagano? We could be absolutely anywhere. However after a little time we magically end up at Higashizushi station. One of my personal favourite things about a hash is being taken round an area I should know like the back of my hand, and get that idea completely turned against me. This trail did that especially well. Anyway, I expect everyone’s calling out for another celebrity appearance, right?

Yes it’s about time again, from Higashizushi station, we knew it was onwards to Zushi. The roads could make easy work of this… But! It may have been Chris Tarrant laying the last part of the trail. Many times we were brought within tasting distance of the beer before a "BUT we don’t want to give you that!" and the trail led us up another hill, forest, into a park… "I should send the hares up the river for this" I thought, as the trail backtracked up the river and wound round before we got the magical sign… BEER NEAR!

....and ON IN!

That felt great! A really enjoyable trail which we were all happy to have run, rather than just to have finished! The weather held out for the beers, and more importantly Sweetie’s Valentine’s Day treats too! The On-on was at a restaurant named Blue Moon, a nudge in the direction of how often the food is that good? A hash with a difference this one, but in every way it works so well. The hash in March, April, May, June.... I’m sure they will be amazing. Not so sure about July though. Fingers crossed for the hare that month!