投稿日: Jul 13, 2013 2:40:36 PM
Hares: Sweetie & Dragonfly
Advertised Distance: 11-12km (Eagle) and 8-9km (Turkey)
Checks: 5 or so
Start Time: 3pm, from Chojagasaki
Weather: Incredible
Runners: 45 (Visitors: 11, Virgins: 4); plus twins Ryo & Lyn
Returners: Hymen, Tin Man and ??
Scribe: Tapeworm
May is my favourite month in Japan… It was in early May 1967, when I first set eyes on the two beautiful kimono-clad girls on the quay at Kobe port. They stood there in bright sunshine, under a clear blue sky, cooled by a refreshing breeze and waving to passengers lining the rails of the Messageries Maritimes liner “Hanoi”, as she inched toward the dock. Although my ticketed destination was Yokohama, I decided to disembark immediately. A decision I never regretted. My intended 3 or 4 month tour of Japan became a life sentence and explains why, on May 7th 2013, I felt a déja-vu moment when I alighted at Zushi Station in bright sun, clear sky, fresh breeze, etc., etc. for H4 Run #57.
Following the excellently clear misdirections, as did over 40 other hashers, from the very young (c. 18 months) to the very old (me), I took the bus to Chojagasaki, just south of Hayama on the coast road, the starting point of H4’s ‘Annual Barbecue Run.
As the clock neared 3pm, there was a frisson of eager anticipation: an A to B run in stunning weather! Finishing way up in the hills at Ishii-san’s place, where the circle was to be followed by a barbecue. Couldn't wait to get started. Only an interminable and repetitive briefing by hare and GM, Sweetie - with thankfully far shorter translations provided by the GM’s Ass. (Dragonfly) - lay between the eager harriers and the open trail.
“On on!” finally was called at about 3.15. There was some jostling for FRB slots, but soon the pack became well spread out. Inevitably it was uphill for most of the first couple of kilometres. 5 checks, a beer stop and several short cuts lay ahead. No calling by the FRBs, chaos amongst the backmarkers – in other words a typical H4 outing - except for visitors Mr & Mrs Snow White, who were each pushing a baby buggy with twins Ryo & Lyn (sp??) on board. Although the buggies had off-road tyres, they unfortunately couldn’t enjoy the most picturesque parts of the trail, but looked happy anyway. After the first hill the well marked trail led along a boardwalk beside a pretty stream and up a second hill to the beer stop, conveniently located, just after at a short cut that shaved about 25 metres off. Many paused to take in the Sagami Bay view while taking refreshment, but I rehydrated by sipping a Yebisu while continuing on up a small hill - a trail Crusader had pioneered on a previous run, which involved climbing a fence en route to the top. At the bottom of this hill, the turkeys took a left (I mean turned north) and I took the eagle trail towards the final big hill (with views over to Chiba). After a longish slog, partly on pavement and partly in the rough, the trail gradually turned north towards a golf course, which offered easier going along a derelict tarmac track, that is until I was confronted by an insurmountable 3m high fence. Close inspection of the fence (barbed wire topped mesh and no apparent way around it) revealed that H4 hounds had found a way under it. Your scribe followed, only to then to find just a single arrow. After looking in all directions for a second arrow, on the golf course and in the two faded besso housing developments, I gave up and jogged down the road in (I hoped) the general direction of Ishii-san’s. After some 20 minutes, I picked up chalk again, where the trail overlooked Route 217 in the valley below. By now being some 2 hours out, I thankfully trotted down the hill passing the ‘on-in’ and ‘beer near’ signs.
When, to the polite applause of the FRB’s, SCBs and assembled finishers, I staggered on in, it was pretty obvious that I was the last. It was by then getting cooler, the sun had dropped behind the hill and my legs were tired. “Must have been more than 13km”, I thought. It was about 5.30pm.
A long but most enjoyable run in wonderful hashing weather. Probably a record turnout for a regular Hayama H3 run. That beer tasted particularly good…
As twilight gathered, a brief but large diameter circle was called. The usual introductions, a welcome for visitors and returners, a toast to the hares for a well-laid and interesting trail and the traditional absence of down-downs followed and then those lucky ones (the majority) who stayed on for the ON3 got on the outside of a few tequila sunrises and the excellent fare provided by Ishii-san. Two kindly Harrier visitors (?) had brought bottles of wine to add to the bottle brought by Santa Maria & Kim Will Run and the ample supplies organised by the hares.
Although the bus ride back to Zushi and train trip home were painless, for the next three or four days I could only walk with considerable pain!!! Going down stairs was agony. The Tin Man reported similar symptoms. Must have been around 14km… ON ON!