Run #20 – The Farkawe Tribe Run Rehashed

It took a little bit of negotiation but eventually the taxi driver accepted that I really wanted to go to the junction of Longjing Road and Wulaofeng tunnel. An odd destination indeed and not made any less so by the two hares (Acronymph and Pushupbra) standing round like a pair of hobos. By this point they were well in to blaming each other for the trail, never a good sign. The usual suspects trickled in over the course of the next 30 minutes. Several people failing to show, apparently as a result of the previous night’s birthday exploits. Down-downs to follow for this.

So at T + 40 minutes we finally set off. Yours truly, Yvonne (who would be renamed ExitStrategy before the day was out), Phonebox, BottomFeeder and Pelagic. The trail began well, though I’m sure I recall getting down-downs for using blue chalk on a black road myself. After about 100 metres there was a trail running down to a stream that could be forded by stepping stones and across the stream we went. Sadly on the other side there was CLEARLY NO SIGN OF ANY KIND OF ROUTE UP THE MOUNTAIN, but up we went.

After about 20 minutes of pulling (literally) ourselves up the side of a mountain through thick thorny undergrowth we finally emerged in a clearing at the top and a much needed regroup. Providing the opportunity for all to count and compare cuts from thorn bushes, mosquito bites, etc and for BottomFeeder to marvel once again at how easy it was to pull phonebox [up the hill].

On-up and we emerged quickly onto a proper path, which allowed for the first bit of actual running more or less since we set off. The situation quickly deteriorated though as Pushupbra’s infallible stair detector appears to have kicked and we went up stairs, stairs and more stairs. Eventually arriving at a pagoda at the top of a hill. Phonebox’s gender-defying navigational skills were once more in evidence as she was able to point out that we’d been here before, with Quasimodo and son. Another regroup was enjoyed and the collective wit of the pack was able to achieve a photo on a timer so all 5 of us could be in it.

On-on along the ridge with some interesting discussion of geology and we emerged at the viewing platform on South peak. Pelagic and BottomFeeder spent the time engaged in some bizarre experiment where they proved that Pelagic can indeed kick BottomFeeder in the head, in case you ever needed to know. The rest of us enjoyed the view, discussing how pretty it was watching the sun descend beneath the mountains the other side of Meijiawu. Strangely it didn’t occur to anyone to worry that we were watching the sun set.

On-on down the other side of the mountain and the light situation becomes apparent or rather the path was becoming less apparent, due to the worsening light situation. The pack enjoyed a fairly obvious check back into some caves where BottomFeeder was able to discover a truly horrible smell.

On-on down again in rapidly worsening light conditions until we arrive at a fairly large collection of tombs, this was the point where, ominously, the last slivers of daylight disappeared. We were 5 brave hashers, over an hour into an hour long run, now standing in total darkness, in a graveyard, looking for trail marks that would lead us to safety. The cries of on-on (largely unnecessary to this point with such a small pack) rallied as much to buoy spirits as to act as navigational aid.

Yours truly and ExitStrategy (how fitting) blazed the trail down and on to the road and managed to come out 150 metres further up the road than the right trail. Eventually finding BF, P and PB who had actually managed to stay on chalk.

Expecting the usual 1k run-in the pack set off at a canter through an odd village, consisting only of restaurants, that I can’t find on a map. Maybe a hungry pack dreamt it? Out of the village and into a choking 1.2 kilometres of tunnel where PhoneBox led a procession of 5 weary runners, a dozen professional looking cyclists and 30 construction workers on ebikes down the narrow path. The hares had helpfully marked the trail all the way through the tunnel thus preventing the pack from making a wrong turning into … where exactly?

Emerging into the suddenly amazingly clear Hangzhou air at the other side it was finally, 3k later, on-in to welcome beers. The verdict? An unnecessarily punishing ascent to particularly scenic run, ending rather dramatically in total darkness. Acro – don’t tell Push-up but I think that the pack enjoyed it.

During the down-downs we named, and wished farewell to ExitStrategy. Phonebox reasserted her right to be called the hash name she was given. Acro and Pushupbra pushed the buck back and forward to the point where no one cared anymore. BottomFeeder found new lows in dinner / circle conversation – all in the name of learning the language of course.

How many more times more will we able to enjoy diner outside before the winter kicks in I wonder?