October 12, what we all know as Thanksgiving, is according to Zephyr known as Columbus Day in our great neighbour to the south. Though I’m not quite sure why they would celebrate a rumpled, trenchcoat-wearing private eye. Or was he the one with the cockatoo? Anyway, Zephyr set a hash in this person’s honour.

We set out from the Unicorn at the civilized hour of 3:00. Note that the bar was actually open and in business. Apparently many people prefer to spend Thanksgiving with close family members, such as their bartender.

As for us, New Shoez was giggling that he already knew where the beer check was, keeping us all in suspense. Dead End was claiming to be Shoez’ new roommate, or at least not homeless anymore. Mangina accused Shampoo of stealing Freddie Mercury’s moustache, and Shampoo accused Dapper Sapper of stealing Freddie Mercury’s moustache. Pussyfoot was there with his dog. Double Header showed up without the dog we usually see her with, and Eli has gone back to the kennel too. And there were two new boots – in all, almost 20 people desperate to avoid the bosoms of their families.

This trail started off going north through the Young and Eligible area, up Yonge, over toward Mount Pleasant and into the good old ravine there. We ran through that lovely bit of nature as far as Bayview, where the trail went south. The final stretch was back over to Mount Pleasant, where the lovely and rewarding sign for a beer check appeared on the sidewalk.

The BC was at the Chick ‘n Deli (or the Cluck ‘n Fuck as it used to be known) where the first of the pony-tailed sexagenarians were just starting to arrive. And then it was a short jaunt back to the Unicorn.

As usual, we had earned Rose Eh’s contempt, as reflected in the down downs, but at least this time not her outright hostility, like the last time I enjoyed one of her circles. And so the hash in honour of Chris Columbus came to a conclusion.

Now I remember! He directed Home Alone! But is that worthy of a national holiday?