2025-04-14 41 -86

Reached!

Location

In the Chili's parking lot, Mishawaka, Indiana.

Participants

H. Stickmin Esq and L
Ironeagl

Plans

H. Stickmin Esq: Today's Hash was in the middle of land that is so common throughout America; the parking lot of a continuous sea of restaurant chains, box stores, and strip malls. In fact, I had driven to a restaurant 3/4 miles north of the hash the day prior for some food, so I knew the type of environment I was dealing with. Given that the hash was in the parking lot of a Chili's, perhaps the most ubiquitous of the 'fancy' chain restaurants, I decided to rope a friend, L, into the expedition and to get a meal afterwards.

Expedition

H. Stickmin Esq: Driving to the hash, we stopped at a box store in order to pick up some sidewalk chalk. Having learned from the last hash that a xkcd sign made of sticks on the road was not likely to last, I made the investment for this hash and many more to come! After purchasing the chalk, we drove through the parking lots until we found the one behind the Chili's. After a slight hash-dance and questions from L, who greatly enjoyed reading the beginner's guide earlier in the day, we successfully located the hash, which I marked with the x of the xkcd. After taking the photos, including one where I spotted my first hash-flag with the top half of the flag of the United States visible from in front of the Chili's, we went in for a meal. I ordered the BBQ Brisket Burger, which was quite nice, and L got the Triple Dipper, which had a great variety of items. Although they did not have any Squishys, it was a great lunch and hash-meal!

After leaving the Chili's, we drove through the hash at the maximum parking lot speed of 10 mph and headed off. In explaining and reflecting on this hash, I realized how Geohashing encourages people to see and take notice of parts of the world around them that they usually would not. It is true that most hashes in the nearby graticules are in fields, and most of the ones reached are in some sort of nature, but it was an eye-opening experience to visit a hash that was truly in the middle of human development. There is perhaps nowhere more removed from nature than the parking lot behind a Chili's, but it was just as valid as a hash in the middle of an untouched wood. Although it did not have the beauty that the wood has, the hash marked where humans had been and what occurred where there was a spot of Earth where someone wanted a Chili's.

Ironeagl: After getting off work for the day, I actually had some errands that took me into the area, and with such an accessible hash there was no reason not to stop by! I spotted the remnants of Stickmin's earlier visit, and enjoyed the nice weather for a moment (Winter had briefly returned earlier this week). Snapped a picture, and headed off.