Day 1

Spent the night at Kiyomi Ryoakan in Hiwasa last night. The food was more than i could eat and delicious beyond words. Sashimi and some other kind of fish, salad, miso soup, as much rice as you want, and a couple of other side dishes.

Today we walked down the coast from Hiwasa to the town of Kaifu. The lodge where we're staying tonight seems to be a surfer's lodge, run by a young guy in his 30s.

Tomorrow is supposed to be pouring rain and there are no, as in zero, rooms available between here and Cape Muroto. The only two lodges are already full. That means we need to take the train and bus through the "dead zone" to Cape Muroto or somewhere on this side of there. Not what i wanted, but such is life. Will start walking again from Temple 24 on Thursday morning.

It is freezing cold here right now in the mornings and evenings.

Day 1, -1

Sitting in the Michi-No-Eki (highway rest area) in Hiwasa. Just visited Temple 23 again to make my start official (in my eyes), and will check in at my lodging in about a half hour. 

Tomorrow begins Day 1 as i head out of Hiwasa towards tomorrow's lodging in the town of Kaifu.

Got a phone call this morning from a friend in Tokyo. His wife must be kicking him out of the house for a few days because he told me he's getting on a plane ond coming to Tokushima to walk with me. Have no idea how long he'll be here.

As a side note, i'm sending this through the free "Tokushima Free Wifi" here at the Michi-No-Eki. Seems to work welk.

No pictures today. More tomorrow.

Tour 2: Last Day

The second tour has, like the first, flown by in a flash. It's hard to believe three weeks of walking have already passed.

I take a train to the city of Hiwasa tomorrow afternoon and will visit Temple 23 when i get there. Then on Tuesday morning i begin the three day trek down the east coast to Temple 24. Finally, my pilgrimage begins.

Today's scenery:

At one point today, one of the trail markers, which usually mark trail intersections by showing a finger that tells you to turn left or right, showed the below to indicate which way the trail headed. Needless to say, it was hard walking.

Temple 44

Today's walk was from Temple 44 to Temple 45. A beautiful walk. Took these at the first temple.

Rainy Day

An urban walk today, with rain falling on and off for almost the entire time. Still, another good day in boots.

Differences

What a difference a day makes. 

Yesterday was a magnificent day in the mountains at about 6,200 ft. and today it is supposed to rain for the entire day. As i lay here waiting for breakfast, i can hear that it is already pouring outside.

Todsy will be a long walk on the side of the road at sea level in full rain gear. But, some pictures from yesterday.

Coastal Hike

Spent the day walking along trails on the clifs along the southeast side of the island. Set out from the town of Hiwasa, climbed to the castle, then headed south.