Nahari to Aki, (with a detour to Temple 27), 21.7 km.
Our hostess at Misono Henro house insisted on making us breakfast from the leftovers from the ramen feast, and then started phoning friends at different lodgings to see if she could improve our arrangements for the next few days over the long weekend. We got the impression that she didn’t want us to leave!
It was a sunny day, but not as hot as recent days – just as well as the detour to Temple 27, Konomine-Ji, was a 500m climb. A couple of things made it bearable: our hostess gave us directions to her friend’s house at the base of the hill where we could leave our backpacks. Apparently she is away, but judging by the state of the yard, she’s been gone a while! The other factor was much of the climb was on an agreeably sloped road – still lung busting and sweat inducing, but no wobbly knees when we got to the temple. The temple itself is in s beautiful forest setting with manicured gardens. Very calming after the exertion!
The remainder of the day was a leisurely walk along the coast – if toting s backpack beside the highway can be considered leisurely! We stopped at a bus shelter to eat our lunch, and respectfully greeted a Henro walking in the other direction. Then two more walked past, followed by others. Enough to fill a small bus, but it was a complete mystery as to where they came from!
Tonight’s accommodation didn’t offer meals, so the boys went out to get pizza and we’re sitting on a real couch being about as non-Japanese as possible. Despite the fantastic meals we’ve been served, having a night off fish, rice, various and sundry pickled items and bowls of random mystery foods is a nice change. And the pizza was really good – although we’re not sure where they got the cheese. We haven’t seen any in the stores, and for sure there are no dairy cows around here!
2saunter 