Day trip to Temples 44 and 45, 23.8km Trail side shrine A beautiful but rather tough day due to elevation gains (980m up, and 980m back down!), but probably on the nicest trails yet, and in my mind, the most impressive temple. After breakfast sitting on the bench outside Familymart, it was paved roads to … Continue reading Shikoku day 34
Oda to Kumakogen, 19.3 km Being pointed in the right direction A short day in terms of kilometres, but a hill got the heart rate going. The first section was a narrower, quite steep section of road, but with minimal traffic. We then took to the forest path that cut across the road switchbacks, where … Continue reading Shikoku day 33
Ozu to Oda, 31.4 km Our only view of Ozu castle as we departed in the pouring rain It was a long slog out of Ozu this morning in the rain. The city seems to extend forever up the valley (not dissimilar to Seiyo yesterday). As we'd stayed in the historic old town, this morning … Continue reading Shikoku day 32
Seiyo to Ozu, 26 km Given that it is the rainy season, I guess we can consider ourselves fortunate that we had 19 days without getting wet. Today was not one of them, and although it started out as drizzle which AccuWeather promised would end in 13 minutes, it became progressively wetter as the day … Continue reading Shikoku day 31
Uwajima to Seiyo, 20 km Japanese gas station, where the hoses are in the roof. Interesting concept! Not a long day in terms of either distance or elevation, but enough to get the lungs and legs working after yesterday's easy day.A long climb out of Uwajima on the former main road was relieved by a … Continue reading Shikoku day 30
Tsushima to Uwajima, 14.3 km Bull mask, Uwajima Yes, it was almost a rest day with only 3 hours of walking at a normal pace, but we managed to extend it as check in at the business hotel we'd booked for the night was 3pm, and we know from past experience that they are very … Continue reading Shikoku day 29
Ainan to Tsushima, 27 km Another of the many Henro silhouettes! Another substantially fantastic day of walking - well, if we ignore the first 10 km! Leaving town it was the side of the highway for the first 10 km, and as the new motorway is only being completed in sections, there was a lot … Continue reading Shikoku day 28
Sukumo to Ainan, 22 km Contemplating the view at the top of the hill Today was probably the nicest walking day so far - lots of actual trails and a minimum of paved surfaces. There was one big hill at the beginning which led to a lot of huffing, puffing and sweating - it being … Continue reading Shikoku day 27
Mihara village to Sukumo, 24.7 km Nakasuji dam - about as scenic as the day got! Everywhere around us appeared to be getting rain, but we managed to dodge the showers for the entire day. Carrying furled umbrellas for the last 12 days has certainly proven to be a good weather luck charm. There's another … Continue reading Shikoku day 26
Tosashimizu to Mihara village, 30 km In the canyon at the Wisteria Shrine The boys and I headed off in different directions today. Not wanting to backtrack for 3 hours on the same highway as two days ago, I took the path less travelled through the mountains and forests, while the boys backtracked the highway … Continue reading Shikoku day 25
