We listened to his stories of surfing and battling the elements…as did he of our exploits on our trikes. We shared respect yet wonder at what the other does.
Our ride today will mostly follow the coast. The frequent signs showing the elevation above sea level as well as tsunami and evacuation warnings are sobering reminders of the realistic threat locals live with.
Lunch from a small Japanese grocery store, seasoned rice inside an omelet with a yummy sauce. It was a two person operation with the woman running the store and her husband repairing and rebuilding old bikes in front of the store.
We have arrived at the Muroto Geo Park which showcases the impressive volcanic rocks and formations from an underwater volcanic eruption 14 million years ago. The wonderful thing about this area is that there is no commercialism, no massive parking area for buses, just information boards explaining the significance of this natural wonder. We got to explore this beautiful site all to ourselves
It is difficult to share the awesome fury and beauty of this rocky place. The wind is roaring, the spray of the water from hitting the rocks is awesome. It is a dynamic and wondrous force of nature that we are immersed in.
To make things even better for us, we next came to a car tunnel and we were excited to find a pedestrian (pilgrims)/cyclist tunnel alongside. What a treat to ride through a quiet tunnel
This small poster in the convenience store bathroom was very sweet, but made us wonder. We find convenience store bathrooms to be immaculate as a rule, but this one needed a lot of help, and interestingly, this is the first time we have seen a poster like this.
Temples are a place of endless steps upwards. The steps with their irregular heights and angles are testaments to their age. This mother and her son were delightful to chat with. We had an exciting conversation in 2 languages, but we managed to understand each other. I was in awe of her resolve in climbing so many stairs as on flat land she had trouble walking. She also, was appreciative of my efforts. She clapped and grabbed my hands in friendship when she understood that we are riding through Japan for 3 months and we are from Canada. A wonderful moment in our day.
One stops to contemplate/pray, whatever you wish. You can pull the rope to ring the bell, bow twice and clap twice. Barry and I are not religious people, but we feel a tranquility and peace when we visit these temples. The people, the setting and the rituals slow down the pace of your day and allow time for contemplation.
This guesthouse is very close to the Temple. We were intending to ride further, but decided to stop. The laneways in this area are tiny with mostly older traditional buildings.
