Day 49: 88 Temples (none) - Sanuki-Shirotori Station

Today Mike heads to Kobe.  Most of his family is gathering there.  I will complete the loop on my own.

The weather report today was not good.  Cold and overcast with rain beginning at 10am.  I got ready to go before breakfast so I could pay and leave.

While we were at our fancy breakfast our futons were stowed away.  We ate with Joe.  Last night while we were at dinner they were set up for us.  This is a fancy place.  The lady told Mike something about it being cold.  He realized what she said after I threw one of the chemical heating pads out of my bed.  I was hot all night, I usually am.  Our futons were also set up in the couples configuration.

I said goodbye to Mike and Joe.  I was walking by 8:20 and was soon going past Temple 88.  I got a green tea to drink at a vending machine and it was a good thing.  It was 20km before I saw another vending machine.  Fortunately, it was cool and I didn't need a lot of fluids.  

As I was walking I thought I saw a dog wandering around by himself.  I then realized it was a monkey.  There were a whole herd of them in the trees.  They really do have monkeys in Shikoku.

There were several places where I left the road and walked along trails.  Some could have used a little maintenance.  One place had a sign ... something was a concern in 30 meters.  Just a bit of the path was missing and I had to jump across a gap to some rocks.

I was pressing pretty hard to beat the rain.  I made the mistake of following some Henro signs and they took me off course.  I think they were taking me to Temple 10 which is a closer loop close point.  It cost me a kilometer or two.

Around 10 the rain started but is was not very heavy.  I did not stop to put any rain gear on.  I would get spots on my sleeves but they never joined.

I just kept moving.  I finally came to a vending machine and had a Fanta Grape soda.  It went down very well ... but then I was off again.

My destination for that day was Hiketa Train Station where I could go back toward Takamatsu just one stop where there is an AZ Hotel.  I reached the station with barely a break in 26km and I was walking fast.  I think I might feel it tomorrow.

I got off the train and it was only 2pm - an hour before check in.  I walked by a Lawson and got some food; a little too much. I was starving and got two sandwiches and karaage.  I should have stuck with my original intent of the egg and tuna (not together, half an egg and mayo and half a tuna and mayo).  Beef and potatoe salad sandwich is not good (they were together).

The hotel let me check in at 2:30.  And just in time the rain had picked up since I got off the train.

I went out for an early dinner to a nearby okonomi place.  It opened at 5 and that's about when I got there.  I ordered the kimchi and cheese and a large beer.  Okonomi is made in front of you and I couldn't believe how much went in this.  It was massive.  It took about 20 minutes to make it.  Stuff just kept getting added in.  There was batter, a 6" high pile of cabbage, two eggs, 4 huge slices of bacon, more batter, noodles, bean sprouts, green onions, cheese, kimchi and a bunch of spices and sauses.  It continues to cook as you eat so it changes.  You have a little spatula and carve off chunks.

On the way out they complimented me on my chopstick skills.  I told they either I used them since 6 or 60 years - doesn't matter they are both the same.  I then told them my father was Japanese and I got the usual surprised look.  Here I am just another foreigner.

Tomorrow I complete the loop.  I will also get my missing Temple 2 stamps.