Today, I finished the first 300km. I am a quarter of the way through the entire trek. I am starting to get used to the rhythm more and more but today felt like quite a challenge: departing in the streaming rain and later on in the day it was warm and humid.
Today, I face a long day of walking. It’s 28.4km from temple 26 to 27 and I will also need to walk back some distance. A beautiful route today along the coast with history and dilapidation.
Today, I can get an early start. Halfway I lose my Route Guide. And I basically can’t go further without it. I’m glad that the day ends on a positive note.
I am still on, my way to temple 24, with about 40km to go! Today is the second day where I just walk. The tail end of a typhoon leaves behind quite a deluge. It feels strange to not have to stop at a temple for a while.
The distance between temples 23 and 24 is 75,6 kilometres. Today I am walking about 30 kilometres of the total haul along the coast. A beaming sun and wispy cloud patterns greet me at intervals. It is hot!
I’m on my way to the coast. Today, I leave the mountains behind me and approach the coastline. The sky is a clear blue and the sun is blisteringly hot. Tonight, I will be sleeping in a ‘real’ hotel.
There are two mountain tops ahead of me today. I will climb to 490 and 505 metres high. At the second top I will take the ropeway down to the valley and stay there at an onsen.
Today I am hot, and I mean scorching hot. The sun burns in the sky and there is barely any shade along the route. And that, when I want to walk 30 kilometers today. I end up in a hotel which opens its door especially for me.
Today, I have a about 30 kilometres ahead of me. First, I need to ascend for a little while, then I can go back down to the city. Onwards to become temple guard during tsuyado in temple 17.
Today I am facing my first big challenge. The route leads me past a mountain peak of 800m to Shosan-ji at 700m. After that I descend a short distance to ryokan Nabeiwa-so for my night’s stay. In total: a hike of 21.4 km.