Shikoku Day 44: Temple 65, Osettai, and Ojichan

Started the day in a heavy rain following the sign posts into the mountains. 

When leaving the city we were surprised that people were using the shopping arcade as a road.

On the way we saw encouraging murals and beautiful, if wet trails, before we reached the steps to Temple 65, Sankakuji.

The temple grounds are covered with trees.

While resting, a driving ohenro-san gave us energy drinks osettai and we met a couple from France who liked my umbrella set up.

We then walked along a small road with great views of the town and the inland sea.

On the way to Tsubakido where we ate lunch, we saw beehives, an old lamp post that would be lit to guide ohenro-san, and several homes with solar hot water heaters.

After that we hiked over a hill to avoid going through a tunnel and saw this cute land crab.

Walking down into Sano where our Minshuku is located we met these wonderful guys. The one clearing brush on the steep hill side is 79 years young and just so excited about life. He gave us 2000 yen osettai while the other gave us a large bottle of coffee milk osettai.

In Sano we found more encouragement and an empty school building. We have seen a lot of these as there are just not that many kids in many rural areas of Japan.

At Minshuku Okada, the owner cleaned our staffs and put them on special pads in our room.

Then Ojichan, aka Grandpa, told us details about our hike tomorrow including a hand drawn map while we ate dinner. He is a classic super ager, 95 years young, but looks and acts like he is 65. He still has a driver's license, but is a bit concerned about his next test. People reserve this Minshuku months in advance just to meet Ojichan.

We walked 22km today. You can see a map of my tracks here (you may have to refresh the page after a minute to get it to show).  If you have Google Earth, it is faster to download a Google Earth file of my adventure from here.