Tottori Awesome

We've returned to the Japan Sea coast and reached the town of Tottori (tee hee) which is famous for having a large sand dune.

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Map:

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The theme, as ever, has been a combination of muderous heat and numerous climbs. A few highlights from along the way:


-Meeting a courier on the way out of Kyoto. He'd actually been to Toronto to participate in the Courier World Championships or something, and knew a couple of Toronto's prominent couriers...kinda neat


-More excellent seashore camping,


-Meeting a gentleman doing the same trip as us, but on foot! Due to my inability to remember names after hearing them once, I can't remember if his name was Yamazaki or Tomozaki, but he asked to be called "Zack" which was pretty sweet. We Zacks just don't stay in one place, yknow...


-Beatiful quiet rural valley, reached of course with the blood and sweat drawn over numerous climbs. In a sign of the relentless passage of time, we're starting to see the rice crops being harvested - a sad sight, for not only does it mean our trip is drawing near its conclusion, but also that the scenery will be much less nice with endless green fields giving way to stubbly harvested yellow everywhere.


-And finally, truly one of the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen. My worse-than-amateur photographic skills hardly do it justice. Picture a perfect red sphere - as though taken right off the flag - slowly sinking below the horizon. Trademark whining and sarcasm aside, every now and then you experience a moment that reminds you just what a privilege making a trip like this really is.

The goal is to be in Hiroshima on the 30th of August. Hiroshima had always been - not the end point of the trip, but rather the goal; thus is it very exciting to be nearing it at last. Our route after that will depend on such delightful considerations as remaining time and money, but the trip thus far has been fantastic, and thank you all for continuing to read us!