My recollection of the majority of Kochi Prefecture, I think.
Whew Kochi prefecture was rough. Also known as Tosa prefecture, this part of the pilgrimage is known as the Dojo of Ascetic Training. Some even call it the Devil's Land, where lodging and assistance are not to be given. I wouldn't go that far, but this was a major mental, spiritual, and physical test. I had to rediscover and reaffirm the reasons I was doing this whole damn thing, especially when I re-injured my ankle and simply walking became a painful challenge. I think this is how the days broke down.
May 16- Made my way down the Kochi coastline. Beautiful scenery, not so beautiful weather.
May 17- The rain hit. Made my way in the rain to Temple 24 and 25. Temple highlight- Temple 24. Another mountaintop temple, not notable for the buildings but for the wildlife. . .specifically a bunch of bluish black 1 foot earthworms crawling around everywhere! Lots of roadkill casualties.
May 18- Knocked out temple 26 and made way up the coast again. Stayed at another random lodge.
May 19- Visited temple 27, at another fricking mountain. This is the temple with a bunch of stairs going up on facebook, really quite beautiful. Had to earn the view, but it was nice.
May 20- Typhoon hit hard, used train to get up to Kochi suburbs, visited temples 28, 29, and 30. Highlight- Not the temples, but the company! Formed a cross country hiking party with Mr. Ozawa and the Lady from Osaka. Good times. Had to let them go because they're too damn fast.
May 21- Pushed hard to scope out temples 31, 32, 33, and 34. Temple Highlight- Temple 32, with a view of the beach. This was somewhat of a disastrous day. Ill explain in the next blog entry.
May 22- Knocked out temples 35 and 36. Got ride down the mountain from random pilgrim after temple 35 because I couldn't walk down hill. Highlight- not the temples, but the view from the National Hotel, check out facebook! The hotel was even done up to look like Greece or something.
May 23- Used ferry to get from isolated peninsula back to mainland, then trekked with a big pilgrim party down to Temple 37. Ankle giving me massive problems at this point.
May 24- Was desperately in need of rest and rehabilitation. Couldn't walk 2km without awful ankle pain. Mr. Ozawa helped me figure out bus to Temple 38, the water temple, and then I decided to do something drastic. It is here that the journey takes a crazy left turn. . .literally. To be continued in the next post.
So sorry to hear about your ankle pain and problems, but now am left in much suspense!
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