Shikoku Karst and Coastal Shikoku, or, Starting to get tired of the camping thing

We left the hostel in Matsuyama early, feeling rested and refreshed.  We were surprised just how early we could actually leave when we didn't have to pack up camp but just hopped in the car with our bags.  We drove into the mountains just over the border of Ehime and Kochi to see the not-so-famous Shikoku Karst. 

A karst is basically the rocky terrain that is a result of some kind of geological phenomenon (which I know nothing about).  It made for cool scenery--I especially love the wind turbines that you can just barely see in the background.   

This particular area is full of cows grazing in the summertime, but the grass hadn't grown back yet when we were there so we missed out on the full experience.  Cally was in the mood for beef!

I felt very much like I was in Lord of the Rings while we were frolicking (read: stepping gingerly) in the rocks.

After less than a week in the car together, Chito tries to make a break for it.

Japan, so small.

You're in such a rush.

Where are you going?

After getting our fill of windmills and rock formations, we headed back into Ehime and found this poem at a roadstop along the way.  Apparently, it was the winner of a traffic safety campaign contest a few years ago, but I do prefer the symbolic meaning.

After endless driving that afternoon, we made it to the end of the Sadamisaki Peninsula, the longest peninsula in Japan and the Western tip of Shikoku.  It was very windy!

We made it there just in time to see the sunset.  By the end of the day we were all exhausted and as it was getting dark, we had to start looking for a place to camp (not too smart).  It got pretty late but we still had to veto a national park that looked like something straight out of a horror film (we're pretty sure there were GRAVES near the camping area). 

We ended up finding a place to stay but it was such a windy night that we had to tie the tent to the car and it still collapsed on us throughout the night.  It gave out for good at about 530 am, so we put everything back into the car and packed ourselves in for some sleep too.  My assignment during the frantic cleanup was weighing down the tent and stuff inside so it didn't blow away.

After surprisingly sound sleep in the car and breakfast by the beach, we were pretty well recharged and ready to drive down the western coast to the Ashizuri cape.  We got there and were delighted to see that climbing on these "dragon spine" rock formations was just as fun as it looked in the guidebook (you never know). 

The rocks along the coast looked like some kind of coral and made it easy for even me to shimmy up to the top for a nice view of the coast.  I definitely started to appreciate and enjoy the outdoors a lot more on this trip! 

 

   

   

Comments

[lori]

i love getting to hear about all of your camping adventures via your posts, and especially enjoy the pictures. really nice sunset shot of you and chito, but i have to say my favorite (probably because i laughed out loud)is the photo of you on "assignment"!