Shikoku 88 pilgrimage

This bike is getting a ticket for parking outside a bike park

Well, we made the ride from Osaka to Wakayama ok, although neither of us were feeling that well. It was around 120k in 30 degrees plus and busy roads almost all the way so maybe not my favourite ride of all time...although the last few miles around the coast were better. Caught the late ferry over to Shikoku, slept for a couple of hours on the floor on the way over, and then rolled into Fukoshima and waited for a coffee shop to open...

The road to Wakayama

Shikoku from Wakayama

Cleaning in Tokushima

Fukoshima is the cleanest town I have ever seen - not a scrap of litter, a blob of gum or a dog end anywhere. Quite something.

Detail on street post, Fukoshima

Top of mailbox, Fukoshima

Fukoshima

Most city streets have aid for blind and partially sighted

Every crossing has cycle path alongside

Mick with new haircut

Our first osettai - gift to pilgrims, from the barber

Despite virtually no sleep and still sporting stinking colds we decided to cycle up to Naruto to check out the whirlpools. We chickened out of the final 8k, left our bikes and luggage and hopped on a bus. It was worth the effort when we got there - and although we didn't have any idea whether the tides would be suitable for whirlpools we managed to catch a few. :-)

Where are the Naruto whirlpools?

Ah, here they are

On the walkway over Naruto whirlpools

Then it was onto the serious business of the Henro Michi - 88 temples spread around the island. We were a couple of days late what with the typhoon and the colds so it was good to finally get going...except we got to Temple One just as it was closing. We would have to wait another day.

Instead we went to find the Michi-no-Eki - the local rest station where we had been told we could camp. Sure enough there was a large grass area and we pitched up, trying to ignore the warning sign for snakes. The snakes were not a problem - but the mozzies were, ho,ing in on us as soon as we began to set up camp. We slung the tent up as fast as we could, dived inside and zipped up. It was sweltering in there but at least the little bastards couldn't bite us in there. Shikoku is still hot and humid despite being late September, so we decide to set off early in the morning before it gets too warm. I'm apprehensive and out of my comfort zone really - I wonder what tomorrow will bring.