Day 18 - Tokushima - Kii Tanabe

Tokushima

So...today’s travels required a ferry, two two-car trains, and a 9 car train. Plus some walking.

Views from the ferry
Top: Building a bridge; Middle: fishing boat with staysail;
Bottom: Bridge to the mainland

It was wonderful, being back on the water! The ferry (car carrying type) was over 300’ long. When we hit the open water between the island and the mainland, we felt the motion of the ocean. No stabilizers on this vessel. I suspect this mode of travel is not used by foreign visitors...no english subtitles or announcements. Not even on the local two-car trains. My youngest helper so far (less than 10 years old) told me I had two stops until we got to Wakayama.

The longer bit of the journey took us along the coast line. Palm trees and...SURFERS!

Surfers!

When I reached Kii Tanabe, I was provided with an orientation session. Reviewing what I was doing for the next four days. Where I was going. Where I was staying & how I was getting everywhere. It went a long way to clearing up the rest of my itinerary.

This is the last chunk of this “leg” of the journey. It is part of the larger Kumano Kodo trail which is an ancient pilgrimage route.

They have arranged for my back pack to be shuttled between accommodations. No more shlepping it around...until I head back to Tokyo.

Sleeping instructions