Day 22 – Temple 34

Terrible night of sleep.  The Japanese were in town for a conference and staying at the hostel.  Lots of drunk people rolling in late at night…and letting their alarm clocks go off without end.  I leave at 615 am and hit a Family Mart for breakfast.  After that it takes some time to get to Temple 31.  Once there, I meet a married Japanese couple and the wife says to follow them…in Japanese.  Off we go…and I lose them because the wife is fast and short.  Her very tall husband can barely keep up but is obviously used to her pace.  Temple 32 is quite a trek from 31 and it is just dumping buckets.  I now understand why rice is such an easy crop here.  Water just flows in this region.  At 32 I run into the couple again and they are happy to see me.  We part ways again but meet at the free ferry across to Temple 33.  While we wait, they are talking to another henro who has done this walk many times.  Sensei.  I sneak in the question about how long they have been married.  They stop, think, ask each other 28 at the same time.  Yes, 28 years.  Clearly a very happy marriage.  The ferry ride is quite short and the walk to the temple is only 1.9 km.  Not bad.  I need to get to Temple 34 before 5 pm so I can ask to stay in the Tsuyado. I arrive at 430 pm, get my stamp and approval to stay. Joy!!! I am so wet. The tsuyado is very nice and has a shower. I hang everything to dry out. I wrung out almost a half a liter of water from my clothes. No joke my poncho was completely saturated. After the post, I need to finish my video then early to bed. The rain is supposed to stop at 8 am tomorrow. I think I will wait until then. Good night all.