Inspired, I decided to take a walk. Takihara to Kii Nagashima, in Mie prefecture is a mere blip on a map but enough of a challenge to test a walking novice’s resolve.
read more Walking: The Ise-ji from Takihara to Kii Nagashima
17 years. That’s how long I’ve been cycling past the entrance to the Tōkai Shizen Hodō (東海自然歩道) next to Jōkōji Station (定光寺駅) without ever venturing past the entrance.
Nothing new here but… Graham admits he was a little scared to have kids and so was I.
With the backpack packed and batteries charged, chocolate and sugary snacks purchased, I headed to the Torikura trail entrance (鳥倉登山口) late on Saturday afternoon to start the 2 to 3 hour climb to the campsite.
read more Adventure: Common Sense and How to Not Buy New Camera Gear
This is more of a note to myself than anything else. A reminder that the mountains are still there.
OK, I get it. Raising kids is hard. Harder than I thought. Much harder. Throw in work, the rainy season,
A 3 a.m. start thinking I’d be the only one on the trail. But you are never alone in Japan, even in the middle of the night on a mountain. Frustrating, yes, but reassuring too.
The trails are open and the longer hikes are possible again. Back in 2014 I hiked up Eboshigadake (2291m・烏帽子岳) in southern Nagano and have wanted to return for a long time.
