Chapter 42: CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

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CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

"Well, little buddy, we're sure going to have to be careful putting around blind curves down to Muroto-misaki. I sure don't want to slam into one of those groups of pilgrims doing their 88 temple ohenro on foot."

Beeep!

Sure enough. Coming around the very first blind curve putting very slowly this time, I had a lot more space between me and the last one of a long line of white clad pilgrims, with their round straw hats with large black Japanese characters handwritten by brush on them, and carrying long staves with bells jingling on top. I could easily slow us down even more to safely putt around them. "God, little buddy, Shikoku might be warmer than Kyoto. But I'll bet they're still freezing their asses off from the looks of what little in the way of warm jackets they're wearing beneath those white smocks or whatever they are. They sure as hell must be devout!"

Beeep!

It got warmer the farther south we putted along Shikoku's eastern coast as we carefully passed God knows how many more groups of white clad pilgrims -- most of them as we were putting around blind curves, natch.

Finally we hit the stretch that hugged the coast and we putted into Kochi Prefecture. "Hey, little buddy, it's really getting a lot warmer now. And look at that seascape! Let's stop for a bit and let me snap some pictures of it. I'm not sure if it's the same place I snapped some photos last time. But I sure want more photos of this stretch."

Be-beep!

But as we putted closer and closer to Muroto-misaki the wind started picking up again. "Damn! I forgot about the wind on this stretch. God, it's a lot colder this time than last time. And it's gonna get a lot stronger the closer we get to the cape."

Beeep!

Again the wind was really gusting as we came within five kilometers of the cape. Again I had to downshift into first and pull the throttle all the way out to just barely get us creeping along at ten kilometers an hour. "Keep going little buddy. We're almost there now!"

Beeep!

"We made it again, little buddy! Great going!"

Be-beep!

Walking out to the overlook of Muroto-misaki, I had to push against the wind that was gusting even stronger than last time. And freezing cold this time. I took out my pocket camera and snap-flick, snap-flick, snap-flicked three shots, slammed the lens cover shut to protect the tiny lens from the even stronger salty seawater spray. Then went back to my cub. "Well, little buddy, I know just where we're going to stay tonight. And maybe tomorrow too, if we're lucky. And try coming down here again. I sure as hell hope it'll be a bit warmer though. "

Beeep!

"Ha, ha, little buddy, you forgot the wind going up the other side of the cape is nowhere near as strong as it is on this side of the cape. And maybe we'll go and look at that temple right near here tomorrow, too -- without having all our luggage strapped onto you. It sure seems to be popular with those pilgrims. What do you say to that?"

Be-Beep!

"Oh, are you doing the henro on your motorcycle this time?" asked the Okusan proprietress of the minshuku I stayed at last time.

"Henro? I thought you said it was the Ohenro last time?"

"Ohenro, henro. We use them interchangeably. the 'o' is just adding the honorific "O" to it."

"Ooh, of course! I should have figured that one out by myself. Well anyway, can I stay two nights with you this time?"

"Of course! Sudomari again?"

"Yes please. But with breakfast?"

"Are there any more temples on the ohenro near you. Besides the one I passed right near Muroto-misaki?" I asked the Okusan after eating my Japanese style breakfast the next day. "I'm already planning to go to that one as I go back down to Muroto-misaki today."

"Why, of course. Number 25 is right here in town. That's Shinsho-ji. And Kongocho-ji, number 26 is only a few kilometers north from here. Though Hotsumisaki-ji, number 24, the one you passed going to the cape, is the one I would highly recommend for the views from it and the lighthouse nearby."

"Well, I think I've got enough time to go to all three today. Er, umm . . . do I need to wear one of those hats and white smocks?"

"Of course not. But you may have to pay some entrance fees."

"You know, little buddy? Those temples were nice, all right." I said as we were putting back down to the minshuku from number 26. "But I've seen God knows how many temples and shrines in Kyoto as well. They're all kind of blurring together in my brain now. At least all the temples down here have numbers attached to them. I've already given up on keeping the names straight. Today's temples will just have to go as numbers 25, 24 and 26 -- the order we visited them in, remember? Along with God knows how many white clad pilgrims. Especially at number 24."

Beeep!

"But the views from it and the lighthouse alone were well worth it. Just like the Okusan promised. Thank God it's warmer today. I could spend more time on the overlook viewing that really amazing cape. I sure made the right choice in coming down here, little buddy. Not only do we have a lot more time to enjoy things, but I also know what I want to do and what places I want to stay and eat at. Everything's just so much more familiar this time."

Be-Beep!

After feasting on suzuki again at the U-shaped counter at the same restaurant I ate at last time, I went back to the minshuku and laid out my sleeping futon, wondering what doing part of the ohenro at Kochi City is going to be like. Better than last time, I hope. And without those God damned yakking away businessmen!