The Long Walk

(I am transferring my blog from Tumblr to Medium. This post is from August 2012)

Its been tough today on the Shikoku Pilgrimage (四国遍路). There were more open areas without the protection of trees from the sun. I think I’m more burned then yesterday. For some reason my back pack is heavier then yesterday. I’m so hot, when I squish my shirt; water comes out. I’m dehydrated because there were longer stretches between temples do less chances to get water.

Through all of this: I feel great. I walked from Temple 6, where I slept to Temple 11. In total, 24 km. I never got a ride but thought about asking a few times.

It started out so nice. I said good bye to my new Japanese friends. I started walking with the children but eventually surpassed them. They were in a bus but I always caught up to them. They chanted while I meditated for a few minutes. After temple 8, they disappeared.

As mentioned the walks had more open spaces with wide open rice fields and layered mountains. The scenes were breath-taking. I just looked as I walked. Thought as I walked. I read road signs aloud to get the sound of the language. I practiced the chants I learned the night before. It was nice.

Temple 10 was a pain. It was in the mountains. I sat for a long time before I climbed it. It was painful. There were blisters growing but I made it up. The next challenge was getting to Temple 11, a 9 km walk with the threat of a thunder storm. The closer I got the more I couldn’t walk. The sign would count meters and I’d groan. I got there and nearly collapsed. I hitchhiked to the Onsan (spa or jimjilbang)

Just an amazing day.