A shot of town from nearly the top of the hill
It started to rain once we got near the top, Seth and I figured Joe's constant earthshaking burbs were angering the Mountain Kami and causing the rain. We started down again, going down was a lot nicer than going up, just letting gravity do it's job is always a good thing.
After we got down to the bottom Seth took us down to the river, to one of the rock beaches. That was where the day turned to pure gold for me. Yesterday I went to Shirahama beach, it is on the pacific and has a white sand (imported from Australia) beach. It was gorgeous the water was nice, but I realized that I don't like oceans much. The water hurts your eyes, it tastes bad, the beach is crowded and usually beaches here are dirty. The thing I don't like most is the sense of size. Oceans are just too big. I felt vulnerable in swimming in the ocean unlike any feeling of swimming in lakes or rivers. Todays trip to the river was perfect, the water was just the right temp, the perfect color of blue green, it was clean, cool and clear. I honestly couldn't have asked for a more perfect end.
He then took us to the waterfall in Nakatsu and that was the cream. I wanted to wade into the falls, but the water was amazingly deep so I figure I shouldn't go in alone. I did indulge a bit, and it was worth it. Next time for sure. The temperature there was so much cooler than away from the falls too.
The falls at the edge of town. The water was deep and it was COLD! The falls were about 30-40 feet too so it was perfect. I'm told after a typhoon all the extra rain causes the water to fly out off the top like a rocket. I'm going back for that for sure. It was perfect.
My little buddy the turtle we found lounging on the road on the way back into town.
Turtle burger anyone?