Tokai Nature Trail - An Around Hike. Sept-Nov 2024.

 30 sept Map 11 & 12: (hotel) shimada// Bus to Ieyama station -> nomorino pond -> yatare falls -> ushinshiro cherry tree -> ittoku-ji -> toriisawa -> harunosan daiko-ji -> otoki resting area (tent) Mid to low 20s, sunny moving to overcast - it was good walking weather! The first bus to Ieyama station only left at 8 so I had a leisurely morning, before making my way to shimada station. All was going well, the weather looked nice, the route looked good and I was rested. The bus touches down at ieyama station at 9... And then I discovered something quite unfortunate and rather annoying. So it turns out at some point in the last two days I've put my poles down and not picked them back up. I've narrowed it down to either leaving them on the bus to shimada station or at a geocache I grabbed after getting of the bus. I wasn't planning on going into Hamamatsu at the end of tomorrow but now it looks like I will be spending a day tracking down my poles or bu...

 29 Sept Shimada Mid 20s, overcast, humid, but also a cool breeze(!!) as shimada is near the coast. I managed to track down some vinegar last night so, hopeful I've killed all or most of the mold and not done any damage to the structural integrity of my pack, only time will tell if this has worked (and hopefully bears aren't attracted to the smell of vinegar). The temperatures have definitely started to drop, with most days being mid 20s as opposed to high 20s/low 30s now but I really can't wait for the humidity to drop as well. After a great hotel breakfast for only ¥550 I set out for a day of relaxed sightseeing. Tokaido cobble road: there is a section of the old Tokaido road near kayana station. It is quite short but was a nice little walk to start the day off. Makinohara tea terraces: I walk through the area and was able to see tea being picked (by a machine) and the plants being maintained. Tea museum, Shizuoka: great museum about  Shizuoka tea and how it has shaped th...

 28 Sept Map 10 & 11: (tent) Ippukudokoro Takane view point -> nishimuki suspension bridge -> waraibotoke -> kamigochi -> ieyama station // bus to shimada (hotel) Mid 20s, overcast We set off at around 7 after packing up camp and having a quick breakfast. It felt quite strange after 3 weeks to have another person at camp both last night and this morning. it was also very refreshing having someone to talk about the trail and what we'd seen and the different approaches we had taken. While packing up I also discovered that some mold had started to appear on my bag, not surprising since it probably hasn't been properly dry in 3 weeks. First stop was nishimuki suspension bridge which crosses above a road, not a river as the other bridges have. There is also a toilet with a bench, water and power points at on end. Continuing along the trail we gained a little elevation to reach waraibotoke, the end of the ridge line were a buddah statue is apparently buried because i...