Distance: 21 Miles
Temples: 27
Lodging: Drive In 27
The morning started with a brief service at the temple, followed by yet another amazing meal, and then we hit the road.
Rockin' the hat
Our shadows look cooler then we do
This was a one-temple day, right at the very end. It was also the only day that I hadn't been able to make a sleeping reservation for, every time I tried the place I wanted the phone would just ring and ring. I'd learned my lesson from last year, so at the first payphone I resolved not to leave until I had a place to sleep.
Once again my first choice didn't pick up, so it was on to number two- there were only three places to pick from. The payphone was along a busy road and I had a hard time understanding the old lady that answered the phone. I said "yes" to several things that I didn't fully understand, and hung up fairly confident that we had a place to stay that night.
These were everywhere, showing elevation above sea-level
"In case of a tsunami, this part of town is screwed."
The walk passed without incident, and soon we arrived at our lodging, "Drive-In 27". Temple 27 was a mountain temple and Drive-In 27 was located at the base of the mountain. We checked in and dropped our packs at what looked to be a rather shabby restaurant. The location of the rooms for sleeping was not clear.
The climb up to Temple 27 was steep but not terrible, and we made it up much faster then we thought we would.
Once back at Drive-In 27 we had a decent dinner and then the land lady told us to follow her to our rooms. She took us out the door and down a few blocks, into the center of a small town. In a rather run-down building she showed us to our rooms. Water stains on the walls, patched paper walls, and a trick spot just inside the door where apparently there was nothing holding up the tatami mat floor. Aldin was nice enough to discover that spot for me.
Actually the place was so bad it was awesome, and ranks as my second favourite lodging of the trip.
Dinner
