Pano: Kimbo at Manzanita Lake during sunset.

Too bad this is pretty blurry.  It turns out getting a good pano, while SUP-ing in low light... is tough.  

X-mas in Japan: Part 10 - Mitaki Dera, Ko Arrives!

There are quite a lot of sights to see in Hiroshima.  Mitaki Dera is another great escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.  We decided to check out Mitaki Shrine while Becca was working and while we waited for Ko's fam to arrive along with my folks.  

Here's the rest thus far... 

Part 1 - Getting to Kawagoe

Part 2 - Minakami

Part 3 - To Jigokudani

Part 4 - Snow Monkeys!

Part 5 - Railway Museum, cousins

Part 6 - Tobu Zoo

Part 7 - Osaka Kid Zone

Part 8 - Xmas Eve party

Part 9 - Rabbit Island

scenes from the morning run.  Probably the most disorderly scene I saw in Japan.  Granted I was trespassing in some backyards... 

Beautiful scenes... Hiroshima sure is a great place to run.  

https://www.strava.com/activities/1327187490

Glorious

Hey!  Another runner!  

Hiroshima Castle

meanwhile, the kids were busy opening presents.  

Love the Japanese playgrounds... 

On the way to Mitaki Dera... we stopped by some sights.  

Peace memorial

more playgrounds!

Roller slides

A-bomb dome from origami

Check out this amazing haircut station... 

Tahdah!

they love maps in Japan...

and buddhas... 

After Mitaki we met up with everyone at the promenade where the Xmas lights were on display.  

Japanese Xmas lights are awesome.  

After checking out the lights, we went to dinner at Bam-san's place... which wasn't the most kid friendly.  

Ekiden!  I was in the middle of reading "The Way of the Runner"... highly recommended book about the running culture in Japan.  

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve with the Dufour twins

Spent a wonderful day exploring the shore while watching the Dufour kids.  After going to Cal Day yesterday and exploring the "tide pools" at one of ESPM's booths, we decided to go do some real tide pooling. 


Next time, I'd like to do a hike like this... which requires a LOT of hiking on the beach... but that'd be really fun. I think the kids could handle it.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/27376702

More links
https://www.510families.com/day-trip-to-the-fitzgerald-tide-pools/

What a stinker.  

after an hour or so of tidepooling, we decided to take the kids on a hike.  

Beautiful trees...

Thomas matching nicely.

found some lovely benches for numerous snack breaks.  

Pillar Point... home of Mavericks

not sure what this was... 

found some reminants of a rusty car... 

then we went up to Gray Whale Cove where Dylan, Kat, her brother and wife were hanging out with their kids.  And where Nikko wanted to shout at the ocean.