[BACK] [NEXT]
Letter 48
Saturday 28.09.13 130,27 km
I start early and except one mistake - I come racing down across the bridge
and don't see the sign for Route 32 - so I'm on my way up Route 45 towards the
pass!!! It's not until I see the sign with "Oboke 12km", that I realize, I'm
totally wrong.
Except this minor detail it goes down a deserted Route 32. It's apparently only
tourists, that drive here, and they're not even up yet, it's 8am.
The road follows a shelf in the mountain side, way up over the river - not much
different from Gorges de la Nesques in Vaucluse in France.
The Iya valley seen from up high
Never the less it goes up for some km. We're really going up high before a wild
descent starts where the punched road winds in and out. From time to time the
forrest closes around you. It's a remarkable descent and I'm suddenly happy I
made a fool of myself the other day and had all this going up over and done on
the 45.
Haven't I seen him somewhere else...?
A village just before the main road
In the end the road turns back to the main road, where I meet with the first
traffic light for 2 days. I didn't miss them...
Then there are 9 km back from where I came the other day and then left by Route
192. I pass a tiny post office. Do they really have a ATM? Yes, they have, no
problems, and I have money again.
There is a single pass to get over, but it's not so high, and after that it goes
down for the coast. It's 6.15pm and the amazing thing have happend, I've come
all the way to Imabari. I've won a day according to my plan.
I did go to the station in Niihama, but there was no T.I., and the town didn't
look like one you would spend the night in, so I went on to see how far I could
get. Had to have a Coke. Then it takes 20 min and I speed up.
I saw three pilgrims during the day. There are 88 temples in the island you have
to visit and to do it "properly" you have to walk on foot.