Early Morning Along the Toishi and Furoko Rivers

 

November 7th, 2014, and I head off on day 15 of my walk along the Chugoku Kannon Pilgrimage.

With the days getting shorter I head off before sunrise to cover as much distance as I can.

I love watching the day begin, especially in the autumn and winter, and especially in rural areas.

My route today will be walking up the Toishi River, a tributary of the Kurose River, and then up a tributary of the Toshi, the Furoko River. This will take me pretty much due west and then I cross over a line of hills/mountains into the Kumano River valley.

The first hour or so of the day is known as the "golden hour" for photographers, for obvious reason.

I stopped in at any shrines I passed, one of which will get its own post next....

Was impressed with these dragons adorning the storehouse.... this kind of plaster relief is called kote-e and I have covered it in previous posts....

Ebisu and Daikoku, 29 percent of the Seven Lucky Gods....

It seems to be a fairly wealthy area, at least compared with my area... I guess the proximity to a metropolis must help....

Many of the shrines were flying banners, indicating that matsuri is about to take place, or has just taken place....

Cities and fishing communities usually have their matsuris in the summer, but in the country side they happen after the rice has been harvested....

I have encountered quite a few small planes used as advertising in the countryside... no idea what this one is about....except it is a Beechcraft 50 Twin Bonanza.

By late morning I reached the pass and looked down into the Kumano Valley...

The previous post was on Azumako Falls