Kumano Kodo: Day 4

Early morning start by the hot spring river and then a beautiful hike through lush landscape —towering cedar, groves of bamboo, walls of fern, camphor and maple trees adding sweet smells and color, and then a hard won vista of undulating mountains. Magical. The bento box lunch prepared by last night’s host was no PB&J 😋 Jay got clocked in the ear by a 🦅 (hawk) that swooped in for his salmon and then it and it’s buddy bird taunted us as we left 🤭 Jay also got alarming news about a close friend, he thought, as we started the hike, but thankfully it was miscommunication/false alarm. Important reminder to hold friends and family close 💕 Closed out day with outdoor onsen and hiker group dinner at inn (feeling guilty posting the food 😋 it’s so unbelievably good) and beautiful chimes/bells (?) the town tolls on specific hours. Dreading brutal climb tomorrow and sad our time on Kumano Kodo is coming to an end. ☹️Read more