Misc from June

June 28 2010: Thought I'd do just a few miscellaneous photos from Mom's camera. The above is from our return journey to Shipwreck Beach in the little town of Kamikita (I assume it's the town, could be the name of the store for all I know)

On the 25th we went to the mall. I think the kids (Katie included) enjoyed riding the slanted escalators more than anything....had to go up all levels and back down all levels. Though Katie and I did contemplate that one should ride down in a cart of some kind....

And, I'm sure you are aware, that when shopping, one must really wear sensible shoes. Gads! My feet hurt just looking at these.

Ok, now remember in the last blog posting I was telling you about our ride home. Tried taking a different way home than what we came? So, here we are at about the point that I realize this is not the road I think it is.

And here we are when I realize that I will have to stick with this road that is not where I think I should be. I think it got even more narrow down by the curve, as there was more brush. But thank goodness there wasn't a car coming in the opposite direction. I really hate running locals off of their own roads....

And this is about the point where Mykah proclaimed that he had never been in a car full of so many giggling women. (Aunt Inga Syndrome had struck in full force)

June20-25 2010

June 21: After a few days of rain.....HEAVY rain. (My niece Katie was amazed at the size of the rain drops and the quantity....has lived in the desert all her life) We finally got some sunshine. Though we did have to plan activities carefully at the beginning of the week, as it is to the point where it will rain at least once a day. We even had an impressive thunder storm. Haven't had one of those since leaving Virginia. Lightening, thunder booms, dark, dark, dark skies....the works!

Monday the 21st took Mom and Katie to see the giant "sucky fish" (as Andi calls them) and the neighbor Mykah as well. (Get used to seeing him....his mom is single, working full time, so he will be with us a lot this summer.) Anyway, had a freezer full of moldy bread, so had lots to feed the fish.

The horses were out in their little pasture (still at the Grand Hotel area) much to Andi's delight. Mykah-not so delighted. He hadn't seen a horse that up close in a long while, and is allergic to them, so he stayed a fair distance back.

I'm not real sure what it is about the local horses, they seem to like to come up and nudge me for more pets. I'm more than willing to pet them....and life is good.

June 22: Shipwreck Beach. Yes, this time we found it! Well, it helped that the youth center was up there on a field trip, so I could look for the government vans to mark the spot. Really, we had it the first time that Shane. Andi and I went, we just weren't brave enough to walk over the rope blocking the road. But, well, if the the government sponsored school is going to do it, then by jove, so am I.

On the directions to the place, it is indicated to look for the large gravel pit. You know, it's not a gravel pit.....it is a GIANT pile of oyster shells, complete with hordes, excuse me, a murder of BBFR (big black flying rats aka Crows). So, down the road we walked and

VIOLA!

Shipwrecks! Now, I don't know the history of these ships. The bay looks fairly sheltered, so don't know the how's or why's. I've looked on google and come up with lots of other folks who have come here and taken pictures. I'll have to continue a search to see what I can find out.

Well, I don't know what was going through Katie's mind...perhaps feeling the power of the sea. Mom is, of course, taking pictures. It just seemed like such a contrast.....

We left Shipwreck Beach and drove a little further up the coast line to where SAM has been before. Mom decided that the water was just calm and soothing to go without taking a dip. Now I know that if we had been in a more secluded area, and didn't have Mykah with us, she would've been down to the bare necessities and into the water. It's a family thing....I can remember my mother doing this when I was a young child, and my Grandmother as well. I guess thank goodness for being in strange countries (?)

The water was a little chilly, but refreshing. I mean, gee, it must have been a sweltering 70 degrees outside.
Below: Noheji Town (or is it a city?) is off in the corner of the bay.

June 25 2010: Ok, time for the really fun field trip. We went to Kabushima. All right, you know this means some research. This is what I do know from the info we get on base. "Kabu Island is a breeding ground for black-tailed gulls. The birds live on the coast of East Asia, but fly to Kabu Island every February to breed.

"From February to July each year, the bird populations is about 40,000. Japanese fishermen regard black-tailed gulls as "messengers of good luck" because they often gather over large schools of fish. On top of Kabu Island is the Itsukushima Shrine dedicated to Benzaiten, the Indian Goddess of good luck. Benzeiten is symbolic of the black-tailed gulls and the good fortune they bring."
http://hararie-japan-tokyo-tokyo.com/japanese_culture/2010/04/black-tailed-gulls-in-kabushima-shinto-shrine.html for a bit more info.

Now, let me say this. What the papers and websites don't tell you. First it stinks! There is poop everywhere (well of course they're birds!) Second, it's noisy!

At the bottom of the steps, before you start your journey is a pile of umbrellas. We all took one, really it's the safest way to do this.
And they are everywhere. EVERYWHERE! Did I mention EVERYWHERE! Every square inch of ground has a BWFR (Big White Flying Rat) (I mean no disrespect....it's just well, they're dirty birds)

Really dirty birds....even the dog guardians have to wear scarves on their heads.

Now, it's kind of hard to tell one gull from another....but I'm sure the same one was sitting on the rope on the way in, as on the way out. I suppose that when there are that many gulls around, if you find a spot, you just kind of stick with it for as long as you can.

All lined up along the fence. You could walk all around the top. The fence follows the whole perimeter of the top of the island (though really it's not an island, but that's what it's called) There are gulls all along those rocks and grass in the background....everywhere...

more......

The temple, with of course.....more gulls

Andi standing along the trail. If you click on the picture and look at her umbrella....it's been decorated. Luckily that isn't our own personal umbrella, like I said a huge pile at the bottom of the steps donated by generous people who perhaps didn't want to take their poopy umbrella back home.

Oh, and did I mention the smell???? Horrid! Katie went up the steps, looked, then went back down. Mykah lasted a few minutes longer than Kate, then back down. Mom, Andi and I did the full lookey loo thing. Though I have decided that if I come down with some sort of bird flu ailment, I'll know exactly where I got it from.

Mom coming down with her decorated umbrella.

I'm sure there is some Alfred Hitchcock moments that take place here.

We did have a fun ride home....but I forgot to pictures in....I'll start off the next blog with pictures of a road just barely wide enough for the truck....mom says it was smaller than the truck...things to look forward to.

Now, the videos. I'm sorry if they are a bit wobbly. It is hard to hold the camera, push the button with a finger on the same hand that is holding the camera and hold onto an umbrella with the other, while the wind is blowing and gulls are flapping about everywhere. But at least you get an idea of the noise....the stink...well, just imagine lots of bird poop...

June 21 2010

June 10 2010 At long last....a posting! Good Heavens! Where has the time been going? But as most of you know, we have had visitors from the states! My mother is here for a month, and Tova and her family toured Southern Japan, and came to Misawa for a few days as well. The result has been a lot of activity...lots and lots of pictures, and well....no postings.
But since the day is starting out slowly (meaning Andi is still sleeping, as is my niece) I shall take advantage of the time and share some pictures.
Above is some wisteria from what we call Swan Lake park (yes there are two swans there at the moment).
We took a walk around the lake/pond (I don't know, to big to be a pond, seems to small to be a lake) More trail grooming has been going on. Little construction projects as well. Home made sawhorses tell where the work is being done.


Below: A view from the top of the tower. Last year I took mom and the tower was closed. It was open this time, all 100 and some steps, I think Andi said 156....can't remember. Anyway, mom went up.....

even managed to walk out off the solid surface floor to the heavy metal mesh floor that gives you an extreme downward look at your potential landing zone, then back down we went.

Below: a view of the tower from...well below.

Andi got to play at the park for a bit. She'll play with the local children, though there's not a lot of conversation that goes on there.

Just a pretty flower.


Ah, now comes the adventure.....Mom, Andi and went to the beach. Turns out it was a bit on the foggy side. But that didn't stop Andi from wanting to build a sandcastle. So, we crossed the tidal pool, and went to the sand bar between the ocean and tidal pool. Note, it was a pretty big stretch between the two. Looked like the tide was going out.....

Mom put her bags and shoes on the sandbar and went to retrieve water for Andi. (there are those giant jacks all around to create a sheltered cove, the the ocean itself was rather rough) Anyway, there's mom innocently collecting water when....

Well, I couldn't get a picture of it....but there she is (you can see the wave coming in the left background....it kept coming, coming, coming) And, a little wave started breaking over her feet, well the water kept coming! We looked back and saw that her bags and shoes were in process of floating on the water....so of course, who comes to visit us. That's right... "Aunt Inga Syndrome" (you remember, the uncontrollable laughter at totally inappropriate times) at the beach! Screams of "My BAGS! MY CAMERA!" followed by a spate of giggles. With me running ahead "I can reach them!" and laughter/giggles coming from me as well. Andi, just trying to save herself....giggling the whole way.

The end result....Mom has a new pair of shoes...while we were able to save the others, they were SO packed with sand that when dried, they just weren't the same. Her camera was fine, though the bag soaked, and her backpack collected a bit of sand, but dried and cleaned just fine. I, having RAN through the water to get to the camera was soaked from the waist down....no, I don't have that picture....it is on Mom's camera.

We did continue to walk out to the ocean where there are no barriers, and the waves were VERY big (alas, the batteries in my camera died and I have not yet unloaded mom's pics)

June 16 2010: Went with the Arnold's and Mom and Andi to the Air and Space Museum. Andi and I have been there many times. So it was fun to watch others play around. Though as always, Andi had a great time with the hands on activities.

This young lad had a great time watching the crazy Americans make facial imprints in the whatever-you call it machine.

Below: There's the Arnold's

And Andi, Mom and myself.

June 17 2010: Off to Oirase Gorge! One of my favorite hikes/walk. Not really a hike, as it is all groomed trails, and not to much incline.

A local artist at work.

Made it up to the falls.!

Bill and Andi walking back to the car. Andi has missed her cousins. Whenever we are out with them she has to hold the hand of one or another.

Bill trying to find the fish that we had spotted from the bank.

We didn't hike all the way up to Lake Towada....Andi and Katie had Koto class to go to, so instead drove up. The weather there was a bit stormy, though it hadn't started to really rain yet. A fine mist doesn't count in these parts.

Below: On the way back to Misawa, stopped at a little roadside stand/restaurant that had various statues out and about.

Wandered about the gardens for a little bit. Will have to come back and eat at this place. Something to add to the list of things to do.

And no worries, the camera is always busy clicking away. Hopefully will get in another update at the end of this week. Provided I can get computer time....I'm sharing with Mom and Katie. Though I can use Shane's, all my pictures are stored over here.

And finally, we were on our way back to Misawa. Lots of sleepy bodies in the van (I got to drive a looonngg van, lots of Inga giggles when it came to parking at times) Bill took the picture from the front seat (since I was engaged in driving), though not til after his nap was over. He didn't get room to stretch out like the other 3, I was a little worried at times that his head might crash into the dashboard. He would usually jerk back upright at the last minute. Then I worried he would end up with whip lash.

That's Joe's fingers in the way back, he was awake as well.