Shimokita Peninsula

Last week we went on a short camping trip with our friends to the northern part of our island, Shimokita Peninsula. It rained for a good portion of the time, hence we drove all the tiny winding roads to see various tourist traps. 

This is the first campsite that we've stayed at that came with a picnic table - what a luxury. 

We stopped at Osorezan, one of the three holiest sites of Japan.

It was really fun to walk along the trail looking at little hot springs, piles of rocks with pinwheels, and little graven images. 

 Here are six Rokudai-Jizo and three wet Hacketts.

 We drove along the coast to see the mysterious snow monkeys. I think they used to run wild in this area. In fact the signs in this area do warn drivers against crossing monkeys, but it would appear that they had a great round-up and put all the monkeys in this cage. There is something about looking at my little monkeys looking at other little monkeys that warms the heart.

 The following day we drove out to Cape Shiriyazaki, home of the famous wild horses. I can't even begin to explain the let-down. I hoped to see wild horses in the style of "The Man from Snowy River." Instead we found horses in the style of overfed circus ponies. I didn't even have the heart to take their picture, instead I got Helen.

 Here are Ryan and the girls in front of the lighthouse. I sang "I'll be your candle on the water" the whole time we were there.

 My favorite part was searching for small treasures among the boulders. 

Backyard and visit to Inakadate

It is so good to be 9 months old. Alice is all over the place crawling, cruising, standing unaided with her "magic feather." I don't remember our other girls moving so fast or so quickly. Clearly she is trying to catch up.

Our neighbors have two swimming pools that we can borrow whenever we want. That seems to be every time we put our swimsuits on.

 We don't have air conditioning, so when it's hot I get inspired to harness the power of the sun. We made a solar cooker and successfully made mac & cheese - the granola didn't do so well.

 As part of out emergency prepardness plan Ryan got us poles and stakes for our tarp.

Last week we took a day trip to Inakadate, Japan to see the rice field art. I wore my John Deere shirt in honor of this agricultural event. After driving two hours to get there, Ryan and I decided that it reminded us of the Corn Palace. It's really too bad they don't sell geodes in Japan so that we can be sure when we have found a tourist trap.

Here is Ryan's favorite field. I asked him why and he said it was "an action movie in rice, complete with lightening, sword and fire." He even went so far as to say that most males would agree that it was the best one.

 My favorite field is in the background which consists of a bunch of people in a dragon boat.

 This is the close-up of said dragon head.

The girls loved the rice field art. Or maybe they just loved being on a short "vacation" and singing all the way across the width of Japan. 

Here is another picture that I couldn't resist throwing into the mix. Jane is in transition to giving up her naps. Some days she is more successful than others. Luckily her little bunny was able to tell her what happened in the story when she woke up.