Shiriyazaki

On Memorial Day, we took a field trip. We drove up to the northernmost point of Honshu: Cape Shiriya.


It's about a 2-hour drive north along the Pacific coast, and after I got over my "navigator's fear" of getting us on the wrong road, I was able to relax and enjoy the scenery.




At the cape, we saw the lighthouse,


enjoyed lots of rocky coastline,

a rock-gatherer's paradise

fun for rock climbers, too

amazing Pacific breeze!

No swimming allowed!

and, Katie's favorite part, the wild horses.








In Japan, every point and peak seems to have its own shrine.





After rock climbing and horse viewing, we were ready for lunch, but it was too windy for an outdoor picnic.


We ate in the car in the parking lot, while still enjoying the view.

PBJ on thick Japanese bread...mmm...mmm!

On the drive back, we passed a wind farm with huge windmills catching the Pacific winds.




For several days before we went, Matthew had been asking if there would be bad guys there, too. Finally, I made the connection. To him, wild horses sounded like misbehaving horses, so there might be misbehaving people as well. I think he must have been wondering why on earth we would want to go see such a thing.

After he met the horses, which are very gentle and mostly interested in eating grass--not at all aggressive like the wild ponies of Assateague Island, which come up to your car and nose around for people food--he understood the attraction.


All of us enjoyed the scenic drive and fresh ocean air of what was probably our last field trip before the baby arrives.