Dragon Tree

Catching up now, after a wonderful week of holiday with the Bear.

We awoke to torrential rain, which only got heavier as we set out along the trail. Passing a couple going in the other direction en route, I wondered why they had taken a flash photo of us, and then realised it was lightning. Peals of thunder then followed, physically shocking in reverberation and sheer volume. We toiled up a steep and densely forested hillside, it now being very dark and extremely wet. We came to a rock - a clearing in the trees: suddenly, nothingness. Nothing except the wind-whipped mist and a terrifying presentiment that we were about to be struck by lightning. Stuck around long enough to take a couple of photos, and turned tail!

Back on the trail again, we met a man who asked us if we could walk together, as he was frightened in the rain. We agreed, and so continued until the sun came out. Reached a former logging railroad, now a wonderful path to the biggest tree of them all, Jomon sugi. This tree is the oldest and largest on the island, and is estimated to be between 2,170 and 7,200 years old! I had thought to blip that, but instead I find myself picking this photo instead. Peering into the mouth of the dragon is the man who became our travelling companion, Tsubasu-san. We parted ways that night, and wished him all the best.