floatingroofs

floating roofs                                         So as well as providing water so tasty that people come at 5 in the morning to collect it, the air of these here peaks is absolutely sensationally delicious. Words cannot describe the pleasure of every breath that makes one almost melt into the world. Had a good bit of meditation on the way up and feeling wonderfully balanced just now – happy to be here, sad that its perhaps the penultimate climbing challenge but then happy again cos that’s means going home…and on and on.

Finally had the conversation I was hoping for with my friend who helped me experience the great irony of being woken by snoring in the middle of nowhere. I managed to give him a mikan and kaki as a contribution to his future sustenance, which will undoubtedly be severely tested by what he is planning. He has made himself completely homeless and is just beginning on a slow first 108 temple circuit, plus places he can pick up Fudo beads, and will then go round again seemingly visiting every vaguely religious spot on the map, once his belly is gone and he has a full necklace of red Sanskrit stones. I sometimes have great difficulty working out his words but his manner is incredibly soft and almost beyond childish whilst obviously possessing an iron will behind all he is doing. He only started in matsuyama so I guess this was his  shoosanji – he just left saying that the fruit gave him “superpower”. So I will tuck into a mikan myself before beginning to head down this mountain I’m not even anywhere near the top of. The views up into the infinite trees above the last section of path were completely awe-inspiring and I’ve undoubtedly learnt a great deal about the possibilities of mountain worship this morning. The air is even cold now the clouds are descending so before I become unwarmed up…