9th DAY: Rappelling

David and Nigel went on the river tracing tour again in the morning. I spent the time to catch up on my blogs and do some editing on some videos. They came back at 13:00 along with 3 other guests and we had some traditional style lunch. Ikumi, Rocky’s wife prepared for us sushi wrapped in a leaf with trout, sliced green onions, and spices, miso soup and bread which we cooked ourselves over a fire wrapped around a stick. It was all so yummy! We took a hung out until 17:00 and waited for Rocky to finish work.

We walked over to the bridge near the fishing center, fully equipped and ready to descend. He gave us a lesson on how to link the rope to ourselves and practiced that before he gave us a demonstration on how to do it. He came up and prepared Nigel to go first. It looked easy enough to me. Nigel was willing but still a little apprehensive. I don’t blame him. We were about 15m up. He came down smoothly. Next came David. He too was a bit scared too, but “it was something you just have to try once.” He looked comfortable but he didn’t want to try it again. And finally came me, the only person who isn’t afraid of heights. I admit, at first it really pumps up your adrenaline, relying on a rope to support all your weight horizontally, then jumping off and you’re just hanging there. It kind of feels like you’re suspended in a chair.

I think I’d like to do this more often. Next time, something a little more challenging.

6th DAY: Close Call

We woke up to my cell alarm at 8am. Soon after we heard some noises outside. Nigel had a peak through the crack. There were several grounds keepers cutting down branches atop a 15m ladder. They were too busy to realize our scooters were right behind them under the facilities hut. We both got paranoid and packed our bags furiously. We didn’t want to get caught and have 5 guys yelling at us in Japanese. Then Nigel says they saw our scooters and went down to the main building to tell the others. That was our cue. We ran out, packed our bags onto our bikes, got on and rolled down the zig zag pathway downhill. As soon as we got out the front gates, I turned the ignition and sped off scott free.

We stopped at the lakeside park to regain our composure, take a bath and have breakfast. This is one of Nigel’s fears entering these campsites at night when there’s no one there and not paying. Someone catching us and getting the police involved. I don’t believe they would take it that far but it’s a possibility. Thus far, other than the 1st day where we could have gotten away but took too long, we hadn’t paid yet. But by the end of the day, we ended up paying for a bungalow later that night. It was 2520yen ($26). Originally, it was that price just to pitch the tent but after some negotiating, we talked him down from 6300yen. It was just a shelter with nothing in it but a light and a plug, very Japanese! Atleast it was out of the rain and wet ground for another night where we could dry our things from 2 nights before.

The next day, we’re supposed to meet up with Rocky Osaki and possibly David weather dependant. The drive through the mountains along the raging river has been breathtaking so far so I’m sure there’ll be more of that tomorrow. Really looking forward to it!