6/28/2020 Walk with a Doc

“Today’s 4 1/2 hour Walk with a Doc (6 hours with picnic time included) was accompanied by cooling breezes and widespread fluffy white clouds, lessening the intensity of the 28-31* temperature. Highlights included:

1. 27 friends of AMC departed Agari-Teeda Park at 8:15 walking about 45 minutes along the Pacific Ocean and Yonabaru Bay into the town of Yonabaru.
2. After Yonabaru’s business and residential areas, our route took us past the Yonabaru City Hall to country roads south of town.
3. At 10:45 we arrived at the Ozato Castle Ruins Park overlooking Yonabaru Bay, with panoramic views of Okinawa’s East coast from Chinen Peninsula, Sashiki, Yonabaru, Kirakira Beach, Nishihara, Nakgusuku, on up to the Katsuren Peninsula. Kudaka and Tsuken Islands were also in full view.
4. A leisure picnic lunch on a shaded observation platform, just large enough for the 27 of us to spread out. Several people took time for a post meal nap. (Picture included)
5. A friendly visit with Kochi San who lives off the grid (no running water or electricity) on the cliffs overlooking the town of Yonbaru. When asked his age, his quick reply was “150 divided by two”! For 23 years he has awakened to unobstructed sunrises, and allowed this same sun to determine his bedtime. He claims to have had no reason to see a doctor for the last 30 years.
6. The prewar lite-rail Yonabaru train station (与那原駅舎), now museum, provided a 15-minute air conditioned break on the return trip.
7. Since much of the route was downhill, the return trip to Agari-Teeda Park seemed shorter than the morning trek. But still the heat and distance combined to exhaust all but the most fit.

Our next Walk with a Doc outing is scheduled for 7/26.

Some historical sites of the town of Nishihara will be visited.

Meeting Place: AMC parking lot

Meeting Time: 7:45 am.

Departure Time: 8:00 am