Kevers in Japan: last day

We woke up ready to head home. There was a hurricane coming into Tokyo later that day and I really wanted to avoid as much rainy driving as possible. Several stops had to be made first so we had an early start.

This circle K convenience store had a parking area for people like us, who just want a place to sleep in their car for the night. We were free to use the bathroom and shower, and this was a great place for fresh bread in the morning.

Sleep area

We started driving along the coastline of Japan where the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit on March 11, 2011. I knew it was bad, but the sheer reality of driving through town after town utterly wiped out was really hard. I wanted to take more pictures, but with so many working to rebuild with what had happened I could only muster a few. I felt guilty somehow.

A sign always indicated where the tsunami had hit

huge sea walls being built

getting ready to rebuild

nothing left

The children learned a lot about tsunamis that day. Visually. They knew a lot already, but this hit home more for all of us.

The Kitayamazaki Cliffs are along the coast here and we stopped here for a hike and some time to run around.

flowers from my girl

Enjoying cliffs, seems to always include hundreds of stairs!

Heading inland we made our last stop before the final push home to Ryosendo Cave. A extensive limestone cave in the mountains. Large volumes of clear blue water gush out from the depths and form an underground river and four underground lakes. We were able to view 3 of the lakes which are 35, 38, and 98 meters deep respectively. Of all we saw on the trip, this is what was written about in the children's journals back at home the most.