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From the Road
Deer in Shiretoko feasting on roadside grass and amusing tourists. 99.09.17/ Temperature: 10C/ Weather: partly cloudy and clear/
Start: Shiretoko Pass Destination: Hinode
Shiretoko Pass Latitude: 44 03 11 Longitude: 144 49 59
Hinode Latitude: 43 57 25 Longitude: 144 50 05
Distance Traveled: 36 km !I spent nine hours on the road today and it really made me think, "Why was this particular road made? " I thought about this even moreso after hearing that before the introduction of the car in Japan, roads were primarily for foot transportation. Now it's plenty difficult to find space to walk.
I. Good Road
I was grateful to have the road from Utoro to Shiretoko Pass which made the "Exploration for Wisdom" project starting ceremony possible this morning. If there were no road, WSN would have had a hard time convincing those who came to see me off that they needed to bushwhack for 17 km.The road that passed under my feet all throughout the morning is a road that brings many people to experience the wonderful nature of Shiretoko Pass. Like most roads, this one has a purpose. It creates better access to the beauty of Shiretoko and allows for economic activity in the area.
II. Bad Road
Full of breathtaking views and wildlife, the pluses of having the road from Shiretoko Pass are equaled by their side effects.In the brush alongside the road there were many deer out today. One may think that deer would run away from the slightest human sound. Few may assume that deer would flee after hearing the sound of a car, but the deer we saw today stood nonchalantly chewing on the weeds at the side of the road. He continued eating even while buses whirled by and a tourist inched closer to get a better shot.
I also noticed that most of the deer seen appeared near automobiles, a sign that they have grown accustomed to them as well at the food that happy viewers bring. This is so common now that I felt as if one deer on the side of the road was begging for food from me with its eyes. As natural as Shiretoko remains the deer I came across today did not resemble the frigid and shy deer that I remember from my youth. I felt that somehow the road is bringing a "human personality" to the many deer of Shiretoko.
Approaching the sea, the smell of salt in the air blended in with that of the rich greens of the highland.
III. Not a Walker's Road
The less traveled road to Shiretoko Pass became much busier by the time I reach Utoro. The shoulder of the road narrows to about the width of me and my backpack and the traffic doubled. Trucks whizzed by hauling goods to and from Utoro, tourist buses parked in front of restaurants and gift shops, and I walked along side hoping for the best.Roads, both good and bad, will play a big role for me on the rest of the journey.
As suitable as the roads may be for cars, they are in no way designed for walkers. This is evident by the lack of walkers on the road. The noise of cars passing through tunnels is deafening and auto exhaust is less than pleasant. Occasional sidewalks gave me relief from the narrow shoulder of the road. Otherwise, only a few centimeters separated me from the side windows of gas guzzling cars whizzing past. It is obvious is that many roads are not made for walking but what are they made for? Is walking so obsolete that roads should pay no attention to walkers?
Tunnels are dug, the seacoast and mountainsides are stabilized with concrete, and we are able to get from point A to point B faster, every day now. Walking amidst all of this gave me a good chance to think about the value of having roads.
On the road at 8:00 tomorrow.
Gregto Top News Page of Wisdom
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