Bridges

Another poo in the toilet - are we getting there? It looks like Tom will only be toilet trained whilst on holiday!

Seto Ohashi Bridge

Today our rail passes commenced so we (Ok - Matt) booked a Shinkansen to Okayama and the on to Kojima which is where the Seto Ohashi Bridge stretches for about 20 miles between Honshu and Shikoku using any little islands in the way as stepping stones across the Setonikai (Inland Sea). There is also a bridge museum in Kojima housed in a funky building where you can climb over its roof.

Banking

We got to Kojima went straight to Tourist Info to find out that the bridge museum has closed and the bus to the viewpoint of the bridge goes once an hour (5 minutes ago) Poo - not a good start. So we wandered around the station area went into a baby shop looking for nappies - these seem to be hard to find over here making me think that they use reusables here. We bought some in Himeji earlier in the week but we could only find pull ups - really thin pull-ups. Tom wore one for the first time last night and woke up in a wet patch - not great as we have no way to clean the futon he is lying on. So sheets went in the washing machine first thing. We looked at the selection of nappies in the baby shop - all were pull ups. However we did manage to find a waterproof backed sheet a quarter the size of his bed and bought that hoping it will stop the leakages going into the futon.

We found a Dr Yellow rain coat and Shinkansen umbrella in the store but they were quite expensive so stayed there. Tom unfortunately had a bit of a moment in the store meaning we left quickly and had to have words with him sat on the harbour wall - turns out he was hungry - if only he would say rather than cry!

Clambering

We then went for a look around an electrics store. They had a nappy section including Pampers and some proper nappies not just pull ups - so we made a mental note and decided to go back there to buy them before leaving.

Funny Bridge

By the time we had finished there it was time to get the bus to Washuzan - the observation point. When we got there it seemed really deserted and we wondered if we had done the right thing. We walked up the road and found the observation area - it was beautiful, unfortunately it was really hazy so we couldn't see too far in the distance but the haze added a certain mystique to the area giving it a ghostlike atmosphere. To our relief there was a tourist shop and restaurant up there (we were all beginning to get hungry) got to the restaurant to find all the good tables full - not sure where everyone had come from. We all had a really good lunch: Katsudon ( pork schnitzel on rice) for Matt and Tendon (a selection of tempora and rice)) for me. Tom ate a bit of everything and said "my want ebi" in a very loud voice to me luckily I had two or I would have been very upset. We keep meaning to take photos of our lunches and dinners when we go out as Japanese food is always so beautifully presented but are always mega hungry when it arrives that we forget. Must try harder next week.

More clambering

  We went to the shop, got some postcards and Tom got his stamp, then we went down to get the bus back to Kojima. We got off near the museum building as we were hoping the a park that used to be in front of it would still be there - it was. The park had recreations of lots of different bridges for children to climb over: wooden ones, concrete ones, curvy ones, pointy ones, wobble wobble ones, small ones, tall ones and a rope and pulley bridge. Although Tom wasn't carefree playing on them he gave them his best shot and had a good time. It was a fantastic place for children.

We then walked back to the station we found another park on the way with a water feature which Tom HAD to play in. Initially he marched in soaking his boots - so I pulled them and his socks off and he had a nice play.

We then went back to the station and got a train across the Seto Ohashi Bridge - just like being in a train in the sky, it was a great view. We got to the first station in Shikoku got off, found a stamp (to prove we had been there) then got on the next train back. Tom admitted that he was now tired so I told him to sleep on me which to our amazement he did - he got a good 20 mins waking when we had to transfer trains. Of course he was transferring on to a Shinkansen so he perked up in no time and had a lovely time as the carriage was empty - meaning we allowed him to wonder around trying out all the different seats - very exciting for a three year old!

Can't get my shorts wet!

We got back to Aioi - Tom demanded we play football with him which we did until he kicked it under the gate of a building - oops - we will have to get him a new one tomorrow. Aioi has become alive this weekend. It is their annual Dragon Boat racing weekend this weekend. today was a massive firework ceremony (went on from 7.30 to 9.00) we saw hundreds of people making their way down, lots of girls and women were wearing kimonos and some men yukatas which looked really good. I hope they wear them to the races again tomorrow as I would love to get some photos of them. Tom surprisingly hardly noticed the fireworks - they certainly put on a show and with the surrounding mountains the sound reverberated somewhat. Anyway it was a good day.

At last - this is how I'm meant to travel!

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Location:Kojima