Shirahama and a Fea's

Well the rainy season started on Friday and we departed for Shirahama on Saturday morning to be washed out on the beach. All was not lost though as we set up under a palm tree umbrella-type construction which are on the beach, bought some tarapaulins and proper umbrellas and made it as waterproof as possible...it was good until the rain got too much but we drank some beers and had a laugh. There were loads of people on the beach despite the rain, a touch-rugby tournament on one end and crazy Japanese people with umbrellas, wearing their finest walking along the beach. Mind you, they were probably thinking about the dumb gaijins sitting under a most ridiculous looking construction, getting slight wet and drinking beer. We then headed up to the hotel, had something to eat, went to the onsen and soaked in hot mineral springs for an hour before returning to the rooms to eat and be merry. Crashed and burned after that...had another onsen in the morning and went back home early due to inclement weather conditions. It was good to get out of the city though so the weather didn't dampen things too much. Hearing the lions roar from the "wildlife park" next door was pretty amazing, an unbelievable sound...photos shall follow shortly

Meanwhile, when I got back to the apartment a short while ago,after spending the early evening watching Sin City (a class film, really enjoyed it) at C&S's place, I learn that my dear, dear friend Mr. C Barton has had the holy grail of seabirds off Galley head...a fea's petrel.... my heart both sank and skipped a beat at the same time. It's one of the birds that one dreams about seeing off the headlands of Ireland...a bird that I have looked long and hard for the last couple of years off the headlands of Cork. Fair play Col, it must have amazing...made me slightly homesick to hear of that news as Col and I spent some hours on Galley Head last year hoping one would fly by...ya LANGER!!! I meant that in the nicest way possible Col (amazing number of Cory's aswell, 1000's flying past, must have been cool to see)!!!

Anyway, I shall now dream of that Fea's...so until next time