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As soon as I put pilgrim’s white clothes on, and start the walk, half year ago feels like almost yesterday, then I think of my cane. A cane is not necessary on the flat coast roads, but I must get one before the mountains.Compared to Pacific side, fishing boats seem rather thinner and sharper, and the sea is much calmer. Or is this just very calm day?

Suddenly a bunch of chimneys appeared over the houses, as they grow from the roofs. The road eventually ends at the entrance of Oil refinery, the pilgrim path is almost leading into with my curiosity, but It sharply turns right at the entrance then to the left along its fence.I normally don’t take much photos of temples, either because I have not much interests or being in a hurry? Today, I wanted to get to the accommodation before the sun sets, I know that there are no time to waste. However the power of Oil is very fascinating, every few steps I stopped to photograph this interesting structures. The flame some how reminded me of blade runner. Perhaps for modern human, the Power of oil is greater than Buddha? I just could not stop taking photos.
In the end it was pitch black, hard to to see the map and to find the road to the accommodation. Again time elapsing strangely in my head, it’s been long time since I have been on this journey.

17.11.2016
52 太山寺
53 円明寺
ビジネスホテルつよし
37km

 

白衣を着て歩き始めると半年前はすぐ昨日の様。杖のことを考える。海沿い平坦な道は必要ないが、山に入る前にどこかのお寺で買わなければと。今日は凪だからかそれとも瀬戸内海だからか、しかし船の形も薄いよう、高知の太平洋側とは海が違う。

突然家々の屋根の上にいくつもの煙突が現れ、そして通りのその先真正面に製油所が現れる。遍路道が私の興味と一緒に中まで引き込まれていくと思いきや正面で右へ。
普段ほとんど寺の写真は撮らない、なぜかあまり興味が惹かれないからか、それとも先を急ぐからだからだろうか。しかし石油の力はすごい、足は遍路道の方向に向かって行っている、宿には日暮れ前に着きたい、が数歩行っては壁越しに一枚、また一枚を繰り返す。吹き出す炎を見ながらブレードランナーみたいだと思いながらまた一枚と。現代人には仏の力より石油の力の方が偉大なのだろうか。結局宿に着く頃には地図が見えないほど真っ暗になってしまった。そしてまた時間は不思議な経ち方をし始める。

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