In the end, I didn’t extend but stayed until check out time. However after the 78th I realised about severeness of that delay. A night before I was thinking in bed about how to hit those three temples as they are positioned triangularly. Considering the distance and elevation, it seemed to me, the 81st is the first, then to the 82nd, then to the 80th is much more efficient, than usual number order. On top it would be easy to reach the 83rd afterwards. But can I really get to the 80th on time with this delay. I absolute hate surfaced flat road which very difficult to maintain the speed, contrary, as soon as I am on unsurfaced mountain road, I can have great concentration and high pace therefore I should be. I reached the 82nd around 3 o’clock. quickly finish the temple duties and got stamped. Then after I rang an accommodation to book a room near by the 80th temple. I was told by a lady that it will be too late, too dangerous to go through the mountain once it gets dark therefore I should find elsewhere near by the 82nd temple. I am not normal old retired week Japanese pilgrims, my mind set and attitude towards to this thing is nowhere near similar, there is no way back. My determination, challenge mood and the dark side are completely switched on. According to the map it is just under 7km gradual down hill mountain road. if there are no steps I could go easily way faster than the surfaced road.
And actually it was way more than I was expected, nice softness of woody leafy soil with very gradual down hill. My speed went just up and up. I thought couple of times if I went to other way according to the number order 80 81 82 then it must have been harder. I was running down with smile like a mad man, until the surfaced road appeared. In the end I reached the 80th temple in just over one hour. After the 80th temple I walked pass the accommodation which refused me, I put middle finger up in my mind. Positive strong power is also coming from the dark side.
After bath I walked to the restaurant in between rice fled in pitch black, I thought that the gate of temple 82 was beautiful with autumn leaves but I only photographed one with my mobile as I was on hurry. I should have slow down a bit.
23.11.2016
78郷照寺
79高照院
81白峯寺
82根来寺
80国分寺
せと国民旅館
28.5km
結局チェックアウト時間ギリギリまで疲れがたまってかダラダラしていた。そしてその遅れの程が問題であることに78番の後に気付く、前日からどのルートを通るか考えてはいたがやはり番号順ではなく、81、82、80、の順の方が距離、高低差などから考えて効率的でその次の83へも行きやすいように見えるので79から81へ向かう。果たして80番国分寺の納経時間に間に合うだろうか。舗装された平らな道は非常に苦手、速度もそれほどあげられない。一旦山道に入ると不思議な事に一心不乱に速いペースで歩き続けられる。82番根来寺に着いたのは3時ぐらいだっただろうか、急いで納経を終えて80番近くの宿に電話をかけると、遅くて暗くなって危ないですからこないでください、どこか引き返して近くのところに泊まってくださいと言われる。私は一般的な日本人の定年後の年取ったお遍路とは心構えも姿勢も違う引き消すことなどありえないと、スゥィッチオン、急に自信とやる気がみるみる湧いてきた。地図からだと7km弱の緩やかな下りの山道だから平坦な舗装された道よりも階段がなければ早く歩ける自信があった。
予想以上に程よく整備された山道で速度は上昇しっぱなし最後は馬鹿みたいに笑いが止まらない状態、80、81、82だったら真逆でダラダラの登りのルートだったと思いながら飛ぶように駆け降り続け、結局舗装が現れるまでお遍路としては気狂いの速度、一時間強で国分寺に到着。
風呂の後、真っ暗闇の田んぼのあぜ道を通って国道のファミレスに夕食へ。82番の根来寺の山門と紅葉は美しかったが急いでいたので写真も携帯で一枚だけ、もう少し余裕があった方がいいなと思う。