Picking up the pieces in Japan
30 March 2018 | Marin Pia Marina, Musashi, Oita
Jo
Here we are on Brother Wind again, after a couple of days in sunny Seoul on the way out to Japan, then back to four days of non-stop torrential rain as we cowered below decks, high up on the hard. Since then the weather has redeemed itself, and Japan is bursting into bloom. Cherry blossoms are just coming out, Magnolias are in flower and Camellias are just fading. We were even taken on a trip to admire the oil seed rape, which amused us no end, particularly as there was a special viewing platform, and plenty of people viewing!!
Work on Brother Wind is slowly progressing, with many of the usual frustrations, and lots of language barriers! Our large box shipped from the UK containing a new loo has arrived, and Giles installed it, but other items we’ve ordered still seem to be stuck in customs in Tokyo, which is frustrating, and impedes progress.
The saddest and strangest thing that has happened since our return is the disappearance of a Japanese yachtie, who sadly seems to have fallen overboard when the weather was bad. Two or more days later the police arrived with 6 divers, who did a pretty half-hearted and unsuccessful search for him, and then went off. His wife appeared and cleared the boat, and that seems to be that, no further searching for the body or anything else. So every time I see something in the water I immediately think the worst!
A Belgium couple who live out here on their boat, have provided us with good company, and another couple of French Canadians have arrived back. They like us are heading to Alaska this year
Meanwhile the sun continues to shine, and we are going away for 10 days of land travelling, flying to Tokyo for three nights, and then using our Japan rail passes to tour around, ending in Kyoto for three days before taking the train back here. Then it will be launch date for Brother Wind, and we’ll be off soon after I hope.