16 March 2025 - Day 14 - 2 Temples and loads of rain - 22,5 km walked officially plus 2-3 km more

Here’s to not letting anything get you down, making the best out of everything and being flexible! Why? I’ll get to that later.

The morning started with a good breakfast, including a “Yakult” for good digestive bacteria. When Joe from Hawai, who stayed at the same inn, asked where I came from, he said that he had already heard about Carole from Luxembourg. Only good things I hope. I was sorry to leave my cabin, especially as it was raining hard again. And it just wouldn’t stop. Therefore the walk to Kokubunju and then to Zenrakuji (Temples 29 and 30) was tiresome, not because of the road but because of all the rain.

Before entering Temple 29 I caught up with Julie and France, two ladies from Quebec I had talked to before, and while we were wondering where the entrance to the Temple complex was hidden, Jay arrived as well. So the four of us visited the Temple, made our rituals, but then left separately.

On the way to Temple 30 I caught up with France and Julie again and we made a short break in a Henro Hut to try and dry a little. But all hopes were lost, I was completely drenched by then. So this Temple visit also was quite short but we’d met up with Joe and Jay again and decided to go for a drink in Kochi, the city where we had just arrived.

So Jay accompanied me to my Hotel where I could just leave my drenched backpack as it was too early for check-inn, then we took a taxi to Jay’s Hotel and after he checked in, we walked to famous Hirome Market where we would meet dear Nicolas. It was so nice to see Nicolas again after about a week’s time and the three of us spent some good times having a drink and a little something to eat.

We then said our definite goodbyes to Nicolas, who is leaving for Matsuyama tomorrow and walked back to Kochi Station where I took a taxi back to my Hotel. In the meantime the rain had finally stopped and the sun had come out.

I was happy to have made the decision to go to central Kochi with these guys, even though I would have loved to get to my room as quickly as possible and to get rid of all these wet clothes and stuff. But these two hours spent in Kochi were worth changing my plans, therefore: always be flexible!

Thank you dear readers for your time. I am as always happy for any kind of feedback and/or motivational messages. Till tomorrow!