Apple

I was getting tired of just eating junk from the convenience stores, so when one of them had a couple of nice, shiny apples, I bought them. I stopped by a beach to eat one of them and watched the clouds roll in from over Akandake.

Since national elections were coming in a week or so, everywhere I went there were cars or vans with loudspeakers and posters of the candidates (sometimes the actual candidate) driving around and shouting the name of the candidate. Really, REALLY annoying. And it also leaves the impression (at least with me) that the only important thing is who they are, not their platform or what they stand for. Of course, I don't watch TV or read the newspaper, so maybe I'm the only one who really doesn't know anything about their platforms. But watching (and unfortunately listening) as they drive back and forth blaring names and not much else, even on a deserted stretch of road, doesn't impress me much.

I stopped in Shibetsu, which actually had some kind of salmon museum/theme park? (which was closed) and had a great salmon don at Takeda restaurant on the main drag.

After, I headed out, and pulled into Rausu in the evening. Lonely Planet mentions kuma no yu (Bear's bath) which is across the road from a free campsite. The campsite was nicely set up, and the rotenburo was really nice, even in the dark - surrounded by trees and close enough to the river to hear the rushing water. Also, the water was SCALDING hot. I like hot onsens, but I could only stay in for a couple minutes at a time. I seriously expected to have burnt my skin.

The view of the stars was great again, though the clouds kept edging closer, and it rained a bit during the night.