The regular reader will be aware that I have spent some days of this month in search of waves (see Day 35 and Day 43). It is called research, really, it is; and I have a paper to prepare and to present in just over two weeks time.
Today I was pretty determined to get out to the Chiba coast to see if I could find the actual Olympic 2020 surf beach designate, Tsurigasaki. It is a little further south than the centre of the township of Ichinomiya, although still a part of it. There was a station just a little closer too than the last time I was down this way.
Off I went.
Winter at home is often a good time for some of the best waves and although this is only my second time down the coast thus far, and the Olympics will be held in summer, so a few months to go yet...I have to say, the surfer in me has turned down bigger waves than what I saw today...
 |
| Announcing the Olympic venue |
 |
| The 'Tsurigasaki' signpost |
 |
| Approach to the car park |
 |
| The torii, or part of the shrine |
 |
| Concrete blocks |
 |
| Lots of shells |
 |
| And these rather porous rocks |
 |
| Signs of life in the black sand |
 |
| Artificial groyne right in the middle |
 |
| Waves in the sand |
 |
| Ambitious |
 |
| Determined |
 |
| Be careful |
 |
| Cutting it |
 |
| Chopping it |
 |
| Calling it a day |
 |
| Beached |
 |
| Adrift |
 |
| Found |
 |
| Parked |
 |
| Parlour, with a theme |
 |
| House |
 |
| The very small station, Torami, not staffed |
Nonetheless, everyone is friendly, they all say hello and even a complete stranger stopped in the late afternoon and offered me a lift to wherever I was going. I was only ten minutes from the little train station as it happened but what a lovely gesture...
The waves might be washed out but the locals are pretty darn lovely. I'll be back. Well before 2020.
[Camera : Canon EOS60D, 24mm-105mm, 70-300mm, 3.03pm-3.57pm; Lumix TZ-85, 4.12pm-4.53pm; 26 February 2017; 9-11deg C]
