Happy Birthday, Sue!

Here's my best friend Sue in Alabama, with husband Bill - looking as fit as ever. Don't tell anyone else, but she turned 60 (that's right Sixty!) on November 28, so if you know her, be sure to tell her, "Happy Birthday! ! !" Of course, I'm still only 59 . . .

Thanksgiving Trip to Susa

Well, it's Thanksgiving Day and we had planned to go to Miyajima Island for our annual oyster feast, but as you can see, it's raining and it's better to go to Miyajima on a sunny day. So . . . time for plan B. We'd talked about driving across Yamaguchi Prefecture to the Sea of Japan coast later this long weekend, so we decided to "just do it" today.















This overpass undergoing repairs is covered to protect cars & pedestrians from any debris.

We started out on Hwy 2 on a rainy morning.















Here's our turnoff. They've marked the way to turn clearly, because a lot of people take the wrong lane . . .

As we leave Iwakuni, we approach Sanzoku -- The Chicken Shack. Yum -- we haven't been there in a while . . .


















It's our Thanksgiving Day, but it also coincides with Japanese Labor Day this year. We saw lots of folks out walking even though it was raining. Don't know if it was a scheduled "Peace March" or what.

Entrance to a shrine.









Gas prices (per liter of course)

Now we're traveling along Hwy 376

Bright yellow tree -- maybe maple or maybe ginko. 

Retaining walls on both sides of the road. 

We're in the mountains now, and think these posts are to here to help find the road when there's lots of snow.

Nandina berries are already bright red here where it's cooler. 

We've stopped at a little store to get some tea or coffee. 

What's this on the bottom shelf? 

Hey Michael -- take a look at the size of this . . . 

This lady was very gracious while we shopped & let me use the toire at her little store. 

These ladybugs above this car are for you, Sue! 

Although it's raining, can you see the "Dr Seuss" trees in the yard on the left?



















Sculptures on a very steep hillside.

Look at the beautiful autumn colors around this tunnel.

















We had to stop & take a picture of this tire sculpture at a auto repair shop. Can't decide if it's a dragon or Godzilla . . . The Japanese have a great sense of humor about Godzilla -- we see him a lot around Japan.

















Closeup -- see the teeth made of nails?










Not sure what this sign means -- a squirrel with a water hose. Of course, we thought of you, Bill!

Fall colors as we drive through one mountain pass after another. In Japan, you're either driving along the seacoast, or through the mountains.


Lots of curves along this highway, but plenty of signs.

Handicapped bathroom at a rest stop. If this is the potty,









and this is the sink,












then, what is this used for & why toilet paper . . . ?

We're hungry & this could be a good place for lunch.
















Planter outside the restaurant & store.















Our lunch chefs rushing around their kitchen.

















This was our lunch special. Inside the iron pot is a beef stew that keeps cooking. It's cold outside so this really hits the spot! Stan preferred the stew, but I loved the soup!

After about 4 hours, we arrive at the Susa Bay area -- tired and hoping there's a vacancy so we can spend the night.