Day 2 we woke up bright (very bright) and early, ate breakfast (Cap’n Crunch), packed up (actually I packed up while everyone else went for a hike. I almost accidentally squished a frog but he got away), and headed on out. We wanted to get to Lake Tazawa (in Japanese it’s Tazawako) so we could go swimming!!
Alrighty then, on the road again (that rhymes). Before Tazawako we made a short stop at Chusoji temple, so back to Hirazumi (where we were on Day 1).
Lyana captured this odd road-side sculpture on the way. Any ideas?
Here’s a view of Japan. That’s all I know because I can’t remember exactly where we were when this photo was taken. Nice view anyway.
To reach Chusoji temple, we had to hike 800 meters up the mountain (steep hill, really). We could have parked closer, but we didn’t feel like paying for parking. Frugality is my motto. Along with “if your legs work, you can walk.” I tried that one on my older kids frequently during this particular trip. As you can see, Mark was the exception (until my shoulders and back got tired).
Mark didn’t last long in the “backpack.” He much rather prefers the view over my head rather than of my back.
Incense barrel/burner. I can’t explain it any further, but naturally Alex was captivated.
This is a building.
Let’s play MadLib.
This is statue of ___(someone you don’t know)___. Alex is _____(present participle verb)____. Katya is thinking __(something silly)_.
That statue of ___(someone you don’t know)___ is looking at me funny. Alex, you need to stop _____(present participle verb)____ and turn around.
Now that we’ve seen plenty of the statue of ___(someone you don’t know)___, let’s go inside this building to see __(take a guess)___. End of MadLib.
That last picture was taken just before we entered the building built over the gold-plated Chusoji temple. This is what we paid the entrance fee for. But alas, the signs forbade us from using our camera inside. So what did I do? I took a picture of the brochure, and that’s what you get.
I love this picture for two reasons.
I say, “Katya, pose for the camera.” She thinks, “Did he just say '”Curl my arms over this fence and squat like a duck”?”
Ropes + bells + 2 year-old = good times
She decided to pose for the camera this time (kind of).
Can you find all three Watson children in this photo? Look hard; they’re all there (at least in part). Hint: the kid with the green hat is not mine.
Yes, we had ice cream again. 
It was well-deserved and much appreciated. You can get a sense for how hot it was by the sweat-drenched hair on Mark’s head.
I know where this shot was taken. It’s the view from the Chusoji temple hill as we hiked 800 meters back down.
She’s got a sword!!
“Pose for the camera, Katya.” And she did.
After visiting the temple site, we walked a few feet further to a nice curry restautant. We had some food I don’t remember the name of, but it was very tasty. The only photo I could find to represent the restaurant was this one of some friends I met on the way up the stairs to our table.
TAZAWAKO!! The deepest lake in Japan, and arguably the clearest. Cold, but very refreshing. That’s my head sticking up out of the water in the distance. Just kidding, that’s a buoy. I took the photo.
Have you noticed that Mark is always smiling. 
He was in heaven with his sand toys.
Can’t beat this life.
Don’t know this kid, but the picture’s pretty enough to make it into my post.
Tazawako did not disappoint. This is what the kids were waiting for.
Here’s a very satisfied boy.
Campsite just across the street from the lake. Stayed here last year, so I won’t bore you with details (I’m sure you’re never bored with my details and random parenthetical phrases). Needless to say, we liked it enough to return (ie it was cheaper than the only other campsite down the road).
He’s sleeping and it was dark until the camera flashed (no, he didn’t wake up).
She didn’t wake up either, at least not until the sun came up at 4:30. Actually, the kids slept surprisingly well and didn’t actually get up (not counting potty trips) until at least 6 or 6:30. I slept in the same tent as Alex and Katya (thank you BM and RM for the mattress, and the camp stove, and the griddle). Lyana slept in another tent with Mark. Two small tents (2 poles each) are easier to set up by myself (less than 5 minutes each) than one big, multi-room tent.
We all slept well and were refreshed for the next day when we would . . . .
(stay tuned for the conclusion of “Family Camp”)
Rob
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