January 1.

Last night I, Reo and Robin went to the Sakai Shrine to pray, ring the temple bell and finally our own special part. Climb the bamboo covered hill behind the shrine to the top in complete darkness. It was not so black as last year as the moon was out.
Still it was hard to see the path through the shadows of the bamboo.
Each of us led, first Reo then Robin,It takes about 15 minutes to reach the shrine at the top. Here my komainu stand guard for the mountain spirit.
It is good practice to challenge one's fear of the dark. In the wilds of Chita.
We came down again, back to the lights of the bon fire at the main shrine and the temple flute music and the voices of our neighbors praying for the new year.

On the first day of the year, I was slow to wake up, as the rest of the family. In the afternoon, under gray windless skies, Robin and I pulled the canoe down
to the beach. Then took our first paddle of the year.
There were many gulls gathered at the beach. Hundreds crowded
at our launching place, taking off as we came too near.
The Ise Bay waters are so clear this time of year, Seeing right to the bottom. We paddled among the nori sea weed poles in the then returned as the wind began to blow.