Coffee, Castles And Our Karate Adventures

There we are, sitting in the banana mobile. This bright yellow hire car, deciding where this year's adventures will take us.
it has to be more epic than earlier this year...

Saturday 29th April 2017

we were going to go on a waterfall hike but traffic, and martin deciding he would 'take a shortcut' meant we made it to Nago by midday. We didn't have much time because Martin has a plane to catch around 6pm. I suggested a quick trip to Matsumora Kosaku's secret Yashiki, because then i can check i can get back there alone, and also Martin likes Karate history places too so  off we went, into the mountains. Finding it again wasn't so hard because things like that i can remember really well.

After that though, i joked around and said i'd like to go up the highest mountain in the distance and become 'Queen of Okinawa' he took me literally and it became the start of a pretty epic adventure. We drove deeper and higher into the mountains. 

we reach a car park where there are a few cars and just one opening to the beginning of a hiking trail. So off we go, we've come this far, may as well see whats in the mountain. 

About an hour later, there we are 452m above sea level on this tiny little rocky ledge, with some pretty steep drops either side of us. 

 But we look around and it's probably one of the most beautiful things i've ever seen. 

After a bit of a rushed drive back to Naha and Martin heading off to the Airport, it got me thinking about how on earth are we gonna top this?

So back to November this year and having figured out that Martin hasn't yet been to any castle other than Shuri yet and me, having developed quite an obsession of them decide that the adventure should involve a castle- but which one and where?
Today we have a limit of around 4 hours before we have to be back for training. Martin is feeling the training and lack of sleep catching up to him and i'm feeling the afternoon nap time, but we can't stop today so caramel latte's all round and lets go explore.
Initially i was thinking Tamagusuku or Itoman-Jo but while we were at the convenience store getting the coffee, my phone gave me some nearby suggestions, one caught my eye- Nagamine-jo.
Now, being a Matsubayashi karateka, this name lights bulbs in my head.
Thats it, that is today's adventure.

We headed off down small alleys, past the houses and into a little forest. There were castle walls but the distinction of them with the overgrowth was hard to make out.

We came across a few small shrines which were really cool. And discovered that this is probably one of the oldest castle sites on Okinawa.

There was a cave, which with a bit more research we have found out was the water source for the castle and where the king feigned his own death.
It also had a pretty awesome view over the town.

It's the spontaneity and change of plans that makes these adventures so cool.  Take it as it comes and just go and do it.
Next year has got some high standards to live up to.