Mountains, marching bands and the Sea of Japan

Sunday skies were clearer and cooler than we had seen so far (mid 90s, and 50% humidity). After a nice breakfast Bill led Hannah, Emily and Cris to the ski area just above Bill and Masayo's house.

As an official Japan Ski Guide and rescue dude, Bill is friends with just about everybody in Myoko, or who works in outdoor sports or pretty much anyone who has strapped on skis anywhere in Japan.

So on a beautiful Saturday morning we headed up Mt.Myoko in the gondola. 


   

The top of the ski lift is only a small portion up Mt. Myoko.  There are hiking trails that head upwards.  (In winter, under 15-30 feet of snow, this map of hiking trails is sign is deeply buried.)

While at the top, we chatted with Bill's pals, took a try at the rope swing, and enjoyed the gorgeous views.

We even had time for a short dance interlude. 



Notice that Cris is in the background talking with Bill.  This music video is entirely a Mickey + Hannah production.



With music on our minds we headed to the northeast to Nagaoka to watch Sena perform in an all-Niigata prefecture marching band competition. 

The performances were in a beautiful new civic center building.  The performances were crisp and impressive. The rules were strict - absolutely no photography or inapproriate applause or cheering.  We arrived late and sat across from the Myoko parent cheering section.  The band was announced, an organized cheer went up, and the band began precisely on time.  They performed three songs in ten minutes.   A song I didn't know, "Time To Say Goodbye", and then a little medley from Pirates of the Caribbean.   A flurry of applause and they sprinted for the door.  The next band started immediately. 

We learned that night that Myoko City junior high school won gold - the only junior high school band to do so.   They're off to the all-Japan competition.   Your correspondents will post an update.

The small but powerful Myoko Marching Band

Masayo and Sena wouldn't be home for hours, so we made our way along the coast of the Sea of Japan.  

We stopped just west of Kashiwazaki, where the world's largest nuclear power plant is located.  While we have been here, ominous news was released from the quake-damaged Fukushima nuclear plant about hundreds of gallons of highly radioactive water leaking into the ground water and towards the Pacific Ocean.  Here on the other side of Japan we concentrated on finding beach glass. 


Powerplant in the distance.  Very barely visible offshore is a Coast Guard ship holding position.


Wandering further West we found a beautiful spot for watching the sun set.

When we drove back to Myoko that night we stopped at one of Bill and Masayo's favorite Chinese restaurants, and then headed home to celebrate Sena and her band's success.  Buster the cat also enjoyed some attention....

Tomorrow, another road trip....