I knew I was traumatised but I was still only part way to the Temple and had to force myself to keep moving. I was dumbfounded to see that the Henro trail continued directly across the road! Yet, when I looked back where I had emerged from, it was a vertical bank of forest.
I crossed the road and went down the trail, said ‘Konichiwa’ to the lady whose scooter it was, who was doing some maintenance on the Trail, then continued sobbing as I resumed my walk.
As I calmed down I felt numb and zoned out. I felt like a zombie.
I stopped at the first machine I found and got a coffee and looked down at myself. My plastic poncho had holes all through it, I had leaves all over me and my arms and legs were covered in mud and bush detritus. Later I found scratches on my arm.
As I stood there drinking my coffee, a young Henro in green wet weather gear walked jauntily past me. I looked at his shoes and they weren’t muddy at all so I knew he definitely hadn’t come the way I had.
After he passed me I suddenly snapped back to attention and realized that I would be best following him because he could read the signs and know where to go.
While I didn’t have to concentrate on the trail, I was able to relive the experience I had just got through and I felt hyper aware that I had survived an ordeal that could have easily had a dire outcome and, even though I sobbed and got frustrated, I knew I had done well and quietly gave myself credit for it. Every step of the way I was making back-up plans, and the only thing I wish is that I had tied my little kami swatches I had made out of leather, to trees and branches a) so I could retrace my steps, b) for anyone to find me if I got hurt and c) for the next person who inadvertently stumbled that way.
Now the Henro path was going off the road again but the young guy in front of me continued up the road. I yelled out Sumimasen – Excuse me and pointed to the trail. He said something I couldn’t make out but he was telling me that he was going to go the raod way.
I could tell by the trail that it was going to be well sign posted and in a fit of ‘getting back on the horse’ I decided to risk it.
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