Well, it was raining when I got up. I was hoping against hope that I could order a cab at the last minute but that didn’t happen. The hotel called several companies and no dice. I pulled out my apps to see if they could help and Uber even charged me a couple of times. The first time I had to cancel because it mistakenly wanted to take me to the station garage. The second time it timed out after five minutes.

Fortunately, it was only a little windy and it was only a hard sprinkle. I took a different way back to the station so I stopped and asked a very scary looking guy for directions. He was incredibly nice. Anyway, I made it to the station without getting completely soaked.

I saw a Doutor and went for a morning set. Smoked salmon toast! It was quite good.

Then it was on a longer-than-expected train. I think Yumi said this one was rickety as well but it was fine. The other one I took two days ago, woo.

I got to Okayama before noon and it was pouring. It was also freezing, probably 10°F lower than yesterday. I kept looking for the new hotel my sister recommended and I passed it twice before just getting a map from the Tourist Info desk. I left my bags and went looking for lunch.

The station restaurants were a zoo. Lots of people traveling. I kept going to the underground shopping area and some of it is closed for construction. It should be done by next month. I kept going to the mall and that was much more relaxed. It’s Thursday after all and not that busy. I went to a chain omurice restaurant and got one of the lunch specials hoping the mushrooms would be good for me. Paid extra for even more salmon in my salad.

Soon after I felt absolutely wrecked. I think it was the sudden change in temperature. Fortunately I”m very familiar with Okayama Station and I could just relax. Unfortunately my friend Yumi had to work late and I won’t see her on this trip. In any case I dragged myself around a bit and decided to have some coffee. I walked into a Starbucks and walked back out. Hoshino Coffee was crowded but it’s one of my favorites.

I went to buy train tickets for the next few legs of my trip and the ticket office was quite crowded. I had to take a number and there were about 40 people ahead of me. It didn’t actually take that long since a lot of people just bailed.

After that I checked into the hotel and sat around for a bit. The hotel is pretty much inside the station which means it sounds like I’m in the station. I can hear all the trains, the whistles, and the announcements. Good thing I have the SleepBuds.

Oh, when I checked in I told them I had the app and they said I could either have late check out or a vitamin drink. I took the drink.

 

Later I got very lost in the underground and found places I hadn’t been before. I went to the electonics area to pick up a charger because dumbass left his charger in the last hotel. They’re sending it to a hotel where I’m staying five days from now so I bought a cheap replacement from a Japanese company. I thought about buying a better one but meh. This one was only ¥2000-ish instead of the Apple one for four times more. It’s getting very hot but it is GaN and the other GaN charger I have also gets hot. I had a long discussion with the young woman at the Apple counter before cheaping out, btw.

Then I went to look for a new gel pen and the guy was very chatty. He told me about the new hot models and how they’re only popular because they’re hard to get. And the people buying them up are middle school kids who saw them on YouTube. He said they’re not all that special and pretty much talked me out of buying the pens.

Then it was dinnertime. I went to the tonkatsu store in the mall rather than the one in the station. I’m not sure which one is better. It wasn’t the best but It was good.

I got the filet, regular order, plus the half-size potato salad. I love Japanese potato salad. I used to get the large order but I can’t eat as much as I used to. Lots of Chinese people (I know because they were all speaking Chinese.)

I went to the “drug store” (no prescription drugs) and just like before it was mostly Chinese people buying OTC drugs since they don’t trust the OTC drugs in their own country. I also went to the Lawson to get some Wilkinson, Pocari Sweat, and some dessert.

The dessert tasted fine but the structure was weird. It’s a custard tart and the bottom was hard. I couldn’t cut it with the plastic spoon they gave me but I could chew it just fine. Ah whatever. It tasted good.

And that’s it for today. Tomorrow I make another attempt to cross the Seto Ohashi. Last time I tried to cross it going towards Okayama, the train was canceled due to high winds. i had to take bus across Awaji Island to Kobe and take the Shinkansen back to Okayama. Oh well, I like the adventure.