Wandering with Basho: A Journey Around the Saigoku 33 Temples of Kannon Pilgrimage

A stranger pilgrimage has rarely been seen. Two friends plan to walk around the age-old Saigoku 33 Temples of Kannon Pilgrimage in Japan, but due to foot problems and modern-day urbanization along the ancient route, they end up on mama-chari, old lady's shopping bicycles, for much of the trip. Craig and Paul battle the mid-summer heat, the daily problems of finding somewhere to eat, bathe and sleep, and dice with death on Kansai's busy roads as they strive to complete a pilgrimage performed by one emperor 33 times! Paul swears that he must have been carried by palanquin-bearers.

This is Craig McLachlan's fifth book about his various adventures in Japan. He has walked the 3200km length of Japan, hiked around the 88 Sacred Temples of Shikoku Pilgrimage, set the record for climbing Japan's 100 Famous Mountains (78 days!), and hiked from the Sea of Japan to the Pacific Ocean climbing all Japan's 3000m peaks along the way.