Summer trip to Mt. Hakusan, part 1

 WARNING! Long posts ahead. There will be 4 episodes of our trip to Ishikawa, Gifu and Toyama prefectures during the hottest summer in decades.

 This summer will go down in memory as the summer of aircon failures. It started with Frankie, my small Honda, whose AC showed signs of misbehavior last autumn, which gradually worsened. Repairs were too pricey, so I looked for another car. By the time this new vehicle was on our doorstep  front dock, it was mid-summer, and driving was suffocating. Our yearly Camping car trip with Billie was about to start soon. The plan was to drive north, as Jaap wanted to climb Mt. Hakusan – again. The morning of our departure, the aircon of our home Alishan didn’t start … OOH NO! After a fierce marital debate, we decided to leave and deal with that upon our return. And thus we drove and drove. Fortunately, it is Jaap's hobby. I took over a few times, but I was generally too tired from stress and worries to be of any help. We arrived at the foot of the mountain in Ishikawa on a beautiful day. However, the forecast was bad and the following day it started raining. Heavily. And it lasted. We had to postpone Jaap's climb by 4 days. Ah well, we were out of the fierce heat. 30C is still hot, but we could live with it.

The waiting needed to be filled in and we drove over the White Road to Gifu. The road is absolutely beautiful. Even on rainy days. We stopped at a few sightseeing locations (see the posts) and drove the same way back in sunny conditions, saw heaps of butterflies and camped at beautiful Ichinose. Jaap did the 10+ hour hike, I wandered around lower elevations with my Sony and suddenly time was up.

The famous Hyakumangan rock in the Tedori river on the way to Ichinose, Hakusan

We didn't stay at the campsite of Ichinose, as the weather forecast made it unsafe. Below at Shiramine was a nice hot spring. The next day we tried the White Road. Fortunately it was open this time!

It was raining on and off. During a dry spell we ran into a group of 50 or more monkeys. 

Billie at the highest point between Ishikawa and Gifu pref.

Our general visibility

Jaap xxx the elements and hiked to a look-out point. I gazed at the many unknown flowers

It's not getting better yet.

On the other side of the White Road we passed Shirakawago and continued towards Toyama

We parked for the night at an old favorite: Kamitaira Road Station

The next day we walked around the Sho river and saw the first thatched roofs

Nests?

What's below there?

Mandarin Ducks, オシドリ

Lush green mountains, clad in heavy, mysterious clouds - my favorite photography target

River trout or Char, いわな for dinner at the michi no eki

Wild life at the riverside window screen. The weather was perfect for moths and frogs

Names will follow later