In an effort to shed weight from my intended pack, I’ve started reading a small, light book I had been intending to carry with me and leave at some lodging along the way. While it’s only about 4 ounces, I have become a little obsessed with shaving off a sliver here and a sliver there, I think, in an effort to make room for other luxuries which will make my trip a little more comfortable. My pack is currently hovering around 25 lbs. which is the maximum recommended weight for a trip like this. I’m a bit bigger than average, so I should be able to fudge a little into the “over 25 lbs. territory”. The “final pack” is still a work-in-progress.
The book is “The Narrow Road to the Deep North and Other Travel Sketches” by the Japanese master haiku poet Matsuo Basho. It struck me as a very Japanese-oriented and very travel-oriented activity. I had the romanticized idea to read it in the evenings and eventually leaving it at some lodging along the way. It’s not a bad idea, but now, as the trip gets closer, I’ve decided to take the opportunity in these last few weeks to remove it from my pack but keep the experience of reading the book connected to the pilgrimage.
2023 Shikoku Henro 