Macie's going to high school and we are going to Texas (for vacation)

Macie finished her last day of middle school yesterday. She is so excited - mainly because summer is finally here and we are going back to Texas today. Bucky Bash, here we come.

Out on Monkey Island

Monkey Island (Surashima Island) is the only natural island in Tokyo Bay - it just happens to be only about a mile offshore from Yokosuka. We finally decided to take the 10 minute ferry ride this weekend. Macie wanted to try going into the water but unfortunately the beach is only open from mid-July to August. Why? It is really too cold right now - I don't think we have had a day over 78. So, the weather is really nice right now. But we have heard that around mid-July it will start to get really hot and stay that way through mid-September.

I told everyone that I would be a little nervous if we were riding this boat -
nobody knew what I was talking about. They had never heard of the movie.

In Tokyo Bay, you see a lot of these small commercial fishing boats. What was interesting
was that when we passed by, the fisherman working the lines were actually four women.

Monkey Island as seen from the ferry. It is hard to see but there is a line of people waiting
to go back on the ferry that goes from the pier all the way past the buildings to the right.

The island is a favorite area for the Japanese to picnic and especially barbecue.

The Sarushima entrance sign. Notice the monkey - we were disappointed to find out that there are actually no monkeys on Monkey Island. The name comes from a legend that a long time ago, a monk traveling to Kamakura got lost and a giant white monkey from the island showed him the way. Another variation of the story is that the monk was drowning and the monkey saved him.

                        The island has been used at various times as a fortress to protect Tokyo Bay.

                        Macie and Andrea in front of the magazine area where the explosives were stored.

                                     This a view from the island of the Yokosuka Naval Base.

               This is a view of the cranes that load and unload ships in Yokohama. They are as tall 

               as a 30 story building. I included this picture because when I walk the dogs I see these 

               cranes and they always remind me of a herd of brachiosaurus.