So what do emergency brakes and a rental car have in common? It turns out you can't set the GPS on the rental car if the emergency brake isn't on. Try to figure out that one when all the instructions are in Japanese!! And then... try to find the emergency brake. When we first rented the little car we got the key turned... engine on.... controls figured out... and then ... whumph... you can't move when the brake is on so how to turn it off. We just couldn't figure that one out so I went to the rental guy with my electronic translator in hand. I can only translate one word at a time so when I came in and announced emergency he got all excited. Good thing I type fast. When he figured out what I meant we all had a good laugh!

Spent a couple of days touring around Kirishima Japan and enjoying a wonderful onsen. Hot spas every day and good food in a most spectacular setting on the top of a mountain. Could see the distant volcano (which was thankfully quiet). Even had deer come visit while we were in the outside onsen.

Made a successful (thanks to the GPS) trip to our hotel in Miyazaki. Got on the JR train yesterday and toured south to Obi City where they have a city of old wooden houses and a Samari castle. Interesting.
Today we head north.
Just a quick entry for now.