[北海道島の自然地形に沿う旅走路]
　紅葉をたずねて先日カムイコタン周辺に行きましたが、やや期待外れだったことからいっそ、ということで層雲峡にその様子を確認に行ってきました。かなりの遠出ドライブになるので、帯広拠点での２泊３日の行程となりました。
　地域・北海道島の「歴史」に昨日ブログで若干触れましたが「地理」の再学習もという次第。
　北大での機縁から、人生再学習の意欲がたのしく爆盛り上がり中（笑）。
　上のGoogleMapが今回の旅程。北海道の最「高地」を訪ね歩いたあと、北海道の「東端」に近い根室半島・落石〜そして「風極〜ふうきょく」と言われる、地形的に太平洋に突き出る襟裳岬探訪というコース。カミさんの行動計画に従順に従っての高齢者夫婦ドライブの旅でした。
　GoogleMapでは1,248kmと記されていますが、ルートを若干外れてジグザグもしたので、たぶん1,500km超のクルマ行脚。運転はわたしが8割、カミさんが２割程度。まだ車運転「認知」機能は元気（笑）。〜ちなみに11/12には来年早々の免許更新に必須の「高齢者講習」も事前受講予定。〜
　写真は、根室市落石の岬地域で遭遇していたシカの様子。全国でクマの人間界出没・被害が報じられていますが、今回のドライブツアーでも各地で自然動物や牧場風景などでのウマ、牛と遭遇していました。幸いにしてヒグマとは、大雪山系の博物館施設での剥製標本との遭遇だけで済みました（ホッ）。
　ただ、各地の自然林中などの探訪場所ではカミさんはクマ除けの鈴、わたしはスマホで音楽再生、など予防策は行っておりました。まぁそういう注意は絶対必要と思われますね。走行路に並行の自然林中を車窓から覗いていると、ときおり「黒いイキモノ影」は確認できていました。シカか、ヒグマか？
　昨日には秋田県能代の知人建築家の仕事場の庭に「クマ」が出没の情報。わが家周辺1kmほどでも確認。この夏の気候異変が自然界にいろいろ作用を及ぼしている。高温化による分析把握は今後に期待ですが、そういう変動のただ中にわたしたちの現在は遭遇している。用心が肝要。

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English version⬇　

【Journey Alongside Hokkaido’s Nature: Life Re-learning in the Northern Land】
Explosive excitement, life re-learning. Leaving the history-filled Hokkaido University campus behind, we explore the northern wilderness through “geography” studies. My driving “cognition” is sharp (lol). …

　I recently visited the Kamui Kotan area to see the autumn leaves, but since it was a bit disappointing, I decided to head to Sounkyo to check out the conditions there instead. Since it was quite a long drive, I made it a 2-night, 3-day trip based out of Obihiro.
I touched on the “history” of the Hokkaido region in yesterday’s blog, but now it’s time to revisit the “geography.”
Thanks to a connection at Hokkaido University, my motivation for relearning life is happily skyrocketing (lol).
　The Google Map above shows this trip’s route. After visiting Hokkaido’s highest points, we explored the Nemuro Peninsula near its eastern tip—specifically Rakuseki—and then headed to Cape Erimo, known as the “Wind Pole” for its terrain jutting into the Pacific. It was an elderly couple’s road trip, obediently following my wife’s itinerary.
　Google Maps shows 1,248km, but we zigzagged off the main route a bit, so it was probably over 1,500km of driving. I did about 80% of the driving, my wife about 20%. My driving “cognitive” functions are still sharp (lol). ~By the way, on 11/12, I’m scheduled to take the mandatory “Senior Driver Training” required for renewing my license early next year.~
　The photo shows a deer we encountered in the Misaki area of Ochiishi, Nemuro City. While bear sightings and incidents in human areas are reported nationwide, during this drive tour we also encountered horses and cows in various places, amidst natural wildlife and ranch scenery. Fortunately, our only encounter with a brown bear was with a stuffed specimen at a museum facility in the Daisetsuzan mountain range (phew).
　However, at exploration sites like natural forests in various areas, my wife used bear bells and I played music on my smartphone as preventative measures. Well, such precautions are absolutely necessary, I suppose. Peering through the car window into the natural forest parallel to the road, I could occasionally make out “shadows of black creatures.” Deer or brown bear?
　Yesterday, there was a report of a “bear” appearing in the garden of an architect friend’s workplace in Noshiro, Akita Prefecture. Confirmed sightings within about 1 km of our home too. This summer’s climate anomalies are having various effects on the natural world. While we’ll have to wait for future analysis to understand the impact of the heat, we are currently living right in the midst of these changes. Caution is paramount.

●Notice
My book “Writers and Living Spaces” published as an e-book by Gentosha
Available on Amazon.

Posted on 10月 18th, 2025 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類