先日の福岡行きに続いて今回は宮崎への一泊弾丸ツアーを決行しました。宮崎を訪れるのは初めてで上手く辿り着けるかと不安もありましたが、空港で昔の仲間のTちゃんに出迎えてもらって先ずは一安心。ご主人の運転で最初に向かったのはごぼう天が評判といううどん屋さん。大きなごぼう天が2枚もうどんに突き刺さって満点のお味！
日南海岸を少し進むと「鬼の洗濯板」と言われる珍しいそして風光明媚な海岸が広い水平線を背景に続いていました。白いはまゆうも初めて見る花でした。車が到着したところは鵜戸神宮。朱塗りの門をくぐって断崖を下りていくと洞窟の中に神社がありました。神武天皇のお祖母様の豊玉姫がこの洞窟で出産されたことから、ここは安産の神様となっているそうです。北陸の東尋坊などとは岩肌がまったく違うけれども日向灘の白い波飛沫で削られた大きな岩と青々とした海原の眺めは絶景でした。
夜は宮崎地鶏の焼き鳥屋でご馳走になり、地酒で舌鼓を打ちました。あとは、Tちゃんとお喋りばかり。途中に出していただいた「あくまき」という南九州の伝統的な餅菓子は、親戚の方の手作りで、餅米を灰汁（あく）に浸し竹の皮に包んで煮るという見ただけでその大変な工程が想像でき、Tちゃんのご親戚の方への感謝の気持ちが素朴な味に加味されて美味しくいただきました。
Tちゃんの近況にうなずき拍手を送っている間にあっという間に帰る時間が来てしまい、お名残惜しい宮崎訪問になりましたが、前回の福岡も今回の宮崎もどちらも私の図々しい突撃を温かく受け入れて下さった二人の友人とそれぞれのご主人にお返しできないほどの感謝の気持ちでいっぱいです。
Continuing the trip to Fukuoka, I flew to Miyazaki this time. It was the first time for me to visit Miyazaki, so I was a little bit worried about whether I could reach there. When I saw my old friend, T, at Miyazaki airport who came to see me, I was relieved indeed. Then she and her husband took me to a noodle shop which has a special menu of Gobo-ten (deep-fried Burdock Root) with noodles. It was really good.
When we were driving a little more along the Nichinan coastline, we saw a very interesting formation of undulating rocks which is known as the Devil's Washboard. It had a beautiful coastline and the sea. The white crinum flowers were opening. We visited Udo shrine. Upon going through the red gate and stepping down the way carefully, there was a shrine which was built in the rock cavern. We enjoyed the scenic view of the cliff facing the Sea of Hyuga.
T and her husband took me to the grilled chicken restaurant downtown. I enjoyed talking with T. Next day, she served homemade local mochi-cake which her relatives made. It was so good.
The time passed so quickly and both of us felt sad to part. T sent me off at the airport and I left Miyazaki.
I visited Fukuoka and Miyazaki within a month. I thank both K and T who warmly welcomed and gave me nice hospitality. I am also grateful to their husbands who were very nice to me. I can't thank them enough.
