Peace Park and the Atomic Dome

Hiroshima from the top of the Castle

Hiroshima after the atomic bomb

You would never know that an atomic bomb was dropped on this town except for the monuments and parks in the 1 mile radius that was destroyed by the bomb on August 6^th, 1945.  Hiroshima is really a beautiful clean city with plenty of tourism, restaurants, and public transportation.

 

The area around the explosion was totally destroyed except 2 main structures, the Industrial Promotion Hall  (Atomic Bomb Dome) and the Fuel Rationing Union (Rest House).

 

 

 

 

Atomic Bomb Dome looking from Peace Park

Peace Park is across the river from the Dome and has numerous memorials and gardens in the park.

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are the memorials at Peace Park:

Pond of Peace – encircling the Cenotaph
    Peace Clock Tower
    A-bombed Gravestone – gravestone of Jisenji temple – the temple used to be there
    Peace Fountain
    Monument to the Old Aioi Bridge
    Phoenix Trees Exposed to the A-bomb – also known as Chinese Parasols, these trees have deep scars from the blast. They were moved here from the courtyard of the former Hiroshima Post & Telecommunications Office in 1973.[26]
    Linden Tree Monument
    Hair Monument
    Hiroshima City Zero Milestone
    Peace Cairn
    Stone Lantern of Peace
    Friendship Monument
    Peace Memorial Post
    Peace Tower
    Fountain of Prayer – a small fountain pond
    Monument of Prayer
    Prayer Monument for Peace
    Prayer Haiku Monument for Peace
    Hiroshima Monument for the A-bomb Victims
    Statue of Mother and Child in the Storm
    Peace Watch Tower – indicating the number of days since the A-bomb
    Statue of Peace "New Leaves" – from the words of Dr.Hideki Yukawa – designed, carved by Katsuzo Entsuba
    Statue of Merciful Mother
    Statue of a Prayer for Peace
    The Figure of the Merciful Goddess of Peace (Kannon)
    Mobilized Students' Merciful Kannon Monument
    Hiroshima Second Middle School A-bomb Memorial Monument
    Memorial Monument of the Hiroshima Municipal Commercial and Shipbuilding Industry Schools
    Monument to the A-bombed Teachers and Students of National Elementary Schools
    A-bomb Monument of the Hiroshima Municipal Girl's High School
    Monument Dedicated to Sankichi Tōge
    Monument to Tamiki Hara
    Literary Monument Dedicated to Miekichi Suzuki
    Monument in Memory of Dr.Marcel Junod
    Clock Commemorating the Repatriation of Those Who Chose to Return to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
    Monument of the Former North Tenjin-cho Area
    Monument of the Former South Tenjin-cho Area
    Monument of the Former Zaimoku-cho
    Memorial Tower for A-bomb-related Victims
    Memorial Tower to Console A-bomb Victims
    Monument in Memory of the Korean Victims of the A-bomb
    Monument of the Volunteer Army Corps
    Monument of "Zensonpo"(All Japan Nonlife Insurance Labor Union)
    Monument to Those Who Died From the Chūgoku-Shikoku Public Works Office
    Monument of the Hiroshima District Lumber Control Corporation
    Monument Dedicated to Construction Workers and Artisans
    Monument to the Employees of the Hiroshima Post Office
    Monument of the Hiroshima Gas Corporation
    Monument to the Employees of the Coal Control-related Company
    Monument for the A-bomb Victims from the Hiroshima Agricultural Association
    Monument to Mr. Norman Cousins
    Monument of US POWS {at former Chugoku MP HQ}

Dave Deakyne
David Deakyne
David J. Deakyne
Dave Deakyne
Wallingford Dave Deakyne
David Deakyne
David J. Deakyne
Dave Deakyne
Wallingford

Hiroshima Castle

Hiroshima at the intersection of 5 rivers

You really can’t visit Japan without going to Hiroshima.  We started out touring the Hiroshima Castle and then went to the Peace Park and Memorials.

Top floors of the 5 story castle

This is the land of Castles, Clans, Samurais, Shoguns and Ninjas.  It’s really not a culture that we are used to as Americans.   It's also an extremely old culture.

The Castle was built in 1590 by Mōri Terumoto of the Mōri clan, 30 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.  

It survived until the Atomic bombing in 1945.  It was rebuilt in 1958 on its original foundation.   

The 'Carp Pond' on the grounds inside the moat

It is surrounded by a man-made moat and is quite impressive for a structure built so long ago.   

Hiroshima Castle surrounded by the moat

Hiroshima is surrounded by 5 rivers and made it a good place from which to defend your clan.

Dave Deakyne
David Deakyne
David J. Deakyne
Dave Deakyne
Wallingford Dave Deakyne
David Deakyne
David J. Deakyne
Dave Deakyne
Wallingford

Touring Japan

Lucky fish at a Buddhist Temple

When we return to the boat from the US, our luggage is always maxed out with boat parts, supplies, and provisions.  It is really not easy to do land tours.

However, when we return back to the US, our bags are empty and we are much more mobile.  That is why we made out trips so far to Cambodia and Thailand on our return legs to the US,

These trains go 200mph and you don't even know it

We also have to plan around the weather.  For us, it is not good to do high latitudes in the winter.  We have been making quite a few flight connections in Narita, Japan.  We figured the time of year was good and it was on our return to the US for our summer.

We flew from Kuala Lumpur to Osaka and got a 1 week Bullet Train unlimited pass.  Japan really has it figured out as far as transportation goes.  The train system can get you just about anywhere and the bus system can get you to everywhere else.

Dave Deakyne
David Deakyne
David J. Deakyne
Dave Deakyne
Wallingford Dave Deakyne
David Deakyne
David J. Deakyne
Dave Deakyne
Wallingford

Status of the Gelcoat Spraying

Malaysian Gelcoat Chip compared to Singapore Gelcoat

We are now sourcing our gelcoat from RP Malaysia in Johor Bahru.  They custom mix whatever gelcoat specifications you want.  I gave them some Duratec and told them to mix it 1:1 with the gelcoat to give a 25 second #4 Zahn Cup viscosity.  It was spot on. Their ISO-NPG is high quality, they arrange shipping, and we don’t have to deal with import duty paperwork.  They were also able to provide Styrene, MEK, and MEKP.  All, at a very reasonable price.  We made the arrangements during our Road Trip to Singapore.

The Sunshade also blocks the wind

Chinese New year cost us a few weeks delay while waiting for delivery of the resin.  Malaysian businesses are all shut down for the holiday.  We did some sanding during that time and found out that the gelcoat we previously applied is continuing to cure and is getting extremely hard.  It seems to be best to do the initial sanding within a few days with 100 grit discs.

Starting the next 4m section

Just finished spraying the Inboard Side

Spray days are a real challenge.  We try to arrive at sunrise.  It is not possible to tape out the day prior because it may rain at night or the morning dew will make the tape peel off.  It has to be done in the morning.  

Setup and test panel spraying takes about an hour plus.  The wind builds up and is usually too strong to spray after around 11AM.  This gives us 2-3 hours max to git'er done.  The sunshades block the wind somewhat and that extends the time a little.

We started spraying sections from work scaffolds.  The nice thing with gelcoat is that blending and repairs are a piece of cake.  You don’t even have to be a very good paint sprayer since any runs will get sanded out anyway. 

We started with the Toe Rail to Rub Rail, Bow to Stern, on the Outer side of the hull.  I apply 5 thick coats to 4 meter sections and then overlap the next 4 meter section.  Guide Coat is sprayed the next morning and sanded that afternoon.  We then did the Rub Rail to waterline, Bow to Stern.  Guide Coat, then Sand.

Repeat for the other hull, Top to Bottom, Bow to Stern.  Guide Coat, then Sand.

Next came the Forward part of the Inboard Side of the Hulls.  Port, then Starboard, Guide, then Sand.  In all, this took us 8 weeks.  We had pretty much used up 40 liters of gelcoat and were ready for a break.  About 80 percent of the boat has been done and it looks pretty good.  Not sanded and buffed shiny yet but consistent bright white without dings nor cracks.

The Nacelle is also sprayed when doing the Inboard Side

All that remains is the Cockpit, Salon Roof, Swim Platforms, and some tie-in areas.

Dave Deakyne
David Deakyne
David J. Deakyne
Dave Deakyne
Wallingford Dave Deakyne
David Deakyne
David J. Deakyne
Dave Deakyne
Wallingford