Cruising Japan...Kyushu

Mie Nagasaki
32.49n....129.46e
This is a large commercial port and we were able to easily spot where the fishing boats went, but what about us. After motoring around, trying to (once again unsuccessfully) contact someone on channel 16 a friendly fisherman pointed us towards a brand new pen area. Nice wharf steps, inbuilt fenders, typhoon fencing and all for no cost.
Once secure we did the usual walkaround. past the gambling palaces, found a supermarket, had an icecream and returned to Charioteer for a good nights sleep.
Next morning we were joined in the pen by a fishing boat and recieved a gift of a just caught fish.
After breakfast we cycled off for some exploring. In the window of a store we saw the unbiquous polystyrene fenders...hooray a chandlery. Inside we were met by the smiling fish giving fisherman, who we learnt was the owner of several boats and the chandlery. Shinichi greeted us as long lost friends and in no time we had access to their computer, were drinking tea and Brian was negotiating the purchase of engine oil. The engine oil was delivered to Charioteer along with a Japanese teaset and a huge wall hanging flag. After thsi amazing time we continued exploring enjoying the contact with the locals. The previous night we had watched a dragon boat team practising and to our delight we were able to watch the competition.
We spent our last evening dining with Shinichi and his son Koji at a very nice Tempura restaurant. After dinner we returned to their house. Koji showed us his english lesson books and we had an enjoyable hour talking English with him.
Time was pressing and we still had a way to go before Fukuoka so after a couple of enjoyable days here we moved on.