Shinminato Bridge Take in the snowy mountains, then linger over crab

I’d been looking forward to two things in Shinminato: the bridge stretching out over the water and red snow crab. I came to see the bridge, but the moment I picked up a crab leg, the crab had my full attention. I wanted to get the meat out of a leg this big in one piece.

I held the scissors and studied the leg for a while, trying to decide where to start. I didn’t want to cut through the meat inside. I turned it a little, found the seam in the shell and lined up the scissors again. Before I knew it, I had my lips pursed in concentration.

If my driving friend could see me, she’d probably laugh and say I was taking this way too seriously before I’d even started eating. But I wanted to get the meat out in one big piece, if I could. When the shell finally opened and I saw the meat inside, I couldn’t help exclaiming. After all that indecision, I was even more delighted.

After taking a bite, I looked up and saw the towers of Shinminato Bridge. Beyond them, snow-covered mountains stretched across the horizon. I could have been perfectly happy with just the crab, but I’d come to see this view, too. I paused over my meal and looked out across the water.

I hear there’s a pedestrian walkway beneath the road, too, where you can cross on foot. I bet I’d notice different things walking across than I do from the car. Next time, I want to make sure I set aside time to enjoy the view from the bridge.

After I’d finished eating, I picked out a photo to send to my friend. There it was beside the bridge photo: a picture of the crab meat I’d managed to lift out in one piece. I wanted to show her all that effort, so I sent both. Whenever I think of winter in Shinminato, the view and the taste come back together.