Kouri Bridge Nakijin watermelon by the sea at the foot of the bridge

After crossing Kouri Bridge and walking down to the beach, I saw the bridge I’d just driven across stretching away over the sea. The water had looked beautiful from the car, but from the sand, I could get a much better sense of how long the bridge was. As I watched the waves reach my feet, I wanted to get closer still.

I took off my sandals on the beach and stepped into the shallows. Each wave hid the sand around my feet, then revealed it again, and I never tired of watching. I’d come to admire the bridge, but for a while I just kept looking at my feet. Then I looked up and remembered: oh, right, the bridge.

Then it was time for the Nakijin watermelon I’d brought along. I held it in both hands, found a good spot to bite, and the moment I took a bite, sweet juice filled my mouth. With cool water at my feet and watermelon in my mouth, I’d only just started eating, but already I wanted to stay right there.

When I went for a bigger bite, juice was about to drip onto my clothes, so I leaned a little out over the water. My clothes were fine. I let out a sigh of relief, then realized just how absorbed I was in the watermelon and had to laugh to myself. The view was beautiful, and here I was giving my full attention to the watermelon.

I adjusted my grip and took smaller bites this time. Every so often, I looked up between bites and saw the sea stretching on beneath the bridge. The road I’d just taken and the beach where I stood seemed to merge into one sweeping view. I’d only just crossed the bridge, and I was already looking forward to the view on the way back.

When I finished eating and came back out of the shallows, I looked at the water still clinging to my feet and thought of the time I’d spent laughing there. Crossing the bridge would’ve made me happy on its own, but getting out and spending time here made today unforgettable. I know I’ll think of this bridge and these waves the next time I eat watermelon.