This morning I got an email from Tatiana who is a Russian lady based in Japan and who does the ferry bookings to Korea and Vladivostok for us. There is a problem! We personally are booked Japan to Korea in 10 days time and a week later Korea to Vladivostok. But the Redhead (motorbike ) is only booked as far as Korea apparently and there is now no space on the Korea to Vladivostok leg for the Redhead. OK, can we miss Korea? Not possible as our visas do not allow us to arrive early in Russia. Can we carry the Redhead on as hand luggage? Will she fit in a cabin designed tightly for two? Can we dismember her and carry her pieces on board ? So now after discarding these alternatives we are going to spend an extra week in Japan, give Korea a miss and then arrive Vladivostok on our original date. Korea’s loss, Japan’s gain! So it is a leisurely 17 days in Japan instead of 10 days as planned. Such is travel
Today, however we go up the alpine route from the other side from the other day when we were stopped by the volcano as it looks a great alpine road on the map. We wind up to the snow line
And up and up
And as we predicted we get stopped on the other side of the volcano closure to the other day. “ Road closed to motorcycles.”
So it is down again past thermal springs
And monkeys on the side of the road
And thus we end up in another alpine village called Nozawa Onsen. It is like a European ski village. Quaint narrow streets and buildings. Tight streets for a bike.
And tonight we rejig our itinerary to add our extra week. Might go further north. Might go further south ! Might go sideways! Watch this space!
But now I feel an Onsen coming on ! !
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