What a day. First thing this morning it was off to check the rear tyre of the bike. Oh the relief ! The tyre was rock solid and the same pressure as after fixing yesterday.
So it is a pack up and first day on the road today. We get on the way with a just a little bit of nervous excitement.
On to the Japanese motorway system we go. And what a delight. The traffic is orderly, calm not going to fast and not too thick. We track right in towards Tokyo itself before bearing West. Yes, there were lots of spaghetti junctions -
It looks like The Los Angeles motorway system but it is so much easier (and slower). Japanese politeness really shows thru’.
However there were lots of toll booths - we had chopped thru about NZ$50 in the first hour and a half
Then we are on to the slow bit and off the motorways. It was about a four hour stop and start crawl thru the urban sprawl of greater Tokyo. However I did find time for some serious reflection -
I also saw a hotel called - and I kid you not - “Hotel Seeds” Truly! But I just have to say this - it looked a bit seedy to me!
At long last we are at the mountains and out of continuous suburbia. The road climbs and winds and passes thru’ tunnels
I do have to say the the traffic light business is big business in Japan. Today we stopped at least 10,000 sets of trafiiic light And the yellow only lasts for about 5 seconds max. Even on the open road there are still traffic lights everywhere
And the open road up into the mountains has a 50 km per hour speed restriction punctuated by frequent 40 km per hr stretches. No one speeds. No one passes. You just go with the flow and that is quite nice really. It is also very good for the blood pressure
We climb into a ski area and pass thru a big ski town. Then the road winds up a high hill. There is absolutely not a single car anywhere. The Redhead purrs with delight as I throw her thru the twisters.
Them Woops - we get stopped by a road barrier. We get handed a notice ( in English ) by the road men. The road is closed because of an erupting volcano ahead. Now, I have been stopped by many things in my life but that is a first.
It means we cannot get to the hotel I pre-booked late yesterday. So it back down the road to a nice ski resort hotel. We check in.
Then it is off to the hotel Onsen for the first time in my life. A little old lady shows me where to take my clothes off. I do so and put my robe on. Then she comes back and gestures me to rake off my robe in front of her. I double check. She is deadly serious! I take off my robe in front of her inscrutable gaze. . She hands me a modesty cloth the size of a small flannel. I bow and with it in front of me I bow and try to backwards. But wait. She beckons me forward and gives me a razor. I am supposed to shave also.
Then it is thru’ the doors to the pre wash (sounds like a car wash !!). There are windows above. I look up and see her looking down at me to check that I have not missed any parts, I guess. Then it is into the wonderful relaxing hot mineral water. Absolute bliss after a long day’s ride. I hop out, dress and wait for Diana. But the little old lady is not finished with me yet. She takes me to the hair room and shows me that I have to blow dry my hair. Well, that is not exactly a long process these days
So here we are. A good first days start I think.
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