So after spending a couple of days photographing Mount Fuji from every angle we set off in the pouring rain for Fiona's tour of the more Northern or central part of Japan. It worked well in the postie pat car especially when it was pouring but as soon as we got a good day we were thinking the bike would be good . We were very lucky to see so much of the real Japan so we could get a feel of how people lived. we visited some stunning lakes on our grand tour, much like Scotland , the bikes were everywhere as long as the sun was shining. We basically did a loop back round via the Honda Museum and back to Tokyo.
The Honda experience was very corporate but good to see, once again surprised at what bikes were not on display which seemed to be a theme. There was a car race on the circuit and in a other part of the complex a car meeting and what looked like an autojumble.
Back into Tokyo, 34 million people and all queuing at the same traffic light, it takes forever in the big towns to get around which is why everybody uses the Trains but in my opinion if you are coming to Japan driving a car gets you into the rural areas and away from the bulk of the tourists so just bear with the traffic, eventually you will get good roads.
Some things to note, the locals although reserved are polite, the rules are obeyed and there is no graffiti. Kids walk the streets in safety unlike the UK because the punishments are harsh in Japan and people have respect.
Asia has been difficult, living in a different Hotel every night for 5 Months is a mental challenge and not being sure what you are going to eat is also stressful, and can anyone tell me why anybody thought it was a good idea to eat food with two sticks instead of a knife , fork and spoon, answers on a postcard please .
We will both be glad to get home for a rest until the next part of the tour begins, Photos as always tell the story better.
Keep on Keeping on!
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| This triumph Rocket 3 and sidecar was outside the Honda place |
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| Postie Pat Van |
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| A rainy day |
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| Colourful |
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| Fi and Budda |
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| A nice day |
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| Fiona exercising |
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| Big Hills |
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| Big Hairpins |
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| Any mail Postie |
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| Loch Earn |
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| Nice |
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| Snow on the hills |
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| Brake Brake |
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| Funny, the tyres make a sound on the road surface |
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| Rural Japan |
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| Very Nice |
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| Snow ahead |
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| No we didnt |
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| Bikers having a break |
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| Brewery |
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| Good view |
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| This made my Day |
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| The Boys are back in town |
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| See ya |
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| This is about 5km from the massive Honda complex |
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| Car Race |
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| OK back to Honda |
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| Surprised to see this, they acknowledged that MV were so far ahead that Honda had to learn from them |
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| The Innards of the oval piston bike, amazing |
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| Fellow Scot Alex George gets a mention |
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| A Beast |
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| Cool, a cafe just outside the Honda Complex |
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| Night time Tokyo |
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| Our neighbour |
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| Orderly |
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| This is a kids play park, they teach them road rules on their bicycles, including traffic lights, and if you go crazy there's a park ranger to slow you down |
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| The Play park, nothing destroyed |
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| And again |
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| Police Pushbikes |
