SBK Japan

2 May 2008

After breakfast, went to an old onsen and cooked for awhile. The water was 42 degrees! Looked like a lobster from the neck down. Still, neat experience.



Headed out of town going inland on R11. Great road and, yes, another volcano.



R11 is the road to Mt. Aso, which is quite spectacular. Runs along a high plateau, with great views all the way.





Mt. Aso behind the AH.





Then rode around Mt. Aso on R265, and took R218 towards the West coast. Then R57, R266 and R324 along a very cool series of islands. The area is called Amakusa.







I was headed for Oniike harbour, where I intended to take the ferry across to the Nagasaki side. Got there, bought a ticket … no problem. THEN I saw the schedule and realised that this 18:30 ferry is the last one! Here I’d been taking my time sightseeing, thinking I had plenty of time! Turns out that the other guys had missed this ferry the night before, since they didn’t know either. I think Karl and Paul camped there and took the morning boat, and the other guys rode all the way around the bay!

Anyway, I got on the ferry all right.



Chased by dolphins!





Arriving





Got to the port and called the guys, but they were still out playing on the road to Nagasaki, so I went to the park beside the port and had a nice nap. Cmac woke me up by rudely shining his high beams at me.

Anyway, off we went to Yuko’s grandmother’s house, which is very near the ferry. Neat old house, with traditional tatami rooms throughout.



Wonder how much money we parked in that garage …



Had a great evening, more tall tales, more pizza, more wine, more Karl trying to hustle people at poker.



I just hope that all these uncouth barbarians didn’t offend Yuko’s sensibilities, because it would be a great place to stay again. :drinking: