BYRON BAY TO JAPAN
Being keen cyclists as you know, when Bernard’s footie friend said “I know some people who will take us on a cycling trip of Japan”, we all yelled “yes” together. What a privilege. So today we had our first meeting with Hans (German) and his wife Nito (Japanese). It is her brother, who on contemplating his forthcoming retirement, offered to take us on a personal bike tour of the most beautiful spots in Japan – best of all during Cherry Blossom time.
So talking it through today we discussed logistics, i.e. it could be very cold, how to buy bikes and how long to get them fitted and ready to roll before we actually have to start pedalling, the gear we need, telephones (Australian phones don’t work in Japan) and of course where we will be going and what we will be experiencing.
Japan is mountainous – especially around Mt Fuji – and the weather can close in quickly and dramatically. Our goal is to ride from hot spring to hot spring, stay in traditional Ryokans or Japanese Inns (sometimes 4 to a room) and eat like the locals (yum). In typical Japanese fashion, the brother-in-law has a friend with a fully fitted out bus, who thought this adventure sounded like a crazy Westerners adventure and great fun and who has said he will come and drive his big bus to use as the SAG wagon – i.e where tired, legless riders can hop in and go to the next stop if necessary.
We agree that we will also ‘pick the eyes’ out of the geography and bus ourselves between the best bits, so that we don’t waste time on roads and byways we don’t want to cycle around.
This will be our 6th bicycling holiday, and only our second assisted bicycling holiday (we have done some crazy trips by ourselves – lugging 20kg of gear on our bikes, including Brooke Farm Gluten Free Muesli). Our experience in preparing, is firstly take your own bike seat, one that you know you can spend up to 8 hours on, also take bike clothes that you have road tested and know you won’t need to cut off at the first stop on the first day. Pack plenty of layers i.e. from hot weather clothing to cold and wet clothing. Definitely take a puffa jacket that packs down to nothing and weighs nothing.
Hans said that we can now fly Virgin from the Gold Coast to Narita airport in Tokyo for about $800 return. This seems like a really good deal.
Our focus will also be on the magnificent city of Kyoto, which is still so incredibly authentic. We will have the privilege of visiting many of the ancient and majestic Buddhist and Shinto temples on the way. So I think it will be both a physically demanding and spiritually calming holiday.
Will keep you all posted.
Rikki – 10.7.09
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