Snow Ride...

Today I rode up Hakoni Mountain, it was unusually warm and sunny. The max temp at sea level was 8C which would make it -2C at the top I managed the climb in shorts and a ride jersey, but as soon as I stopped at the summit I put every bit of clothing on I was carrying. 3 pairs of gloves, 2 arm warmers a neck warmer, an ear warmer/head band, a ride cap, 2 pair of socks, a pair of long ride pants, some toe covers, a pair of boot covers…and a jacket !!! After an hour of descending, with just a few sections of snow that I had to walk, I was back in Odawara, a little numb but pleased with my first ride in snow…. Unfortunately the battery in my camera couldn't handle the cold so I have posted these pics instead..





Here is the first ice on the road up to Hakoni....



Its a model of one of the 190something temples in Odawara area....

Shimoda Izu

Shimoda has lots of little beaches and some great coastal walking.






Zoom... fucking Zoom !


This is the 'Ekiden'.
Its a famous race from Tokyo to Hakoni Mountains Lake Ashinoko....over 200something Km... Its a stage race between about 20 Japanese Universities that stops the Nation.
And it comes through Odawara. So I could watch it on TV and when they got to Itabashi I went down and took this pic...



Here is the Odawara Kerin Track






Who said I wasn't gay? (read 'bright' you bastards!)
It's a color thing...er...
Safety! The runners were a New Years Day special... I can explain everything ...

Romance Car

How's this for a trip into town..!
This puppy's called the 'Romance Car'and it's smooooth...as !
The Train Driver is laying down in a little capsule in the roof....



Thats a local train on the left ...

Shimoda Ride

The length of Izu in a day on inland Route 414... Shimoda to Odawara the long way... 6hrs, 120km, 2,300somethingmeters of climbing, half a dozen Gyoza with fresh chilli, a bunch of roasted sweet potatoe, 1 hell of a pizza, a couple of coffees from a machine on the side of the road and a fist full of chocolate coated almonds…
It was a great ride and just before the cold weather set in… The very next day it snowed down to 500m ...


This truck is about to be Monstered...!
That's a wasabi farm wizzing by...it grows in cold fresh water that cascades down the terraces...
This is the 'curly road' on Route 414 Its an awesome structure... You should go for a 'spin' on it...!

Along the way... Route 414

I just need the Tuna...

Eat this !