SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23rd, 2006
SHOSANBETSU to MASHIKE
102km 5h:29m
Another slow morning enjoying the sun, and headed on the road by about 830am. I expected an easy day today, just 68kms to Obira where I camped last week. The ride was awesome, and I pushed a little hard just to get there early, onsen, then chill all afternoon. At the bottom of the hill to the campground, I climbed up hungrily. Its a sweaty hill, taking 15 minutes of granny gear spinning. At the top though, a sign, reading, the season is done, until next year. I run into this problem in Japan alot, being a foreigner, not in synch with the 'clock of the seasons' that all Japanese are inherently born with. For example, the days after Obon Holiday (mid August), I hear the radio announcer say "from today, its Autumn". What? Its 29 degrees and Im on a beach. Come Sept.23 when it really does become fall, no matter the weather, no matter the heat, many folks will change their wardrobes to their 'fall' or 'fall and winter' wardrobe, and you'll notice it is also 'boot' season.
Back to the ride, I decided to rock on to Mashike, 30k or so down the coastline. I set up in the park once I got there, pretty well exhausted. Cruised over for sunset and had a ramen and a beer while sitting on the beach. After that went in to the hotel for a riva discount onsen, and then back to the tent to cook dinner. There was a HUGE spider, here on known as Big Scary Spider, next to my tent spinning a web in the tree I may not have been able to break through. I let him be, and found his little brother inside the tent so had to flick him outside. I don't mind these ones, the tiny red miniscule ones are a bit creapy though...
Mashike
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