22/09/2014 - Cycle Touring Japan - Day 6 - Injury no. 1

 

The temple in Matsumoto.

Distance cycled: 94.3km + 2km in tunnels from behind an abandoned shop to a dam 1,000 above sea level.
Average speed: 17Km/h
Moving Time: 5h33m
Elevation Ascended: 1548m
Total Distance on Current trip: 538km
Distance until I have cycled the circumference of Earth: 11,753km
Money spent: $25

Here I am in my tent in considerable pain. My lower left calf is throbbing probably due to pushing myself too hard through the tunnels today simply to get out of them and let the traffic behind me pass.
Arrgggg tunnels! I hate them with an unbridled passion, never is there enough room for cyclists and they stress the fuck out of me. 
I don't know where I read that Japan is a one of the best places to cycle tour, drivers here do not know how to deal with us on the road, they would sit behind you at an arms length away slowing down all the traffic behind. It's infuriating and the stupid thing is that most people drive tiny little hatchbacks  where two of them would fit in one lane of the road side by side, they have plenty of room to pass me without crossing the road markings to the incoming traffic.
I know you could say that they are just being courteous but they are not doing me any favors sitting behind my ass watching me.
I had some tough hills to climb today nothing at all that i didn't manage and I'm getting into the Japanese Alps now so the terrain is going to be interesting and with any luck the weather will stay as it has been these last few days.
I managed to arrive in Matsumoto to  see the Castle which is one of 8 of its kind still standing in Japan. I did only see it from the other side of the moat because there was a beer festival going on and I have my priorities in order.
I did meet a Flemish couple who were kind enough to offer me some of their leftovers and we stayed chatting for a while over a single (and costly) beer.
I do hope my leg is ok for tomorrow because I have to ascend 1,700 more meters to get over this pass and I believe my only other option is to descend the wrong way back to Matsumoto.

 

Morning vending machine coffee..

 

Entering a town of Sewa.. im sure its pronounced “Sewer”

The view over Sewa

Matsumoto Beer festival.

Entering into the mountains

Messing with black and white.

checking at the Dam

And where I camped.

21/09/2014 - Cycle Touring Japan - Day 5 - Big Grin.

 

Distance cycled: 73.6km + 3km in tunnels. From Fujiyoshida to somewhere in Hwy 20
Average speed: 17.9Km/h
Moving Time: 4h07m
Elevation Ascended: 933m
Total Distance on Current trip: 442km
Distance until I have cycled the circumference of Earth: 11,849km
Money spent: $14

I left the hostel around midday not knowing which route to take in a northwesterly direction. I wanted to avoid taking the tunnels through the mountains as they are loud and scare the shit out of me. Thinking that I was on a road that would avoid such tunnels i found myself in one, and it was a lengthy one too at 2.5km. Yes, of course it means I avoid some insane climbs over the japan alps but I also miss out in the views, and today was especially gorgeous, near perfect weather conditions for cycling. 
Popping out the other end of this long tunnel I was surprised to have found such an amazing downhill run towards the city of Kofu, winding down the mountainside with many hairpin turns and a big grin on my face.
However having entered in the city limits I wasn't able to enjoy the road as such because the traffic lights came back into play, reminiscent to the start/stop action of Tokyo.
Eventually I found myself out taking the old, picturesque and not so busy highway stopping off for delicious grapes along the way.
The last few days with the exception of my Mount Fuji experience I haven't really enjoyed cycling here in Japan but today changed things and I hope I continue to absorb the culture with a smile.

A beautiful morning to check out the lake view of mount Fuji.

 

The frightening tunnels.

Quick pit stop for grapes.

17/09/2014 - Cycle Touring Japan - Day 2 - Warming up period

Vending machines everywhere!

Distance cycled: 48km the length of hwy 413 to Yakanaka lake.
Average speed: 12.6Km/h
Moving Time: 3h47m
Elevation Ascended: 1813m
Total Distance on Current trip: 281km
Distance until I have cycled the circumference of Earth: 12,010km
Money spent: $4

 

Perhaps it was a national holiday today because pretty much every shop I passed was closed, the roads were not busy but they were steep at times.
I didn't cover much distance today as the steep climbs slowed me down and also when I reached Yakanaka Lake I stopped for the view of Mt. Fuji; but when I mean "view" I mean lack of it because it was heavily overcast and certainly spoilt the iconic view of Japan.  No matter! as I decided to camp on the lake shore for the evening in the hopes that tomorrow's early morning sun will shine through to reveal the highest peak of Japan.

There wasn't all that much excitement today however I did sweat a lot exerting myself excessively but this is due to not cycling for for a couple of months, after I climb Mount Fuji I am sure I'll be back at peak performance.

Unusual shape for a coke can.

 

Climbing up into the mountains.

Yakanaka lake, although it was too overcast to see Mount Fuji

06/07/2014 - Cycling the Rockies on a Cheap Bike. Day 6

Distance cycled: 46.9km from Lucerne Campground to Whistlers HI Hostel, outside of Jasper.
Average speed: 16.1Km/h
Moving Time: 2h54m
Elevation Ascended: 649m
Burned Calories: 2005kcal
Burned Fat: 260g
Total Distance on Current trip: 494km
Distance until I have cycled the circumference of Earth: 12,485km
Money spent: $22

 

View Rockies day 6 in a larger map

The lakeside view from where I camped this morning was beautiful - as you can see above :).
This morning I spent several hours procrastinating which I suppose is a form of rest as today I felt drained of all my energy, not surprisingly with the amount of strenuous activity I have put myself though over the past week and two months planting trees.
Finally gathering myself and after peeling a multitude of layers of skin off my face due to the sunburn the other day I set off cycling the 35 odd kilometers to Jasper.
Amongst the beautiful setting of the Rockies I reached the Albertan border and entered Jasper, a touristy town that has upwards of 7 million people invade the place every year.
With the bus loads of Asian tourists, RV campers, mobile homes and touring cyclists it was obvious that tourism is abundant here for the outdoor activities and views  with the prices of groceries, the variety of shops and fancy restaurants, the place is extortionately expensive and as I had been here before I had no need to stick around the town.
However I ran into the Spanish friends I met at the base of mount Robson at the park outside the info center. So I hung with them for several hours. Victor and Marta being on a bicycle tour around North America for several months on a similar budget than I do it on had similar experiences with the people and places that I had passed and in fact had cycled the same roads as me from 100 mile house (where I started) to here. Unfortunately though at this point they are taking a different route south towards Banff while I head further east.
Victor and Marta joined me to the hostel 6km out of town where we tried checking in however the last bed had been given away only 30 minutes before arriving! Damn!
The girl at reception (Cassie) was kind enough to let me use the facilities and finally have a shower after not having one for 4 days - needless to say it was heavenly.
I washed some clothes, cleaned my cooking pots, used the wifi and met a mass of cool people who were kind enough to feed me food after telling them about my adventures around the world. I even saved $30 as we couldn't stay there; instead we pushed our bikes 150 meters from the hostel down a trail and pitched our tents in an open grassy area.

 

Morning Glory

 

Marta and Victor (spanish)