Himeji to Kanazawa, Japan 2017
Maybe not the farthest in kilometres, but this stretch had me riding for 12 hours.
Rain, some roads having a 60km speed limit, worse for wear secondary roads, little traffic hear and there, and being a tourist in a foreign country, it gobbles up time.
It was a day like none other!
My travel companion who wanted to tag along, on a otherwise trip I'd planned to do on my own, was unwell had
abandoned the trip.
I was determined to get some kilometres under my belt to make it back to Tokyo three days later, to return the bike on time.
A garlic fueled dinner the night before didn't help get me out the door any sooner with the trips to the toilet, I could tell I was nervous but excited.
The GPS rented had Japanese base maps, but points of interest were loaded in English, by code input it was accurate, but a crude way to get around.
My point of interest was Hikone Castle, this would get me near enough on target to the Shirakawa Highway and into the mountains and lakes of Gifu avoiding the massive city of Nagoya which we road through a week earlier.
Some travel was by paid toll roads 'expressways'.. some not.
From the previous two weeks of 30 degree + temperatures it began to plummet near the mountains, 18 deg cel,
I was noticing the difference.
My stops for hot noodles were brief, locals who could speak some English would warn me of a Tyhoon coming my way, September was Tyhoon season! I had the Japan meteorological app downloaded, and this was useful too.
But still when local people are warning you, it kinda gets your attention. :surprise:
Riding hungry, always hungry, even though eating to full, new countries has this effect on me.
Lucky as I found Japan has the most delicious food on offer.
Briefly stopped at a quaint village in the mountains, took some photos without pausing too long to get my phone wet, rode past lakes, through lots of tunnels, onto the village of Shirakawa, famous for the age of the village and houses with grass thatched roofs.
It was a busy place, I could not park my bike anywhere close without getting moved on, and it was still raining!!!:cursing:
Chilled, I sheltered in a rest room took out my ipad and looked on booking dot com for accommodation.
I got dark at 5.30 6.
You can get a great hotel for approx $65-$80nz, a little more and you can stay at a traditional ryokan.
I spotted a Hotel in Kanazawa for 40,000yen.....the equivalent to $55.00nz and booked it.
Took out my book with 'points of interest' and a temple in Kanazawa would get me to Kanazawa.
Input the code to the GPS it told me 70kms to go.... 70kms can be a long way in Japan terms.
The route took me through the mountains, this time via tunnel after tunnel, and it was God send, the tunnels being warmer I could warm up, eventually I popped out on the West coast.
Turning North and doing head checks over my shoulder it was a race with the dark grey cloud looming down around me and behind me.
I was breaking speed limits with abandon.
Taking the off ramp into Kanazawa, the GPS was turned off and through experience, my phone with google maps worked better in the city, it was crudely duct taped to the tank, there were plenty of traffic lights to study the phone maps waiting.
Tall and skinny the Hotel was quiet recognisable from the photo on the internet, a busy popular old city, it was a relief to turn off the busy streets to the Hotel foyer and greeted by the concierge
who directed me to park my bike.
Nothing unusual when staying at a Hotel in Japan to be greeted by concierge, although these men looked VERY tidy.
I locked the bike and dragged my pannier contents out, for this trip they were dry bags, I was completely exhausted.
Walked past the hotels carpark and parking in the shelter of the hotel foyer. Admired the lastest Bentleys, Telsa and a couple of Lamborghini's......What! OH hang on!!!
The penny had not quiet dropped until I stepped inside the Hotel.
A long weekend holiday, couples were walking about formally dressed, women in Kimono men in smart suits.......waterfalls fell from walls into beautiful featured pools below, 'Oh my days'....it was FLASH
and here I was standing in biker jeans and holding dry bags.
I quickly whipped out my Ipad and checked the booking dot com receipt......:| Did I turn white? whiter than I am, swear words silently passed my lips.
What I thought was $55.00NZ was $550.00NZ
Oh yes, of course I kicked myself a few times, with booking dot com, no refunds, I just had to take it on the nose so to speak.
By the time I got into the lift, escorted to the room, in no time I had that bath running and salts added, opened the Hennessy whiskey from the bar fridge, turned up the heat pump, spread my wet gear around, and opened the curtains to the amazing city vista and watched the typhoon pass on by.
I slept so well.
http://www.r1200rforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=95385&stc=1&d=1527932492
Next day in Kanazawa a stop by a samurai district located at the foot of the former Kanazawa Castle, where samurai and their families used to reside.
My rental for the 3 weeks a BMW f800r.
http://www.r1200rforum.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=95393&stc=1&d=1527932687
Probably not the best choice for breakfast snack but Japanese roll baked cake with bean jam 0
