Let's Off Road

Trip Start Sep 03, 2006

Trip End Ongoing

Loading Map

Map your own trip!

Map Options

Show trip route

Hide lines

Flag of Japan Hakuba, Japan
Saturday, September 16, 2006

So I'm in Hakuba in the Alps, there's no snow, what is there to do? Well the answer is more bike riding, although this time on mountain bikes. Pete and I set out about 10:30 in the morning, advised by Tomi who runs the hostel that a nice ride was around a lake not too far away. We cycled in the direction of the lake, looking for wooden marker number 47 letting us know we were on the right track. We had been told by Tomi that it was difficult to find, which I guess was right since it didn't actually exist, but since I've become known as MapMan, I was able to get us on the right track.

It turned out that the path leading up to the lake was all uphill, and we tried our best but wimped out and ended up pushing our bikes uphill until we got to any flat or downhill sections where we jumped back on our bikes. We got to the top of the path and were delighted when the rest of the way to the lake was all downhill. We cycled around the lake, name Lake Aoikiko, for about an hour, and nearly ended up doing a second lap. Back at the top of the mountain path, we had another great downhill run ahead of us, this one bigger than the last.

Back on the main road, we rode past a school where we had earlier heard some kind of event going on but had cycled past. We went and had a look at what was going on, and saw what looked like the ending ceremony of a sports day where we watched for about 10 minutes and left because not much was happening. Pete wanted to go back to the hostel, but I convinced him to take a ride further down the main road to see if we could find anything more. After about 15 minutes we came upon the main town, at least I think it was, and had some much needed lunch. On our way back we went and visited a small sports park where people were playing tennis and croquet golf.

It was a long day, so we spent the evening watching some crap Japanese TV, including this crazy children's puppet program from the 80's, and playing Virtua Figher on the Playstation.

Shiojiri hotels

Previous Entry Next Entry

Comments

sbuckle on Sep 19, 2006 at 08:14PM

Whoop Whoop
Greetings Grasshopper,

Your log is becoming quite interesting and sort of adictive, but we need some pictures please. What does a big buddah look like??, but who cares, what about the Japanese girls are they all like Lucy Liu? Probably not, but where's the pictures anyhow.
Can't believe you are doing so much exercise stuff, at thus rate you'll be remotely fit when you get back.
News from Royal Gloom: Bugger all really, we've found a replacement for you already, his hair's as long as yours but he knows how to dress in the morning.

Keep up the updates, whoop whoop!!!

jcparker on Sep 21, 2006 at 11:48AM

Otaku
Hi Mikey, Great to be able to track your every move. You must try and meet some geisha girls and also some 'Otakus' - these are Manga loving techno Japanese nerds. Apparently they are almost worshipped over there! Maybe you can join them!

The moment you left the Royal, your chair and PDA was taken by Emyr, I've got your graphics cards and John's got your job! Oh well, I expect you will be wanting it all back in a years time?!!

As everyone else has mentioned it, I will also - please can you get some photos on this site. Wanna see your nobbly knees!

freakinacage on Sep 21, 2006 at 06:33PM

woop
ignore buckle, we don't want to see your knees!!! but some nice oriental girls won't go amiss....

sbuckle on Sep 21, 2006 at 08:46PM

Mikey's Photos
Go to:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mapman

for MikeyV's photos everybody, and guess what see Tokyo Disneyland and you see the knobbly knees

Arghhhh!!!!
PS I'm glad to see he hasn't had his haircut yet (wait till he gets to Bangkok and the Lady Boys start taking a liking to him, he'll soon have those flowing locks shaved)