Japan. Onsen Explorer. Day 11 Tuesday

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Onsen Explorer. Day 11. Tuesday
Yoichi. Hokkaido.
Short climb to start the day after visiting the source of the hot spring 200m above the Ryokan, which was running into a stream at a very nice warm temperature.
As usual, the descent was very fast with some great bends. Half way down there was a good unobstructed view of the 1900 metre Mount Yotei, which is a mini version of Mt.Fuji. Stopping for a morning snack in the town below we had another great view of the peak and also the winter ski runs on another hillside. The valley was very fertile and intensively farmed with big tractors, quite a few were American John Deere’s, which is a rarity where very few vehicles are non Japanese. I have only seen three such cars, one old mini, one new mini and one Audi Quattro. The crops were rice, potatoes, vegetables, onions. The first climb was up to a two kilometre tunnel on a main road linking two towns. We rode on the raised pavement but it was very busy, quite dark and noisy with several lorries using it. This was quite disconcerting and it caused one of our riders to lose balance and drop off the pavement before being dragged back up again. Luckily nothing was coming and no harm was done but several then walked the rest of the way to safety. A nice descent followed to the lunch stop which had regular Japanese food and a bakery. Chicken curry this time and a Danish pastry- I didn’t know they could taste that good. Another climb followed and then a pleasant descent to Yoichi and a visit to the Nikka Whiskey Distillery complete with a sample of three types of whiskey; single malt, super Nikka and apple wine flavour. All very enjoyable and it was just as well that our riding had finished and our next journey was by train to Otaru to the Authent Hotel. The bikes are packed away and the cycle section of the tour is over. Now for one day in Otaru and then a two day sightseeing stay in Tokyo.
We went for our last evening meal with Ken and Dai, which was an indoor barbecue with chicken beef and pork, rice and salad - delicious.

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Photos

Mount Yotei
1898. Metres