Finalamente! Finally the day of departure dawned and with work not close to closing, my home office assistant’s help could not be more welcomed. “Help me pack, Peter!” said I, and in half an hour the practiced version of essential items took shape, squashed between emergency food, helmet, hand wipes and washing powder, a clean trip it could be, while my assistant looked on giving occasionally sage advice. So navigating traffic to the airport mid-afternoon went with little hitch, and to celebrate the self-check in disarray that was Air NZs international check in that hour, coffees were ordered and farewells begun. “Hasta en Costa Rica por el proxima café, Pedro!”. Por supuesto, of course, and with a spring in my step, and happy tears in my eyes, it was on to boarding procedures. Un poco triste ... read more

Morioka. Town of bridges, bathroom sized hotel rooms and, behold, the Shinkansen starts to hasten our slow local train trip to date. Questioned by John from the ‘Gong in Furano as to our stay here (“why?” implying a wasted pause), our contingencies meant for overnight stop only, and with a short nostalgic stint wandering the river side the next day, it was a fast transit on to our first of 2 trains bound for Nozawa Onsen Known for its multiple free bathing facilities and apparent authenticity, the omiyage shops greeted us, inviting appreciation of the local sake, steamed rice bun vendors creating towering loops of vapour and modestly crowded streets. A steep descent to Miyazawa pension near the base of Nagasaka chair lift was worthwhile when our hosts offered free espresso, free wifi, and, accordingly sign ... read more

Sitting on the minibus, nursing our weary backsides after the final riding day, two of us composed our guide a farewell poem…. Indochina With Exodus 3 countries passed And not much missed Team Black were there To push some forward Pulled to rest stops By an imaginary cord Then Cambodia next In Siem Reap Angkor temples Pool cool and deep Phnom Phen city A hectic place Kingdoms and Khmer At walking pace Crossing the border High temperatures did smother With ice cubes and water Still hot, sticky, bothered The Mekong was sultry A vast waterway Coffee consumed The Vietnamese way Now our ride is complete And we’re off ou... read more

Filled with an abundant breakfast, we checked of the old city hotel and set our sights on beginning cycling 2.5 hours east of Bangkok, in Khao Yai national park. Picking up our bikes and truck with the family team of Dad, Mr Black, and two sons, Nutta (shortened to Nut) and Not, we merely made 2km when mechanical failures appeared. Swift work sorted them out after ten minutes, and waiting around I realised my camera was dead having been charged the day before I quickly sucked some life back into it from my tablet. Standing behind a pillar and small plants at a road side stall, bent down, it seemed I had missed the eye of Nut, acting as the sweep, who was to remain at the rear. So I took off at good pace to ... read more

Leaving the Hakuba valley was with trepidation and a tinge of sadness. Mainly for the anticipated historical snowfall that was to curtail the activity over the next few days of Oshoogatsu, New Years celebrations Making full use of the free local shuttles in the area from Happo village, I headed out to get the gear hire from Iwatake. Iwatake translates as ‘place of hideously loud and tasteless music’, piped through the speakers attracting a mixed crowd of Japanese and foreigner boarders and skiers. On the upside, the terrin of cross country routes through trees and undulating hills fit the bill nicely. I ditched the plan of staying on familiar trails there to go on to Tsugaike’s Maeyama cross country paths, farther east up the valley and about 30 minutes along heavily snowed roads A short 5 ... read more