That's how much it cost to obtain our freedom. So just to give you all a rough idea of what's that worth in Aussie dollars...about $150.00. Our two brain new (second hand) bikes have changed our lives. In only two days we have discovered more of Kushiro than we had in the last two months and whats more we interacted with more people and had a chance to practice (or at least realize our ineptness) our Japanese. I only wish I had done this on the first week we had arrived...but no use crying over spilled milk. Instead, let me take a moment and reel in the glory of the weekend and our rediscovery of our liberty!
Diana's bike is definitely 'cooler' than my bike. Bright red, those Harley style handlebars and low seat; she definitely looks cooler. It's not a single gear town bike either. It has an internal gearing system, which is kinda cool, and though it is only the three gears she can hold a decent average on it and it is very comfortable. i had to fiddle with mine a little but it is running pretty smooth. It's too small, a shame but something I am just going to have to live with, but according to the four or five bike shops I have been to, they don't get them bigger out this way. Thank god Angus didn't decide to get a job up here.
We headed out of town literally the next day. We thought, since I had done little more exercise than walking about a kilometer to work on a daily basis, to keep it chilled. Yamahana, a small town north of Kushiro, was said to be a good place for the weekend and has a bicycle path all the way there. To be honest, getting there isn't the most mind boggling of experiences. its basically dead flat and marshy tall bamboo grass. There's quite a few farms between Kushiro and Yamahana, which was nice, but no awe inspiring cliff faces or ancient temples. On the the hand, it was fantastic. There were great stretches of path where you could neither hear no see a single car. There were little streams, vegetable plots along the side of the river and we even got to see tancho cranes again (no photos cos they were to far away and came out all blurry but still cool). We also got to see these little mini draft horse dudes. They are definitely not ponies and though you cant see it well in the picture, they remind me exactly of what we used to ask for in D&D when we tried to get our hands on a 1/4 Clydesdale (for those of you didn't know, I was and am a huge nerd who used to not only play but thoroughly enjoy D&D. deal with it :P )
Yamahana...well, there is a a large hot spring resort thing there, and a zoo. We didn't go int the hot springs because honestly we didn't like the look of the place all that much. We will eventually get u the gall to try the Onsen thing out but I think we would both prefer it to be in a cool outdoor spring in more natural settings. So, with a little doubt, we decided to head to kushiro zoo. Well, it was awful. I have to add here that I have never been much of a fan of Zoo's, but even as far as zoo's go it was pretty bad. i don't think anyone really need's to see photos.
Anyway, the ride was fabulous. I think in total we did about 40 or so km and got back pretty worn out. On the way back we stopped at what is probably the absolute highlight of Kuhiro for Diana and I (well me at least but i know she loves them). Dotted through out kushiro, sometimes in completely random places but in at least every 10th or so house is a vegie patch. Along the river though is even better. I am pretty sure they would be flood plans with the thaw and all and so the extra rich nutrients brings locals out to garden. i don't know how exactly it works but there are HEAPS of gardens all along the path. it is a delight to see an on Saturday there are people busily harvesting the vegies of their labour.
The following day, surprisingly fresh and not sore, we headed out again to look for two things I had obtained information about but had never found. One was a little hardware store that sells good quality Japanese knives and the other was a sporting facility that had a rock climbing wall. The first, well, we didn't find it. Or we don't think we did. In about the place where it is marked on our map we found a kitchen shop. It's definitely not a hardware store...but maybe something had been lost in translation. either way it is a very groovy little shop complete with cast iron old school kettles. If we had been rcher, and it had been open, we would have bought one for the folks and sent it to them. But we're not and unfortunately it wasn't open but at least we know where it is and even if it doesn't sell what i am looking for we will be back.
We did find the sports center and it was open though. And it was huge. Mammoth. gigantic and several other large type words. You just would never have expected this place in Kushiro. Unfortunately we didn't take any photos of it's grandeur and epicness so you will have to take my word for it. it's big and flash and well built and has like three stadiums, full size, and a pond the size of a lake and a huge park out the back. It has a massive gym and within the gym, a little rock climbing wall. Quite little in fact. I think maybe three or four people could use it at once. It's very small, really. Still, its there, which is very cool and to add icing to the cake it is cheap. As cheap as the sports center is big! 300 yen, so just under $4, for half a day and that includes gear hire!! awesome!! we don't have a lead climbing license and can't speak enough Japanese to work out how to get one, but they have a small top belaying section that we will definitely be getting in on the action at some point. All in all it was a great day. On the way home we got to pass a floating lumber storage yard. Not sure if I have mentioned this but on a regular basis they float huge rafts of logs up the river (ok so when I say float i mean drag with a tug boat. Don't be so picky.) and by the looks of things this is where they end up. It's very cool (also no pictures cos I forgot to take them).
So that was our two days of exploration and fun. It was really good to be back in the saddle again and i have to say it is like a new lease of life. Now as soon as I find a way of curing myself of this stupid allergy thing and the accompanying exhaustion, learning Japanese and finishing my two books I will be ready to take on my next challenge! Yay!
Anyways, will leave you all with a random photo from the bridge I walk across (now ride) every day on my way to work so you all know just how not bad this crazy adventure they call life is. Keep wondering all!
