Biking weekend 2

This weekend involved biking of a different kind, as we decided to get out of town on M's big white Kawasaki, particularly as Saturday was so beautiful.  I winged a bit at first but then, as we left 45k worth of traffic jam in our wake (yes really!) and M bought me a helmet, I actually really liked it.  Our plan was to go to Kamakura, the original 13th century capital, and now a big surfing center, about 1 hour away from Tokyo.  Unfortunately, due to slight translation issue of motorway signage, we ended up miles down the Tomei express way, egged on by the most amazing view of Mount Fuji towering over us in front.  Finally, after managing to acquire an English map from a nice lady concierge at a service center, we took a left, and headed off through a mountain pass towards the coast. 

Japan is quite literally, one of the most beautiful countries on earth.  It's natural colours of rust, olive green and inky blue, give it an air of sophisticated magnificence, which I have never seen anywhere else.  That's a big statement but it fits because, when the sun shines, it is clear from where the inspiration for all those samurai movies comes.   Our drive took us through winding mountain roads, past a crystal factory, where the entrance courtyard was filled with trees made entirely of glass droplets, sparkling in the sunlight.  We drove past fields of workers cutting grass, which seemed wrong for this time of year so who knows what they were actually cutting.  We ended up at a small town at the end of an enormous lake, with paddle steamers that looked like they had been there since samurai, until their motors started and they whipped along like a cross channel ferry.  Set in the tallest trees I think I have ever seen, we found a shrine where we rang bells to alert the gods to our presence (if they hadn't heard us coming on the bike!)  Unfortunately, our fortunes, given to us on a slip of paper were in Japanese, so we'll have to wait to see what actually happens.  I wish they might have mentioned how cold I'd get on the way home though because I think it could have been frostbite!

After a few more bends in the road, a waterfall and a few monkeys, we hit the coast and the amazing light that happens just before sunset - perfect shooting light apparently, according to David.  We finally hit Kamakura, and watched the most perfect sunset over rocks and surfers, with about 1,000 Japanese photographer's capturing the moment.

(see pics in last blog).  

PS Could you guys possibly register so I know you are there!  You need to sign up for a blog but you don't actually have to use it other than for a registration and then you will know when I've posted updates.  It takes 2 minutes and its free!  You can also then write me rude messages too. Thanks