After I left Wakayama port, except for the time when I was hit by the rain near Mt. Koya,
I kept on a good pace to safely arrived in Horyuji,
where my buddy from tea picking -a friend who is also a more experienced motorbike rider- lives.
We had a birthday party for our mutual good friend, in addition,
I slept only for 3 hours and left.
I had a short break in Tsukigase, where Nara, Kyoto and Mie prefectures meet,
as I stopped by at Minori-en green tea orchard,
where I used to work seasonally.
It was great to see everyone doing fine!
I used to
be a seasonal live-in worker at the orchard for 8 years
picking tea leaves in the first and second harvest of the year,
putting fertilizers, and trimming the lower part of tea plants.
Looking back,
having lived just being an artist since my 20’s,
the job here helped me a great deal, both financially and mentally.
I rode further on the good old eastward road
to enter Iga Ueno, Mie prefecture.
Famous for Iga Ninja, of course!
And… what was so unbelievable was
that the riders I met on the ferry yesterday,
who were going back to Nagano on their motorbikes
came out of a gas station ahead of me.
What I was most concerned about this trip
was the part to take the route to Nagano avoiding Nagoya,
and they kept company with me all through the road
to Gifu.
The weather was nice! The breeze was refreshing!
As I always ride or travel around on my own,
it was a new experience to ride merrily with a company.
I parted them in Gifu to head for route 19
then focused on getting to North Nagano.
As soon as the sun set, the temperature dropped rapidly
so I put on every single piece of clothes I brought with me
including rain wears on top to keep out of the cold.
And finally I got here!
Bikers’ Dream, as always!
The owner was waiting for me in the shop
as he does anytime I visit there,
to warmly welcome me.
I can’t help but thank him!
From Tosashimizu to Nagano,
I took mostly minor roads for about 1000km,
except the time I rode on expressway in Shikoku
to save the time for catching the ferry.
30 hours of riding in 2 days.
3 hour sleep.
I can still do this.
I went to a public bath house (sento) to warm my frozen body up
and filled my empty stomach at the place in the below picture.
It was already over midnight 😉
What a long day I had.
I’m always so thankful to Mr. T,
the owner of Bikers’ Dream.
The guest room at Bikers’ Dream.
I slept deeply as if I were sleeping at home.
Now finally I head for the destination of this trip
Jigokutani Onsen Korakukan!