July, 2010

No, I haven't realised my dream of flying over Yamakoshi by plane, helicopter nor hot air balloon yet.

However, I did find a pretty cool site which gives a 'virtual' flight.

I've been using a site called MapMyRide.com to record my cycle rides, it also has a pretty neat feature utilising Google maps to generate 3D interactive maps of routes you plot.

The map below takes you from Nagaoka station to Nishikigoi no Sato, via Yamakoshi.  Sadly the image quality in Ojiya and Yamakoshi isn't as high as Nagaoka, hopefully one day Google will increase the resolution.

...go out in the midday sun, or so the saying goes.

During my visit to the UK I got a bit of a cycling bug, fuelled by several things.  Firstly ownership of a car in the UK is a distant memory, as I detailed the other day I've hardly been in the UK since late 2007 - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/821.  Second to that is a desparate dislike of the local public transport.  Thirdly I picked up one of the dozens of Japan related books that sit unread on my bookshelf back home - 'The Sun in my Eyes' by Josie Dew, sequel to 'The Ride in the Neon Sun', a book I'd read years ago about her escapades cycling around Japan - both are recommended reads along with 'Hokkaido Highway Blues' by Will Ferguson - I think I've read it 3 times, I don't have a copy, they've all gone on to others who were interested to read.  Finally, needing to get some exercise the Tour de France, which filled the gaps between the football World Cup and Wimbledon, provided the last inspiration.

When I arrived back in Japan as well as being without clothes - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/822 - I knew my bike's tyres were beyond their sell by date, one had died completely just a few days before I left for Malaysia, it was as bald as a coot and the walls simply gave way when I 'hopped' a small bump along the Shinano River in Ojiya.

On Friday I replaced the completely destroyed tyre.  When I purchased the bike back in March 2008 the owner of the shop had replaced the 'knobbly' mountain bike tyres with road tyres at my request.  Knowing he doesn't carry stock of such I set about tracking down replacements, when I did they were scarilly expensive.  By Friday evening my bike was back on the road, the rear tyre fixed, the front tyre would wait for another day, it was solid to the touch, good enough for me.

As I mentioned the other day I'd intended to visit Yamakoshi on Saturday - http://www.niigata-nishikigoi.com/node/823 - something I abandoned in view of the heat. 

On Sunday this mad dog Englishman set off for Mushigame at 12.30 in the midday sun, equally as oppresive as the previous day.

I have to confess not making it the full 8.56 miles to Mushigame by bike, I quit at the red arrow, although I did a little more a bit further up.  I did however push my bike the rest of the way.

The image below showing the incline makes me feel better! Something interesting in the map above is Mt Dainichi, something I was previously unaware.  Whether this is something to do with the naming of Dainichi Koi Farm I'm not sure, I'll try and find out.

The route above shows the journey as far as Shintaro Koi Farm, my intended destination.  On arrival the only vehicle was one that I knew belong to Masaru Saito's brother, someone I've not seen since he resolved my problems getting a driving licence appointment earlier in the year. What this told me was that they were out netting fry for their first cull.

The water in my rucksack was a rather unappealling warm temperature and, having tried to cool myself under the outside tap, I headed for the local store in Mushigame to get some cold drink.  I also fancied an ice cream, sadly the store was closed, only the vending machines outside, the only ones in Mushigame.

I sat under the car port waiting for Saito san's return still trying to rehydrate and cool myself.  As I did so Shousuke Saito, Masaru's father, returned and advised me they were in Kawaguchi.  That meant one thing, Showa fry, Shousuke confirmed Showa.

With the sun still pouring out of the clear blue sky I was happy sat under the car port with a little cool breeze coming through, certainly with the prospect of some month old Showa incoming.

When the truck arrived Saito san was a little surprised to see me, not as surprised as his brother who was amazed that the bike was mine and I'd come all the way from Ojiya.  I was just grateful that he didn't inspect the front tyre as I'd done whilst waiting.  It was changed as soon as I returned to Ojiya!

It transpired that the tank on the truck in fact contained Sanke from a new oyagoi, not Showa as I'd hoped.  We set about sorting through the fry, sadly the oyagoi hadn't delivered the goods, it reminded me of a lesson that Saito san had taught me back in summer 2008 when he felt I considered breeding 'easy'.

It was a quick cull.

At around 5.45pm with the sun sinking I headed out of Mushigame back to Ojiya, that hill a whole lot easier, but equally scary in a different way, on the way down.

I stopped to grab an updated version of the panorama from the usual spot, such a change since I was last here.  Click to get the full 6000 pixel wide version.

I received a call from Saito san this morning advising he would be doing senbetsu today, I'd actually planned to go to Nagaoka to do some bits anyway so that was handy.

Rather than using the bus I decided to take the bike, it transpired it was a 'marathon' ride, literally, 26.5 miles, the route shown by the red line.

Tomorrow I'll be heading back towards Mushigame.

I can't remember the last time I put a label on my check in baggage when flying, normally I just put it on the weighing scales (not that it ever weighs much these days as generally it has just a few clothes and other bits and bobs) and let the airlines put their labels on.

Whilst  queuing to check in on Tuesday afternoon a lady came down the line asking who needed labels, I declined her offer.  On reaching the desk the check in assistant asked if I had a label on my bag, 'no', I replied, 'but it's OK'.  She insisted I did but before I could write my address and phone number she said, 'just your name is OK', and proceeded to affix the label to the bag.  I'm not a susperstitious person but something seemed a little ominous.

Anyway, I soon forgot my luggage had something to eat and a couple of beers before boarding the plane.  Whilst my ANA seat was a little cramped and far from the most comfortable I've sat in I managed to spend most of the flight sleeping, I didn't even bother looking at the movies on the in seat entertainment system.  When I properly awoke there were only 3 hours of the flight left and I managed to doze my way through some of that as well whilst others around me savoured the delights of airplane breakfast.

With the plane down by 3.15pm I was confident of getting through immigration and customs in time for the 4.15pm Narita Express.  Immigration took a matter of minutes, in the past I remember queuing for what seemed the best part of an hour there, and I headed down to the baggage reclaim where the first 'priority' bags were spilling onto the conveyor.  I stood waiting, the crowd began to bulge as others came through immigration, as did the conveyor as more bags spilled on.  Then the crowd dwindled, as did the bag, but lo and behold mine wasn't there.

A young lady from ANA came over and asked if I'd arrived from London which I confirmed I had.  She then asked whether my bag was going around on the conveyor. I confirmed it wasn't.  She suggested it best I visit the baggage service counter who were expecting me when I arrived.

On tapping my baggage reference number into the computer she confirmed my bag had last been scanned in London, at least it wasn't bound for the other side of the world, although of course that didn't mean it was actually in London, that's just where someone last read the bar code.  I have to say this does seem incredibly mysterious and unfathomable to me, I was with a group of people all checking in at the same desks and all going to the same destination.  How does one bag 'disappear' on route to the aeroplane?  I was quite sure that a half empty medium sized Addidas sports bag wasn't the most attractive booty for a would be thief.

Having completed the missing baggage paperwork at the service counter another young lady took me to the customs desk.  Over the years I've had to empty bags at this point and answer some strange questions, I distinctly recall the time I passed through and a female customs officer asked my to open my bag.  On the very top was a copy of the Japanese version of Nishikigoi Mondo.  'You like Nishikigoi?', she asked.  'Yes', I replied, 'I'm going to Niigata where they originate.'  'I come from Niigata', she replied, zipped up my bag and wished me a pleasant trip.  As I stood there and handed the customs officer my passport, camera bag slung over my shoulder, puzzling over the consequences of my missing luggage, the customs officer asked, 'is that all the baggage you have?'  On the basis that the girl from ANA had handed a missing baggage customs formto him I had to restrain myself from a public outburst of anger!  Whether he was just stupid or had a warped sense of humour I'm not entirely sure.  Having then answered the usual what are you here for and how long questions he handed back my passport and said thanks.

Thankfully I was still on track for the 4.15pm Narita Express.

Throughout my Narita Express and Shinkansen journey I wracked my brain trying to recall what clothes I'd left behind in my apartment.  Because of my visit to Malaysia on route to the UK I'd taken rather more than I would have normally, usually it's just travelling clothes and a few other bits and bobs.

One thing that did occur to me was that the power cables for both of my computers was packed in my check in luggage, something I've only done since I had a run in with an over officious Virgin check in attendant who at first refused my hand baggage at 9kg for a flight, despite the fact my check in baggage was a measly 6kg!  I shall stand my ground next time and make sure power cables are in hand baggage ensuring that I stand upright showing no signs of my hand baggage weighing me down.

When I finally arrived at my apartment, which was stiffling hot, I was to find 1 t-shirt and 3 pairs of pants, all unlaundered, adding what I was wearing that gave me 2 t-shirts, 4 pairs of pants, 1 pair of shorts and a pair of socks.  I promptly did the laundry!

First task today was to try and track down a power cable for my laptop, the Mac would wait.  The assistant in the shop wasn't able to marry up my European Sony laptop, now rather long in the tooth it has to be said, with anything in his lists of models.  There were 2 19v AC adaptors available, one of 90w and one of 65w.  The one with 90w seemed to have the closest match of compatible models.  The assistant suggested that using that one could be a little 'kowai' - scary.  Note the difference to the similarly spelt, and often heard, 'kawai', which means cute.  Be careful with the pronounciations if you choose to call a young lady cute, she might not like being called scary!!

Having returned home and with 10% of power left on my Mac i managed to confirm that my laptop did indeed have a 90w AC adaptor, it wasn't without trepidation that I plugged it in for the first time fearing a little puff of smoke coming from the keyboard. As I'm typing on it now I can confirm it didn't!

A call to ANA early evening has confirmed the recent arrival of my bag from Heathrow, further mystifying the unfathomable about where a bag goes on route to the plane.  Apparently it will be with me tomorrow.

At least I have a spare laptop power supply and 3 new pairs of socks.