Who put that hill there ? Well I'm back in the saddle after my time off in Kyoto and Tokyo. Just a short ride Today after getting the worlds slowest Bullet Train back to Osaka ... It stopped everywhere ! My route would take me along the Yodo river from the centre of Osaka through to the Kyoto conurbation. I would then divert to the Uji river which I hope to have time to follow all the way to Otsu. If time is tight I will need to divert straight to Otsu skirting Kyoto. Tunnel Count = 0 Car of the Day = Nissan Highway Star So I eventually retrieved my bike after 2pm and then took an hour to do 3 miles getting out of the City. I eventually reached the river which had an old road alongside it which had been closed to traffic so it was much better. Numerous Banksmen guarding the paths and some roadworks slowed me a bit but mainly the bike gates every half mile or so. They were too narrow to get the bike and panniers through so I eas stopping and removing bags constantly. I paased z few flyovers and a Golf Course, and ... Shock Horror .... Litter ! YES LITTER . . The river was flat and wide and the connurbations where like British Apartment Blocks, there was also gly tipping - I saw a few bust open suitcases and bin liners ... I must be in Osakas Moss side I thought. With 12 miles to go it was 4:30 so the short route was chosen ... little did I know in the last 2 miles I had a 500 foot climb with gradients up to 23% ! How did I miss that. It actually might have been quicker to stay on the river and do the extra miles. Anyway today was always just a get the bike out of Osaka day and there was little of note to mention. I stopped the bike at some Sakura (Blossom) for a picture but nothing much else so I have added some pics from the Kyoto break.