Just like watchig the Toon Tunnel Count = 0 Car of the Day ... None - Too wet to be bothered ! Iwas looki g forward to a nice 10 mile ride along the shore of Lake Biwa before crossing to the other side over a bridge, but it wasnt great. Although I was yards away from the lake I couldnt really see it behind a more built up area around Otsu than I expected. Added to that the body was off too - perhaps due to my week off, but my ankle hurt, the calves were tight a d the thighs were tired - I even had a bit saddle soreness. After 5 miles ... a little reminder of home in the form if a Pachinko slot parlour called Durham ! By 10 miles I reached the bridge and stopped to get the views and watch the kites which were swooping back and forwards over and under the bridge right next to me. The east side of the lake headi g North had a mix of good cycle tracks and quiet roads - suddenly the cycling and the body were good again. After a winding forest road I stopped near a jetty to get some pics. A bit of a surprise to see a dead wild boar floating at the waters edge! The lake had some nice bays and onlets but before Hirome it really opened out and must be over 10milrs wide. I stopped at a bike shop called Bike Pit to get some new brake pads - it was flying a Shimano banner, so you can how surprised I was after asking the guy that he said This is a fishing tackle shop ! Called Bike Pit ... Really ... Is that just to confuse the customers ? At Hikone I turned right and left the lake behind, I saw a 7-11 and checked ... I was 0.1 miles past halfway .. perfect ! As I went in I felt a spit of rain ... within 2minutes it was steady rain and I was layering up and fro. that point it never relented. I had almost 40 miles of steady rain and flooded roads and paths with wagons spraying me every minute as they passed. One nice mo.ent ws the descent near Sekigahara, it went through a gap between tree lined hills which looked a picture even in the rain ... So I took one or two ! There was cloud and mist circling through lines of trees with some blossom still out. Descent over and I now had to endure 5 minute traffic light waits in the rain to reach my hotel in Hishima .. what a joy that was. So I had a ride of two halves - pretty good first and a bit of a S#!t Show second half .... Just like watching the Toon recently.