40 Degrees and its cold Tunnel Count = 0 A bit of a tough day again today as the wind returned ... and a cold wind. But I must say how pleasurable cycling round a Volcano is ! I left town with Mount Iwate ahead of me and then after 5 uphill miles it appeared again off to the left over a lake on the Kitakami river. I was cycling North and once clear of Morioka I was in agricultural country like yesterday, small communities on a wide open plain each with well kept gardens and plants. Mount Iwake was now to my left and the weather and cycling were great. I was enjoying a clear blue sky morning on lovely quiet roads, then when I reached Iwate I hit the N4 which had a steady flow of cars and wagons. Suddenly the cycling didn't seem right, I couldn't quite put my finger on it but progress seemed slow ...Where my legs starting to fail ?? After 20 miles I reached a sign marking 40 degrees North, which i. European terms would be Madrid or Naples ! I also turned off the N4 for quieter roads ... and hillier, I felt a bit nauseous and a bit shivery and was labouring slightly up a climb. When I looked I was at 1500ft ! I had been riding uphill all morning without realising and into a headwind which ws not only getting stronger as the day went on, but it was also a cold wind straight from the North East and the Pacific. At least I knew why I was a bit slow tiday only coveri g 25 miles by noon. The road now undulated and I did get some nice downhill sections. I expected tight forested valley roads but for the most this road was wide open rolling countryside ... could almost be in England ! I stopped at a shrine with what looked like two comic dogs guarding it, I'm sure they would be mythical not comical ! I passed Nana lake and then at Hiranuka a sign saying roadworks 300m. I rounded tge corner and the riad was barriered off with a sign saying yiu coukdnt go past. I was 11milds down a 14 mike road ... surely a sign before now I thought ! I could see workers on harnesses drilling and stabilising the concrete retaining walls. I sneaked past the barrier, they were busy and didn't challenge me - 400 yards and I was through the closed section ! I then had a pretty nasty last 35 miles, most of it on the N4 into a wind which was now about 20mph and the temperature was only 10 C withiut the wind chill. I did pass a sign saying 600km from Tokyo and a rock formation which reminded me of the Devils Tower in Wyoming (of ET come home fame !) At Ninohe I stopped for a small lunch snack with 25 miles left to go and I relented and covered my arms putting on a long sleeved top. Another 2 hours plus and I was well chilled as I finished