Thursday 31st October Penultimate riding day in Japan , another sunny day, hope its the same for Keith & Linford who are visiting Mt Fuji today. I knew my ride today was going to be through busy towns and cities, so had a few different plans for the day, just see how it plans out First part of the ride along national road 23, was not to bad, but it run adjacent to E1A, really busy and cyclists not allowed on them, I stayed on the 23, for around 35 miles on pretty good cycle paths, across loads of bridges and heavy engineering works, i had enough of stopping and starting now so plan b into operation. So just after the city of Yokkaichi, I turned off into the minor roads, using downloaded google map, it was so much better getting away from all the traffic and before I knew it, I was out in the countryside where I belong, past forest campsites and warning notices about the monkeys, never seen them this time, then took a single line pave track up to the top, really good riding, I only met one other car coming down, he looked like a forestry guy, I had a bite to eat at the top and drink in a picnic site. Then it was back on the bike for the down hill ride into Otacho, well as in the UK, its never all down hill in Japan, with there rolling roads, but nevertheless it was a really nice ride today, first part in typical Japanese cities and town, second part in their fabulous unspoiled country side, quite contrast between the two.