Beautiful spring ride in a small valley in full bloom. Stuggled a bit the morning rush traffic getting out of Kuragano 　station 倉賀野, but as I approached the hills cars gradually disappeared. The road N 175 and then N, 177, follows a small valley dotted with several hamlets. Today it was all in bloom. After Kanai 金井 there is no traffic: a car every 20 minutes or so. The way up to the pass is quite gradual and very mild after the junction with road N 46. The pass is actually reached downhill. The descent on the southern side is narrow, twisting and has a very steep segment before getting to a small dam. Riding along the national route 462 was pleasant and with little traffic around noon time. The road follows the northern shore of a long reservoir with some ups an downs and a few tunnels. Fine views. I ended the ride at the tiny unmanned station of Tansho 丹荘, on the JR Hachiko Line 八高線.