Half-Fast Mike
Lanterne Rouge-et-vert
- May 22, 2007
- 4,644
- 3,700
Thanks for the feedback! Just a clarification: I disable auto-pause when I get off the bike and start walking, and reactivate when I start riding again. I prefer auto-pause when applicable, so that I don't get weird squiggles while parked-up at a convenience store or similar. But as you've found to your dismay, cycle computer's auto-pause doesn't cope well at hiking speeds. Even when pushing my bike, with the speed sensor working, the GPS record can be patchy below around 5 km/h.Oh.. and all tiles registered. I turned off the auto-pause feature, so maybe that was it. Thanks for the advice @Half-Fast Mike
My wife stepped in a pothole, fell over, and broke her ankle ten days ago. I had a cycling trip planned with my tiling accomplice. Last time we tried we were rained-off by this year's endless tsuyu rainy season. So of course I went, having left details instructions with my two (questionably) adult sons about how to water the herbs and feed themselves and their mother. I'm so glad I took the plunge, as it might be the last major adventure for a while :-(
I have ridden around the Fuji Lakes several times, but it was a first for my friend. We had - to my mind - glorious views of Fujisan. She was disappointed that it wasn't covered with pretty snow in the summer. "Boring bald mountain!" So disrespectful.
Four lakes (Kawaguchi-ko, Sai-ko, Anaza-ko, and Motosu-ko) on the first day. It was hot, but there was enough shade on the roads around and between the lakes to survive. And of course lakes can offer a good opportunity to cool down.
We took a few detours, as one must, to bag easy-ish tiles not too far from the regular tourist route. One was the lower section of a hiking trail to 5th station through the (in)famous Aokigahara-jukai forest. I must say its reputation of being eerily quiet is deserved. Luckily the tile border was just before the point where the paved-but-dirty road turned to gravel. No cell service at all. But fortunately GPS worked OK; the tile was recorded.
For the second day, we road from Kawaguchi-ko , around most of Yamanaka-ko (thereby 'collecting' the last five of the Fuji Five Lakes.
After Kagozaka pass, the 40 km downhill was a lot of fun. We passed Camp Fuji (oooh.. hello soldier!) and stopped to let the morning parade of military dust-generators pass.
After the downhill, there was a long section of flatness through Susono and Mishima to Shūzenji. A lot of this was on riverside paths, but there was not a lot of shade to be found in the middle of the day.
It was getting unbearably hot. We (almost-literally) stumbled across and into The Crank. I don't mean @microcord; this is a bicycle-friendly Italian restaurant by Shūzenji station that provided the perfect combination of air-conditioning, good food, and endless supplies of ice water with a smile. Definitely worth another visit. We stayed as long as we dared before venturing out.
From there the road went up, but never too steeply, to our destination in Izu-kōgen. There was more cloud and tree-shade in the afternoon, and it wasn't too bad.
Day 1 - 3 new tiles
Day 2 - 36 new tiles
Well... back to being nurse, cook, cleaner, butler, personal shopper, et cetera.