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Letter 57
Monday 07.10.13 14.93 km
As usual it's hard to figure out the relations between the different persons
in this hostel. Yesterday
a car came with a girl, that brought the biggest 4 peaches for the host, I've
ever seen. She came
from Yamagata. Maybe he actually said she was a cousin. But another girl who was
also there for the
night, it seemed he knew. The last guest had been running 50 km, so he made an
early bed.
I've bought the ticket and researched how to get to the tracks. I think the bike
can get into the
first elevator if it's warped. The next elevator isn't until after the ticket
control and by then
the bicycle is packed and not so long. But the non-reserved seats should be
close to the elevator.
Then I'll get off not at Tokyo, but at Ueno Sta. because there we'll cross the
Joban Line, which
will take me to Toride and from there it'll only be a 11-12 km ride to Tone.
"1166" in a fake japanese Lego version
All that, that was impossible for the lady in the T.I. the guy in the reception
helped me with. Of
course they also have a "travel planner" in Japan, I suddenly remembered.
According to this, I had
to change twice (when you entered Tokyo Sta.), but the 50 km man came up with
the suggestion of
Ueno, so now I'll only have to change once.
The route from Toride I studyet in Google Earth and made my own map.
It's hot today. It was also yesterday. From 20 degr. to 24 degr. Today probably
more. So hot, that
people I "talk to" comments. It should be autumn and most of the trees are also
having yellow and
red leaves.
The bike will soon be ready for the final
ride home
Now I'm once again in the Shinkansen. This time I didn't start tieing anything
until I'd examined
both car 2 and 3 and I found a place for the bike behind the last 3 seats. Now
we leave, so it must
be 13.03. My watch shows the right time.
It's time for a status. The conclusion has long been ready: Japan is not a
country for bicycling.
It's possible and it's a challenge and if you take it, you can have many nice
experiences, but Japan
is clearly easier accessible by car or train or bus. Everything is well
organised which makes it
easy to travel.
The mountains draw back more and more threatening to disappear totally in the
mist. We're truly on
our way into the Tokyo area. It was completely cloudy once, now the sun shines
again.
It's no lie that it's been a bigger physical challenge than I'd expected. But
that makes it more
satisfactoring that everything has come out well.
We stop at Omiya Sta. and once more I cross my track. This is where I stepped
off, when I came from
Sendai - ages ago.
A childish girls voice sounds in the loudspeaker, I guess it's about what you
can buy on the train.
But this is a special japanese fenomenon, that women often speak like that. They
shouldn't make too
much fuzz about themselves, best not even be there. They also run when they have
to go and get something.
You shouldn't feel you're waiting.... I always say: "You don't have to hurry..."
In Ueno Sta. I go up on an escalator with the first 4 parts. The station master
said I should go for
track 11 or 12. Tranfer for JR lines is further up. This time the escalator goes
up maybe 4 floors.
Then a bit of walking to the ticket control. Then back down for the rest,
there's luckily also an
escalator down. Up again with the rest. Track 11 and 12 are the nearest, only a
bit of walking and
up one stairs and an escalator.
Now I'm in the Joban line bound for Toride. My luggage is put over in the corner
for wheelchairs.
I have no trouble finding my way to Tone. I choose to go as close to the river I
can. As long as I
don't cross it, I'll be fine.
When I roll up in front of the house, Father san is doing something outside.
I've come home...