Good Surprises

When we were planning the holiday Glenn found a company that took you into the mountains around Takayama and we planned to do hiking. The fellow who did this tour has left the company and they now don't do this tour. We were disappointed about this so Glenn searched the internet for something else and found a bike tour in the country. So again out came the JR rail passes and we went to a small town called Hida-Furukawa. The company had suggested because of the train times you have lunch in Hida-Furukawa before the tour. Off we went in 34 degree temperatures walking around the town looking for somewhere to have lunch - well it seems Tuesday is the day all the restaurants and cafes close. We were feeling very hot and hungry when we saw a place that looked like we might be able to get something. We went in and started to try to ask the man when he called someone over who turned out to be an American who has lived in Japan for 3 years teaching English so he could read the whole menu for us. We ended us with very nice tuna sandwiches and Glenn had a coffee he rated very highly.

Now on to the bike tour. It was the 3 of us, 3 Canadians and a girl from Hong Kong and our Japanese guide Hisa who spoke excellent English as he had lived in New Zealand for 5 years. We rode along rivers and drank water from a natural spring. We saw many different crops growing including rice, spring onions, pumpkins, potatoes and beans. Hisa told us lots about all these crops. We called into a store and he answered everyone's questions about the products. We stopped to look at some cows that would become Hida beef - an extremely high quality beef which is world renowned. We looked in a Japanese farmhouse and saw wonderful views. Near the end he produced cold tea and miso biscuits. The bike ride is definitely one of our highlights.

At the start of the bike ride.

On the bike ride.

An old couple weeding their vegetable field.

A view across the rice fields.

Some disappearing hills for Keith.

The three of us on a bridge.

On the bike path next the rice fields.

Having afternoon tea.

We talked to the Canadian people and they told us where they had dinner last night so we thought we would go there but it turned out it was closed. The next restaurant we tried was full and the next 2 closing. We were getting worried when we saw one that seemed reasonably priced and had some English so sounded okay. We ended up getting a delicious meal in a place with real character.

Penny's dinner.

Having dinner.

Pen says the 'bestest day yet'!