We joined up with Toshio-san and
Mr Yasuhara last Wednesday for a bit of off road riding around some local "hidden" Nara trails...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2epv6M51gIYtJ5Qu2zpn9tBlyHRTcATsTXLPOgz9C3zG6pHV_C36xo2HkKwpwXMz7F9DmQgOlUJkSIis4_3FPKps0KSRWwn3JbJKYJURI4QJwXsoU8txKOoMKAHbin23KaHDzsle9SJFe/s1600/Dirt+Training.+Nara.+Japan.+(23).JPG) |
Important pre-ride checks. |
It started off quite gently as we headed out along the Nara Cycle Road...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8bgzQaPCyhyphenhyphenYsxdKqL55s08pcdv0CbHNtHXCCTerXrf4FZajA_BbvG27GP70me5m_-KpneCy-KEFFfXUzBdIwYN2gwiJly1FK3vfpa_wAVfLbl4bM8HnEfIDQ_5ke7L-EF8BKBed_sOWD/s1600/Dirt+Training.+Nara.+Japan.+(4).JPG) |
A "gentle" pace, |
And then, very quickly, we were in the dirt....
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztqAhQtHsCNwEppUoxBYP9Q0Z8v8HgYS6riQH2X7cFflJa0HfPYMBaSrBpOKJtNz5TZ79fpqgdEgrylfjBqKHJidCxgzHD_LLFhYCN3BFpsY9FAwyglx9nTzA67s2lPq0gtEMiw6B5n7_/s1600/Dirt+Training.+Nara.+Japan.+(5).JPG) |
Rest stop 1. |
A few rest stops/location checks were needed...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYLll_hnndk1iKtklItnQg0Vh7xuYNXRIgijW25XiXC1Dpyc9fXGvAtdYYnBRJdoDULo0cBLCCzJxOoCChlDK6fK_fxu9SpqnnjOf-OUmzD2wnpOWqWHxZLkSKPIUJpCEWnAK89mDHyRB/s1600/Dirt+Training.+Nara.+Japan.+(15).JPG) |
Location check. |
We took in some beautiful rural Nara scenery...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9kf9ZTFTDSqndCHVlG2MxmgftgToD-INJJt_ChcAb3onHEv7mL4NvSVH02QFvF46_HEg6qtWKfb8We0uwFb1rhuvT5LLleoAIe4iP-2UKQRcrtnjyMYD9uuZJAew8VTs0CElRHsVES9S/s1600/Dirt+Training.+Nara.+Japan.+(11).JPG) |
The middle of nowhere. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMoUJnn0xrYlYCv0CqWKg9E7tc0cGqtBHesSrX8H-i-3Mzt_S5_R0WSk59YCkabtlM3VJpQzot32mzK8cET57u51STE42gOASVRt82IH_bYmV2qEBHaWTqfA10nYqPqeClC5VRwte5YUS/s1600/Dirt+Training.+Nara.+Japan.+(7).JPG) |
Rest stop 2. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRlAuaABE6StiwNgoO39jwm9_U9nZJYYPkRDQUw_vZwvWLj1gjVlhhJQ112m6zy_dTiBnwN7EDkGbEVYFGUfWgE0ZZTU-7V1DD56KBIRhW700wPSHVJWo1JuqQ7tnZ46aQ-AI1vAZVPrj/s1600/Dirt+Training.+Nara.+Japan.+(16).JPG) |
Where's your head at?! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxi7-VthnomUdC3P8wh8KOA16rD4FDJPtExDdShuE9QreUk3b0feFE8cnoSKxZ5f1zMyM9NOcryLl6jO1n5ZpPERfscIEtYlQRT_hgZFHNcF_kNkWUF5czyqIlDYmYE50EkifOFfWplTH/s1600/Dirt+Training.+Nara.+Japan.+(13).JPG) |
"We are here". |
Yasuhara-san was flying through the difficult course...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHgMCKDl_cuMkl57W53tnBt9Dm5BzYWlaLilDQlFHBcmgD07zdgoHAhKoxME_nN2frWU01ibX45E6U1Mv4svvp59_Arrvs6kCOdiYp13j1pzHIHQZe-vZu65U85CiYEU3U_tprLk_2k9m/s1600/Dirt+Training.+Nara.+Japan.+(9).JPG) |
Flying! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUejm6y393WX0ZNgOvXCEmhyFCgAwTn8Nrvh3J_T5ds5WAFpoxI-mfstEFTVyr1YuBnYFvlk0o8qJmPQY9YIB72Yp4eTkrX1Qx0X8_uMZBH4AJEf45kvpmRToCDGxFoSQS8mNWV3I4keyS/s1600/Dirt+Training.+Nara.+Japan.+(19).JPG) |
Location check 2. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFr57a-p2ZPnSVxKqi82Nr4wefCWN9X144f-OUZFVH2NX1ktHU0QDxAB5ooMKByj4xsoNxxppzHrN_2oK-C_8zCLP4RYAcc3-OABq3iiJrEA6ZAbwydZ3FbRXWaCgZcO1vPY5SWQ-UrYwO/s1600/Dirt+Training.+Nara.+Japan.+(20).JPG) |
Toshio, in the distance. |
A really fun and happily tiring day. Big thanks to Toshio-san and Yasuhara for his exceptional navigational skills.