Wednesday 16 November 2016

The Oldest Road

A beautiful day last Sunday, perfect conditions for a ride with F-i-N...

Torii stop (1)
We headed south, first passing through the brainwashed creepiness that is Tenri...

Entering Tenri.
Like hitting a timequake and landing in the mid 70's...

Welcome to Pyongyang.
Our destination for the day was the Yamanobe-no-Michi, the "oldest" road in Japan...

Torii stop (2)
As we passed through farmland heading up to the trail we came across this little stall selling cotton seeds. It's run by a local non-profit farming organisation called Hamayuan who offer solace and support for people suffering from depression, anxiety and other problems...

Cotton for sale.

Info about Hamayuan

Cotton.

Roads Like These.
A short ride later and we were on the oldest road in Japan...

This old road.
Beautiful views across southern Nara...

See for miles.

Fruity.

Torii stop (3).
Local produce was on offer all the way along the trail...

Shop. Local.
And some local characters were pleased to see us...

Prisoner.
But it was the scenery that really makes this place special...

Outside...

...Is...

...Free.
We went as far as the tomb of Queen Himiko...

Tomb raiders.
A quick stop at the Oyamoto Shrine on the way back up to Nara city...

Rest stop.
A huge thank you to Brad for being a very good guide and navigator for the day. That boy really knows his Nara history!

Navigator.

Monkey business.