Motorcycle Touring
2 ~ 4 August 2006
(by Virtulanguage.com)
Yes, I did it again, another bike, another location. This time it took me with my new/old Honda Transalp on a trip to Kyushu, specifically
Mount Aso, one of the few volcanoes still more or less active. A short ferry trip was included, too, to make the roughly 35 kilometers
between Shikoku and Kyushu. To read more about this trip, check further down . To enlarge the pictures, just click them!
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After everything was packed, I left Toon City to go to the ferry port in Misaki-cho, the most western tip of Shikoku. Something like a 110
kilometer ride - great. The weather was outstanding and the so-called "Melody Line" was lots of fun.
I took off at 6:50 in the morning and arrived at the port around 9, enough time to catch the ferry leaving at 10:30 for Kyushu. Arriving in
Kyushu Saganoseki at approximately 11:40, I first had to find my way to Mt. Aso, going direction Oita and Taketa. Well, it was not a big
problem and after roughly 3 hours I arrived in Aso City, trying to find a camp site. Taxi drivers are friendly so one of them explained to me
how to get to one.
But I first wanted to ride up to the Mt. Aso parking area, to get a general impression of the area. Made it to the camp site around 5 in the
afternoon and was told by the "manager/owner" that there were some more foreigners, from England and France but that elsewise I
could pick any spot I wanted (and all this for oinly 320 Yen per night!!). So I decided to set up my tent near another one (which later
showed to be the "other 2 foreigners"). It took me less than 10 minutes to build the tent - hey, it's new, first time, so that should be ok?!?
Jonathan and Charline (the "other 2 foreigners") also showed up around 5:30 and we decided that we should eat and drink something
together later on.
So in the evening we sat together, two Japanese couples who had also arrived joined us and we had a great time until 1 in the morning,
listening to the "Shamisen" and talking about all and nothing.
I got up around 6 in the morning - with a nice headache. Damned, should not have drunken the "shochu" - Japanese potato liquor! But
after getting dressed, the morning wash and so on - well, just another great morning. Blue sky, the birds singing and elsewise - quiet -
no cars, no nothing!
We had planned to leave around 7 or 7:30, but Charlin and Jonathan were still sleeping. So, I got my morning coffee and around 8 or so
we were united again. After checking the route to the top of Mt Aso again we decided that it was time to leave. The manager of the camp
ground had also described how to get there, should have been a nice walking trail. But what a surprise - after roughly 800 meters or so
the trail ended and we started to make our way "cross-country", through high grass, bushes and you name it. We were completely off the
normal route. So it took us something like 2.5 hrs, instead of the regular 2 hours to finally see the Mt Aso volcano. But what a view!! It
reimbursed us for all the trouble and pain we had to go through.
Back to Aso City we took the ropeway - tell ya, much easier! From the station to the center of the city, however, it was another hour to walk.
Finally arriving there we decided to have a nice late lunch in on of the numerous Japanese "family restaurants". And back to the camp
site, yes, we took a taxi. That evening, there was no major drinking any more. I had a can or 2 with Jonathon and decided to go to bed
very early (around 9??), because I wanted to leave very early the next day - going back to Shikoku.
and the last day at Mt Aso.
Got up at 5:30 to do the final preparations. After the morning routine I packed all the remaining stuff, my sleeping pad and sleeping bag,
stowed everything on the bike and since Charline and Jonathan were still sleeping I left the area without saying "sayonara", knowing that
they would come to my place in Toon City anyway the next Sunday.
Left the camp site around 7 in the morning and after a 2-hour-ride arrived in Saganoseki, Kyushu, to catch the return ferry to Shikoku.
From Misaki it took another 2 hours until I finally made it back to my place.
I had a great time these 3 days, met new people, saw Mt Aso, and just all in all - YES, I will do it again.