2008 Japan Three Island Tour : April 6th:

<This was to be our final day of the tour. Again (and I just couldn't believe it) the weather held, and we had clear skies with sunshine pouring down. We started the day by loading an old school bus, and headed for the Kazuribashi, located a couple of kilometers up the valley. >

After that, we jumped on our bikes, and headed north toward Okayama. Along the way, we stopped at a public garden, located by a large, dammed lake, rimmed with cherry trees. The whole scene was peaceful. There, we met Chie, from the bike rental agency, and an editor from a nation-wide motorcycle magazine called "Big Machine".  He took some pictures of the group and interviewed some of the riders. Yup, we made the big time in Japan! 

   After an Udon noodle lunch, we headed north to cross a super modern suspension bridge to Honshu. Its ultra-modern spans of cable, concrete and steel glimmered in the sun. We were at the other end when I saw a very modern Ferris wheel on top of hill over-looking an ancient graveyard with hundreds of tomb stones. The stark difference of the old and new seemed to be everywhere in Japan.  

     We left the toll road at the end of the day, and ended the tour on a back road which led back to rental agency. There was almost no traffic as we enjoyed long endless sweepers, fabled Japanese countryside and cherry blossom trees in full bloom. It was a mystical ending to a world-class ride.  The week had sped by so fast.

     Arch made a toast at the farewell dinner. He said that the tour was an exception way to see Japan. He said that it should not be advertised as just a motorcycle tour, but a way to really get to know Japan and the Japanese. He recounted that his favorite times were during the dinners, when we had the chance to get to know the locals from the Flattwin club. For everyone, this was a unique experience never to be forgotten.

    Though some of the riders had their worries about the food, the hot springs and the accommodations, they all agreed that their worries were laid to rest after the first few days.  The variety of genuine Japanese accommodations (we did not see but a couple other foreigners during the entire trip), made the experience dream like. The riders felt like they were treated like royalty.

   Indeed, when you make a friend with a Japanese person, it is a friend for life. Along those lines, the hospitality our hosts showed us was on a level of it own. Their way of making our group feel at home and welcome, and they way they respectfully treated us made us feel special. Sure, the riding was great, but the true cultural experience made the trip.