Long time no see Mr. Green! How have you been?!
Yes, Mr. Green is about to embark on another adventure with me. Here's the old boy being broken down for the first leg of our journey together. Last time, in April, we left the cool air of Wakayama for the tropical climate of the southern islands of Japan via ferries - lots and lots of ferries. This time Mr. Green and I will take a short plane ride from Kansai Airport in south Osaka to
Kushiro, Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan. Instead of leaving the cool and heading for the heat, I'll be fleeing the oppressive heat and humidity of Wakayama for the comfortable, brisk air of Northern Japan.
On this trip I plan to spend a lot more time on Mr. Green than I did in the south a couple of months ago. Travel between islands wasn't possible by bicycle (go figure!!), which meant I had to taxi across to and from land by watercraft. Albeit fun, this was not only time consuming, but quite costly as well.
In Hokkaido I plan to stay on mainland soil at all times (except when I am diving down for seafood off the coast!). I hope to visit 5 particular National Parks to the center and south of the great island of Hokkaido which is shaped like a Manta Ray. One of these National Parks is called Daisetsuzan, and it is the largest area in Japan with designated National Park status. I have been dying to go there since about 6 years ago when Atsuko gave me a National Geographic Japanese travel guide in which there was an incredible photograph of the mountainous park.
Tomorrow I will fly out of Osaka at 3 something, and arrive in Kushiro, Hokkaido just after 5pm. So it's only about a 2 hour flight between the currently steaming Wakayama and the suzushii (cool) north land, which are vastly different from each other climatically as well as biologically.
While in the Yaeyama Archipelago in southern Japan my number one threat was a deadly bite from the Habu, a pit viper inhabitant of several southern Japanese isles. Needless to say I was very careful about where I stepped or put my hands, and shook out my shoes before putting them on each morning.
Danger from snakes in Hokkaido doesn't concern me so much. While the range of Japanese Mamushi, another pit viper (resembling an American copperhead), does include the whole of Hokkaido, it also includes most of Japan. In Wakayama Mamushi are common and I see them frequently. Not only are there Mamushi in my neck of the woods, but Yamakagashi as well. Yamakagashi, or Red-Sided Water Snake/ Japanese Garter Snake abound here in Wakayama. I've seen at least one just about every other day for the last few weeks. Yamakagashi are a rear-fanged snake whose venom is potentially very dangerous. In fact their venom is comparable to that of the African Boomslang, a deadly snake indeed. Though both of these snakes reside and are common in Wakayama, neither is bad-tempered and either of these snakes would prefer to slither away when encountered rather than stay and fight it out. The Habu on the other hand is notorious for it's bad temper and so I took great caution while in it's territory.
No, snakes aren't worrying me nearly as much as bears. In Hokkaido there are plenty of bears and when in bear country an outdoors man must take many precautions. I will need to hang food from trees and make myself heard when in quite natural areas. Bells and whistles are often used by hikers.
Respect for nature is the key to not being overpowered by her.
明日の七夕からビルは第二回目であり最後になる
アドベンチャー自転車の旅・北海道編
に出かけます！しかも前回の沖縄・八重山諸島旅行はフェリーで移動したので、現地まで２,３日かかっていたのが、今回の北海道へはなんとリッチ！往復飛行機利用となりました。電車・船・飛行機と全ての交通手段を見て、飛行機での移動が意外に一番安かったからなんですけど。北海道まで片道たったの２時間。前の２,３日かけての移動がウソのよう。今回の北海道の旅行期間は３週間丸々。３週間で走行距離1,000km（予定）かけて、北海道の大自然を堪能します。７月と言えば、自転車・バイク旅行者にとっては最適の時らしく、また現地で何人かの良い友達ができるんでしょう。
ビルの今回の予定は：
関空→釧路→阿寒湖→知床→網走→大雪山→洞爺湖→札幌→関空
となってます。
今話題の洞爺湖サミットは７月７～９日なので、ビルが洞爺湖に移動する頃には警備も解かれているはず。実は最初の計画では、最終目的地は稚内（日本最北端）だったんですけど、いくらなんでも北海道はでっかいどう～～～なんで無理無理！とビルを諭して泣く泣く中止してもらい、北海道のどちらかと言うと南の方で楽しんでもらうことに同意してもらったというわけです。
何よりも熊に襲われる危険がつきものの北海道キャンプなので、今ビルはホームセンターに、ロープを買いに行っています。何のためのロープかというと、デカイ２本の木をロープで括り付けて食料を空中に吊り上げる（図で示すとこんな感じ）ためなんですけど、これをすることによって、食料を野生動物に食われない＆身の危険が薄まる（多分・・・）はずなんですね～。
Mr. G. is wrapped and ready for the friendly skies
Tomorrow my mother in law will drive me to the airport! She is a great help to me
I'm ready too!
The gear is heavy, but not nearly as heavy as the last trip. I learned my lesson well!
I will be missing Atsuko VERY much. But, we will be able to talk most every day!Atsuko is always with me, as are all those whom I love and care about.
Sometimes I am bound to get lonely up there. I would love to hear from you!
You can e mail me at; dj.billybee13@docomo.ne.jp
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