Just outside the main doors to the airport, I preceded to disassemble Mr. Green and organise all my gear for flying. This whole ordeal took about an hour and afterwards I made my way inside the terminal where I was directed to several areas before finally finding the proper counter. All of the airline personnel were extremely friendly and accommodating. Once I had my boarding pass I rushed to the gift shops to pick up some last minute souvenirs which can only be found in the airport. By the time I had gotten what I was looking for, there wasn't really anymore time to spare. I dashed over to the security check where my bags were thoroughly ransacked and every item turned topsy turby. I had forgotten to remove a lighter and camp stove gas canister from my carry on items. This made things drag on quite a bit as you might imagine. Finally the "interrogation" was through and I sprinted over to Gate 8 and found my seat aboard the large and spacious jet. Before boarding I had hoped to get a bite to eat, but those plans fell through. So I packed away my exploding back packs and gift bags in the overhead bin and with a great sigh melted onto seat 15D where I slept for the duration of the flight. Upon arriving at Kansai Airport I accumulated my baggage and Mr. Green, and followed my nose to a Lawson Convenience Store. There I a bought fried chicken and rice lunch, Calpis Water Drink (a sweet, white, chalky beverage preferred by kids), and a chocolate eclair.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
After we had finished breakfast, Hideo san drove me in his van towards the Airport so that I'd know the easiest way to get there without getting lost. He said he would have dropped me and my bicycle off there himself if not for a previous work engagement he had at 9:00. What a guy!
At about 8:30am Hideo and Junko Shioi saw me off as I made my way to the nearby Chitose Airport on Mr. Green.
Thank you so very much for everything Hideo san & Junko san. You made my last night in Hokkaido one I'll surely never forget!
Last night after filling my belly with delicious food and drink, and heart with warmth, I made my way upstairs to a guest room in the Shioi's home. There I slept on a cloud soft futon. After the last 3 weeks of camping on hard ground, the futon was extraordinarily comfortable. I laid down on it and fell unconscious presumably within seconds! I awoke the next morning at 6:00.
With a rotor tool, Hideo san has inscribed "Happy Road" on this beautiful frame he made. The picture is of Junko san and Hideo san last spring on their cycle tour in Shiretoko. They are a cute couple indeed!
Jingis Khan
After the spa we came back home where Junko had prepared a BBQ. We BBQed on a SHICHIRIN. This is a small clay pot in which the charcoal gets extremely hot, extremely fast and stays that way for quite a long time. We enjoyed lamb, scallops, sausage, and mushrooms from the Shichirin while washing everything down with cold beer and Junko's homemade Hasukappu Brandy. Junko san makes her own berry jam. In fact it has become so popular that she sells it by word of mouth. Junko and her little sister are partners in this venture and their "company" is called Happy Berry. They make their mouth-watering jam from a native Hokkaido berry called HasuKappu. As a jam it looks very similar to Blueberry, but has a tartness to it that Blueberries lack. Most Japanese people outside Hokkaido have never heard of this fruit. The name Hasukappu is from the ancient Ainu language. Junko's Happy Berry Hasukappu Jam is out of this world, and I was lucky enough to be gifted my own bottle as a souvenir by Junko san. Thank you SO much Junko san. The brandy is also yummy, but pretty strong! You've gotta pace yourself.
The atmosphere, food, drink, and company were outstanding! What a FINALE to this Hokkaido adventure!!
A Wood Worker's Workshop
Hideo is about 54 if I recall correctly. He used to fuel fighter jets at a military airstrip close by. Now he is retired and does what he enjoys most of all in life - making wood crafts in his incredibly immaculate garage! The man's garage looks like a sporting goods shop, only much more elaborate and welcoming. Hideo san takes great pride in his garage. And I am proud to say that I was the first guest to step foot in his newly finished hobby room! Shioi Hideo san has even copyrighted his wood crafts under the name "Moku" which means wood in Japanese. Inside their home as well, Hideo and his lovely wife Junko enjoy the warmth of Hideo's wooden crafts. He has made everything from book shelves to picture frames. He orders his wood from various parts of Japan via the Internet which he lives by! If there's a deal, Hideo will find it and won't let it get away. Inside his garage are numerous bicycles and his big black 250cc motor scooter which he road 6000 kilometers on to Kyushu and back again to Hokkaido. When I met Hideo in Yakushima over 3 months ago, it was on that bike he'd come. Bicycles and motorcycles are a passion of hideo san, but it's a family affair as well. Him and his wife Junko also go on cycling jaunts together. Last spring they cycled in Shiretoko during Hanami (Cherry Blossom Season). Their 29 year old son Teppei lives in Tokyo and makes his living as a bicycle messenger. They couple also have a daughter named Satoko who lives nearby.
In the picture above, Mr. green is taking 5 in Hideo's garage. Mr. Green fits right in!
Shioi Hideo & Junko's Home/Garage
At about 5:00pm a big white van showed up in the Salmon Park parking lot and behind the wheel was Hideo san! It was great to see him. We loaded Mr. Green into his conveniently LARGE van and were off for his home.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
He looks like a Japanese Sean Connery to me!
Shimizu san is a teacher. During his Summer vacation each year, he comes up to Hokkaido to cycle tour. Every time he comes for one week and cycles around a new place in Hokkaido. He came here, and will return by ferry. From Hokkaido, Otaru is the port of embarkation and Maizuru will be his destination.
Nice meeting you Shimizu san!