Yesterday (Sunday July 20) I paid for the smooth sailing I had the day before. My ride on the 19th from Abashiri to Kitami, was on flat ground, all 53 miles of it. Yesterday on the other hand, wasn't so accomodating. The first 3 quarters of the journey was uphill without a break. Then there was the mother of all tunnels! In Japan there are loads of tunnels, and I've been through quite a few - but not like this one. It's oves 4 kilometers in length (about 2 miles). Tunnels in general are dark, stinky, wet, noisey, and all around unpleasent. Yesterday's monsterosity was no exception.

It did however lead me not over but THROUGH a mountain, to DAISETSUZAN NATIONAL PARK! That's where I am now!