Forgot to mention that yesterday when Barry was lost on the dark, rainy highway, he somehow lost his lovely new glasses…only 3 months old. Lucky for him, he won a draw at the shop when he bought them which gives him free lenses for another pair. We found the rain yesterday to compare with the heavy rain we have experienced in South East Asia during monsoon season.
Barry shared with me this morning, that to add to his challenges last night, he hit his left wheel hard on a curb that was higher than he thought. The sound was terrible and he imagined the worst. Could this day get worse, he wondered. Upon inspection, everything looked good, except for the fender which was askew. As he lifted his bike this morning, he looked up and said, the wheel is not attached. So grateful it did not come off last night while he was riding in the dark. He reattached the wheel and it seemed ok, but the brakes on that side are a problem.
Indeed, the tire is completely unattached and the brakes on this side are not functioning.
Route Inn Hotels are generally good value as they always have a Grand Public Bath and usually a free breakfast buffet. Plus, this one provided us with a covered, safe place for our bikes.
Route Inn Yokkaichi -old but comfortable and our beacon in the storm. Luckily we booked ahead as it gave both of us a destination when we lost each other.
What does a man do when he has had enough of the heat? He finds refuge at a Toto shop where the water is cool and plentiful. Toto, the Japanese company, that makes the premium toilet, bidet…all things bathroom, is a very successful company in Japan and around the world. Even the most humble convenience stores have Toto toilets with all the extras.
This pink cement truck shows how much Japanese culture is ingrained with colourful and cheerful images. So many freight trucks are vibrant colours, meticulously cared for and the chrome shines.
Luckily we got away from the highway and took a route that brought us through the town of Yokkaichi. We passed by a Trek bike store, pulled in and asked them to fix Barry’s brakes. Yeah!
Yokkaichi is a town that keeps on giving…we saw a Mini Stop Convenience Store and pulled in for ice cream. After all it is their specialty, it is so good, and we have had some stress the last few days! We also bought a few items that are supposed to help keep you cool.
We mutually decided that we would stop early. Yesterday was a tough day, the heat and humidity are sapping our energy…so we stopped in Kameyama. A good decision.
