Today did not start out very well for me, and if there is such a thing as getting your ass kicked by a bike, I’m pretty sure I endured it today! Spending nearly an hour on banking, struggling to pack a 40 litre backpack for my Fujisan hike, running off of 4 hours of sleep and having logistical frustrations, I showed up to pick up my bike nearly an hour later than I had planned.
Once all the paperwork and last minute maintenance was done, I knew that it was unlikely that I would make it to Mount Fuji. It was still a 2 hour ride away and another 2 by bus to fifth station. Since the route I want to take requires me to turn off one trail and onto another, I preferred not to try to find my way to the mountain cabin in the dark. If i lost my way, I was worried about facing the possibility of spending the night exposed to the volatile weather conditions typical of mountains, hungry and cold. The extra day also gave me the opportunity to iron out any kinks I had with my new bike.
The bike is amazing. In no way, shape or form does it feel like a gutless bike, despite its lower displacement. But I’m not going to lie, it was an adjustment for me. The clutch fussier than what I am used to and I stalled it a number of times getting used to it…And then there’s the kick starter!
The kick stater is located between the fairing where it protrudes a couple inches and the rear brake. Starting it up requires a level of precision I clearly did not possess. My bruised up leg and foot can attest to this and all the failed attempts at starting it up!
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Two stroke rite of passage -
I am feeling pretty abused by the bike! To add to my frustrations, my phone/GPS shuts off when it gets to hot. Since it is like 35 degrees in Japan and it sits on my tank, this basically renders it useless for this trip. Since I am unable to memorize the road signs in Kanji, I am now basically blindly riding through this country!
But all frustrations were forgotten as I rode through the windy turns to my current location in Lake Kawaguchi ( one of the five Fuji lakes). Riding through the countless tunnels spanning a few kilometers was also a great thrill. Momentarily opening up the throttle and listening to the sound of a two stroke engine definitely put a smile on my face.
I found accommodation at a traditional Japanese ryokan run by a beautiful older Japanese couple who were enthusiastic to help out the sweaty mess of a human that showed up on their doorstep around dinner time. For only 5000 Yen, i have a room with a view of Lake Kawaguchi and Fuji. I feel lucky to have ended up here! This a a steal considering this seems to be a tourist area and i just spent CAD $17 on ramen ( pricey in Japan!)
John from Apex was also kind enough to donate a tail bag and some bungee chords so that I can take some of the weight off my shoulders.
