By Klaus
12 days Hokkaido motorcycle touring are over - lots of memories remain. Let me share some of them with you.
Going from Toon City (Shikoku) to Maizuru City (Kyoto-ken) for the ferry to Otaru City (Hokkaido) was my first challenge. Roughly 450 kilometers with a fully loaded bike. At Otaru I stayed at a friend's place, who is a log house builder. From there I went to Wakkanai, my home for two nights, enjoying the nature, great food, talking to other bikers and visiting places like Cape Noshappu, with Russia's Sakhalin island 43 kilometers away.
Wakkanai to Shiretoko National Park past Lake Saroma was next. Long, straight roads with little traffic, along the coastline - everything that makes a biker's heart beat faster. Two nights at the Raussu camp ground, watching wildlife, enjoying the Aidomari Onsen, and meeting more biker friends.
From Raussu to Nemuro and Cape Nossapu on my way to Lake Akan. Meeting and talking with native Japanese, the Ainu - another great experience - less great the stay at the "Biker's House"! Lake Akan covered in clouds but I did see Marimo, many of them sold to tourists are imported from Russia or "handmade".
The next morning I left for Kushiro, spending two days there because of a taifun. Visiting the city, seeing the Shitsugen Marsh, eating crab and departing for Kamifurano. Another 2 nights at a very nice campground, looking at lavender and sunflowers fields, and talking to more bikers from all parts of Japan.
One more day left, so I went from Kamifurano past Sapporo to the Shakotan Peninsula. Eating Uni-domburi, sleeping at a parking area and finally going back to Otaru to catch the ferry to Maizuru concluded my Hokkaido trip. After roughly 3.500 kilometers of touring I arrived at home, without any problems but lots of great impressions.
For more information as well as pictures please go to http://virtulanguage.com.
