Hokkaido touring

[kawashima]

I've got two weeks off and went for Hokkaido touring.
Two week off is only one time for me. So this will be the first and last long touring to Hokkaido.
This was my first proper long touring, so I made touring route so that I don't have to ride more than 300km per day.

https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/routemap_zpsad71a44d.jpg

Hokkaido was really hot this time. It was over 30 degrees.
I brought winter jacket too, but I never wore it.
If I didn't bring summer mesh jacket, I might not be able to keep riding my bike.
Hokkaido roads were mostly very long straights without signals or bends.
The bikes I saw were mainly cruisers and adventures(mostly BMW but I saw two Vstrome and one TDM)
There were some of SS bikes and mega sports too.


https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040209_zps0af2efcb.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040222_zpsdcbbb00c.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040226_zpsa4b5ed0c.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040228_zpsae243ecf.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040297_zps09c16b54.jpg

This petrol chain in Hokkaido sells these flags to riders for 100yen.
(They were free in the past though)
I didn't see any nice police who present flags to riders like youtube video I posted,
they were just hiding and aiming radars at us
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040310_zpse0159f55.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040332_zpsab4cffc5.jpg

This is a station of a disused railway. It's name is happiness and popular for tourists.
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040341_zps97ebd028.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040358_zpsd35d5f52.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040364_zps4d4acab0.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040376_zps12b83e3f.jpg

Red arrows show the road edges when it's snowing.
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040377_zpscb136729.jpg

I saw very huge tractors everywhere.
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040381_zps40a65e47.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040393_zpsa46a88ea.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040403_zps52d91e7d.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040410_zpsc24dfa8b.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040425_zps355c7e8f.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040435_zpsd40ab562.jpg

There were a lot of rolled hay.
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040442_zps7e36415d.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040472_zps71b1caef.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040481_zpsc35eef73.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040482_zpsfa24093f.jpg

Sea urchin egg bowl was yummy.
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040489_zps33305a6c.jpg

It was awful fog.
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040495_zps3b6d4e02.jpg

The fog cleared off.
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040496_zps9d9017c6.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040501_zpsc9ac3891.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040504_zpsb5f2cdb4.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040522_zpsb04f33ac.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040599_zps43842cb5.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040600_zps3db19bed.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040604_zps9fd2fe4e.jpg

It's raining.
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040614_zpsfdac2e79.jpg

This navi(for car)is not water resistant, so I covered it with this plastic bag. It worked well.
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040618_zps24ef6992.jpg

I came to this bank branch.
9 people were killed in Hokkaido in March due to blizzard only
four months ago. And I couldn't forget this sad news.
I learnt there was a fund to support this girl in this branch just before the trip.
I do hope she will live strongly.
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040619_zpsfcfcc7c5.jpg

I found many funny illustrations like this cow. Milk?
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040623_zps06b8c939.jpg

This is also a station of a disused railway.
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040626_zpse89fffb8.jpg

TDM is not good for dirt.
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040646_zpsf3bace3c.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040668_zps96dbb76f.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040669_zps35b7cb08.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040672_zps064b0ba9.jpg

Straight road in the field.
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040691_zpse76062bb.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040724_zps3f8afd02.jpg

Northend
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040733_zpsdd58a622.jpg

This is the white road I really wanted to visit.
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040764_zpsa7030eff.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040768_zps0c6ae2ab.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040811_zps5665b3d1.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040839_zpsac46fe27.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040855_zps9a13462f.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040855-2_zps9039d2ea.jpg

This is the northend of railway. Many trains are run by diesel here but they are now having
many engine troubles.
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040856_zps89d59272.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040889_zpse4e1aeff.jpg

Many riders wave or do peace sign here not like other areas.
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040910_zpsce98bdf2.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040924_zps8e4db1a3.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040948_zps20c8db58.jpg

It was not a good choice to visit Furano on weekend, full of tourists cars and busses.
I stopped visiting some of famous places.
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040953_zps293787bb.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040959_zps8dca255f.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040985_zps0e4d2628.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040992_zps6ab15143.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1050021_zpse4a4b704.jpg

I found a super beautiful Midget owned by liquor store.
I heard he sometimes drive it to deliver liquors.
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1050023_zps2a803ffb.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1050039_zpscc319aa6.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1050053_zps2d59cd1c.jpg
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1050061_zps8cd24042.jpg

Total distance was 2060km(1280miles) and I consumed 78.9litre(17.3gallon).
Average MPG was 73.8. And my rear tyre is so square!
I could ride without major troubles or accidents or fine tickets.
I was really lucky I had fine weather except Day4 morning.
https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1050043_zps6eaa1c54.jpg
____________________
own:2020 Serow 250
owned: 2012 YB125SP, 2008 TDM900, 2005 W650, 2002 LS125R, 2002 CB400SF, NS50F, C50 / Trip to UK(2009), Hokkaido touring(2013)

[chris-red]

Cool looks like a good trip!

This photo makes me think of Jurassic park for some reason!

https://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b295/kawashima_/2013north/P1040403_zps52d91e7d.jpg
____________________
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[Knightsy]

That white road looks pretty cool, how long was it?
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09' Versys 650 | 07' FJR1300A

[doggone]

That's an interesting account thanks - The landscape seems so different to our stereotype of Japan.
The cows and bales in the fields seem quite European (and the rainy day quite British!)

[kawashima]

[Knightsy]

[Knightsy]

[pepperami]

Interesting write up .
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[Howling Terror]

Must have been tempting to ride at 3 figure speeds on all those drag strips.

Japan is on my list...(yes I will bring christmas puddings and McCoy crisps).
Beautiful country.
Thankyou for sharing kawashima-san.
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