6 am start with a 40 plus minute climb

Another ride with Steve the man I envy for retiring so early in life. He had kid duty fro 8am so we went out for a fast climb to slick downhill ride. I was beat at the top of the course man was that a climb! The sweat was pouring off my cap! We didn't have time so a phone call to get Hiro to cover Steve's kid duties in case we were late and off we rode. The first picture is of Steve dropping into the downhill course. We choose this one to link up with the old cross-country course and get a 25 minute ride.
Steve flying into the meadows 90% finished the run
The top of the meadows it was slick!

Got a nice shot from the old power line that was or wasn't built!
The view from the top before the meadows! You can see the shoulder of Goryu there and the rice paddies which will be harvested in about month. I gotta get me some fresh koshi hikari rice off of the farmers!

Great ride as always I was the slowest but Ill never give up. The hard tail is a great climbing bike but it isn't the same on the Downhill. Lots of sliding and the mechanical disk brakes aren't as nice as the hydraulic ones that are on my Downhill bike. Same time tomorrow I hope if we don't get too drunk.

BBQ and morning Coffee

After a good ride and 5 hours painting it was time to head to the community BBQ. With the manager of spicys chefing up a feast of pretty much anything we all feasted like pigs. With draft Ichiban beer to wash things down it was a good time. Got to chat with many neighbours which is good of course too, but man do they get drunk!

After an early bed time I woke up at 6 with a good view of Happo. Decided to drink my coffee and enjoy the mild morning before driving down the road to teach for the day.

Its going to be hard driving down to teach in the middle of winter but thems the breaks. At least I have 50 days of skiing to look forward to.After coming home Hannah was a little restless so I thought id get out with here and play. We are just so busy and she is a bit stressed with nobody to play with. We gave her a 30 minute bath. The girl loves baths, she loves the water. Hannah scares me cause she loves the water too much. We had a fun time playing in the bath making funny faces.

explore explore- with kKen and Steve

Paint and Biking that was the name of the weekend. Steve the keen biker that he is was ready to go on 2 early rides. 2 early rides that saw me brake chains 2 days in a row.
The first day we would head into the Iwatake woods. Just as we were about to go in Ken-Chan and old student showed up. Showed Ken the Trails and he was stoked. Ken is one of the best skiers in Hakuba and also just an all round good kid.


After that Steve ad i Hit up the Tsugaike to Iwatake Trail. The access is to hard to fine but its a great trail. For about 100 meters there are steps. Freaking hard riding on a hard tail. That said I suck at biking.
Sunday saw us head to Sanosaka to hit the improved Downhill course there. First had to the wife to bring another bike as I snapped chain number 2 for the weekend. Steve looking into the course saying fukc that is steep.
get to
Me crossing the bridge on the way back. A good weekend ride for sure.
Met Ken-chan at our local area BBQ and he was so happy to ride with us. Ken is a great kid he even brougth a beer home from the BBq for his old man!. Now that is a good boy.

Back to painting!!!!!!