Around the Lake: Biwako

Yeah! Biwako 3+!

Here is the Team at the End.  From the Right, Barry, Jiri, Nathan, Kayo with Isaac and Don, Nathan's father.  Well done!  Thank you all for your support!  Now off to rest......

We Did It!

Yes we made it!  No flats, No Crashes and No getting Lost!  Great trip and otsukare to us all.  In the end we ened up going around 170km, Pedaling for a bit over 9 hours, a Maximum speed of 46KM/H and a great Average of 18.0KM/H!

Destination Done!

With it starting to get late and us needing to share the road with more and more vehicles, we decided to finish at Biwako Ohashi (Bridge).  Not to mention the fabulous selection of foods. (actually we were too tired to actually eat anything....)

Shirahige Shrine

A beautiful Torii Gate out on the water at Shirahige Shrine.  Just watch out for the cars when you are trying to cross over to see it!

Road to Shirahige Shrine

Had to share the road with quite a few vehicles on the west shore.  Here we are coming up on Shirahige Shrine.

Windmill Village

There is a free Windmill Village we stopped at for lunch.  Many huge Windmills and a great park for families to play it.  Would be fun to go back to visit. (but being a three day weekend, the place was packed!)

Big Blue!

Some places one couldn't even see the other side of the lake.  Biwako is quite a big place!

Flat roads

Most of the roads were well paved and flat.  There were a few hills, but not to many.  One can understand that Biwako is very popular with bicycleists.

Oosaki Temple

Stopped at Oosaki temple for a butt and leg rest and break.

Lake View

Beautiful view of the lake and far North Shore.

On the Road Again

Barry and Jiri kicking up the pace.  The North roads were really a joy to ride.

Koi (Carp) Farm

Along with all of the birds and animals, there were also fish hatcheries.

Torii & Sumo Dohyo

Right on the lake they had a beautiful Torii Gate and a Sumo Dohyo for those that want to do Sumo on the Beach!

What the ..... Duck!

Starting out in the morning from Nagahama, there were literally thousands and thousands of Ducks in the lake relaxing.  We also saw many other birds including Crane, Crow and Falcons.  Biwako is quite the Nature Place!

Sorting Trash

In the Kirokabe district they are quite extremely perticular about trash separating.

Kayo & Isaac

Here is our support Kayo & Isaac! Thank you for following us around!

Speak Easy!

And to end the evening, a great Bar! Actually probably the largest selection in all of Japan. Oh, the Rum, Bourbon, Moonshine!

Beef!

Oh, Oh, The Omi-gyu! Yes, not only beer, but beef too! Good food at the Nagahama Brewery!

Happy Czech Man!

If this man is happy, then everyone is happy!

Inside the Brewery

This is where all the good grog gets made!

Nagahama Brewery!

Ok, we admit it, we really are only doing this for the beer. Nagahama has some great brews. Kampai!

The Taiko Onsen!

After a long day of pedaling, it's great to relax in the Onsen (Hot Spring) and let the pain flow away. Oh, the pain, the pain.

Monkeys!

Over in the Nagahama park they had a mini zoo, with Monkeys and other animals. Gotta love the Inaka (country).

Escalator at Nagahama Station

Made it to Nagahama around 4:30. No easy way around the station, so we went over!

Buddah Butt

We passed a huge Buddah facing AWAY from the Lake. I like big....!

Civilization!

Wow! A Drive Thru Starbucks! That's what they need around Station 8 of Fuji-san!

Lying River?

Here is Jiri at the USO-river. He is really the pace setter, pump it!

More road.

It really is a wonderful way to travel around Japan. And today we have beautiful weather to pedal, just perfect!

Chalet from Outside

Here is that Chalete from the outside. They even have a beautiful fireplace for winter guests.

Curry & Beer

Found a nice little place on the lake, Chalet Mizu-ga-Hama right at the 40KM mark. Yummy Curry & Beer!

Forest Roads

Some nice forest roads along the way.

Lots of Cults

A surprising number of cult building around the lake.

Path on the Lake

Wonderful bike path along the lake to start things off.

Kewl Building

There was this cool building, modern/japanese near Otsu where we started.

STARTING OFF

HEAR WE GO!

BIWAKO 3

Dad isn't fealing well so we start with the Biwako 3. Hopefully he can join in the afternoon!

Morning Bikes

Bikes in the Genkan (Entranceway) early morning. Getting ready to head out to meet up with Barry and Jiri!

A Few Magaizines

So then we found 2 magazines with a good deal of info on Biwako and the area.  Much page turning and planning was involved.  Most of it done during an outdoor picknic between Nathan and Barry at Nakanoshima Park.  The dates being a three day weekend, we almost couldn't find a place to stay, but finally we located rooms.  The plan was coming together.

It started with the Fuji Six

On the way back from Fuji-san, Mike suggested that the next trip be a "Bike Around Biwako (Lake Biwa)".  Doug seconded that, and since Barry lived up in that area he agreed to do the planning.  We should have know that most of it was just the "high" from conquering Fuji-san speaking, but the idea was out of the bag.

Barry got right on it and started the planning, but as we got closer and closer to the date,.... well let's just say the Fuji-Six became the Biwako-Three+.  We ended up with Barry, Jiri and Nathan, plus Nathan's wife Kayo, their Son Isaac, and Nathan's Father Don on for the trip.  (Kayo and Isaac would be driving providing "backup/support" for the endevor.