MagSeven

Sorry chaps, I didn't mean to cause any undue concern! I am safe and well in Yuzawa after exploring the Mighty Granview yesterday. Pics will be posted when I get home. Heading up to Naeba for the festival this morning! Also should add, thanks for the route advice Muika. Glad we were prepared for the extra distance to 76. It's been a tough couple of days climbing with loaded bikes, so unexpected detours wouldn't have been ideal!

Should be tomorrow. I'm excited/nervous!

Thanks Muika, that's just the kind of local knowledge that'll come in handy. Bit of a bugger that one, will add quite a distance. Good to know in advance though so we're prepared! Debating whether or not to do that, leaving our bikes in Yuzawa. Kind of think it'd be cool to roll up to the festival under our own power though. Guess we'll see how we feel at the time.

Incase anyone is interested, I've planned out a tentative route: Day 1, Overnight ferry down from Tomakomai to Niigata arriving Day 2 mid afternoon. Then hopping straight onto a ferry to Ryotsu on Sado Island. Wild camping overnight somewhere close to Ryotsu. Day 3 60-70km approx cycle the top loop of Sado, camping somewhere on the west coast. Day 4 60-70km approx cycle down the west coast and around the southern tip to Ogi, catch the evening ferry to Joetsu and wild camp somewhere just out of town. Day 5 Head towards Tsunan via 253 and 405. Probably around 40-50km cos hilly. Find some

Thanks Tubby. Will plan to be there Thursday when the site opens so we can try and get a decent spot for the tent. Wizz, Granview is obviously the main destination for the trip. I just used Fuji Rock as an excuse to get Mrs MagSeven to come along!

I'm planning a trip down to Fuji Rock in a few weeks time and was hoping for advice or recommendations from you clever people who might know that part of the world, or have been to Fuji Rock before. We're going to catch the ferry down from Hokkaido to Niigata with our bikes the weekend before the festival. Loose plan is to do a couple of days over on Sado Island, before returning to the mainland to work our way inland to arrive at Naeba on the Thursday. We'll be cycling and camping, so any recommendations for nice campsites, onsens or interesting things to see on Sado, or between the

Thanks everyone! I used a GoPro. Just set it up to take a photo every 30 seconds and let it do its thing for the time we were at the summit. Then just dropped all the photos into iMovie and stuck a tune over the top. I should have had the interval at 15 seconds, or even less, which would have made for a slightly smoother timelapse.

For the Summer Solstice on June 21st, we hiked Mt Yotei overnight to catch the sunrise from the summit on the longest day of the year. We hiked the Hirafu route, starting at about 11:30pm on the 20th, reaching the summit in about 3hrs15 or so. It was just getting light when we reached the crater rim We really lucked in with the weather. Clear skies above, and a sea of clouds hanging many hundreds of metres below us in the valleys. It was a very cold wait at the top for the sun to come up. We resorted to playing some music, jumping around and having a mini rave at the top to stay

Generally a road bike style frame, but usually steel framed and with a slightly more relaxed riding position. Made for going long distances and carrying loads, so they'll have plenty of options for mounting racks and fenders. I've got a Surly Long Haul Trucker which I can highly recommend. It's really comfortable on long rides, and feels stable with front and rear panniers. They're not cheap, but definitely good value, you get alot of bike and solid components for your money.

That's the Kitanomine side, taken as I was heading out of town going north towards Biei/Asahikawa.

Yep, straight in there with the correct answer Tubby. Over to you!

OK, here's one

Great photo! I've only ever been out that way in the summer and autumn. I did once ski at Monbetsu's ski hill though, where we could see the ice on the Ohotsk Sea. Amazing views. Will get another one posted in a couple of hours.

That's Shari Town's ski jo. Way up in North Eastern Hokkaido.

Got a 'half-snickers' at Otaru tomorrow. Glad it's a lot cooler than it was last week, just hoping it stays dry.

There's one directly north of Sapporo JR. Maybe kita 12 or 14 ish. Not as good as the Shiroishi branch, but plenty of kit in there to drool over.

Yep, and blame it on the immigrants. And it'll affect house prices.

Definitely not a quick ride. I had plenty of breaks along the way stopping for lunch with friends etc. Usually cruise at a little over 20km/h. So it took all day, but at this time of year there's a lot of daylight in Hokkaido, sunrise is at around 3:45am!

Great bike ride at the weekend. 75km on Friday evening to Furano, camped overnight. Then a 200km loop up the Furano valley via Biei and Asahikawa and then back down towards Sapporo via Fukagawa. Stunning views all day, and I must have cycled past 10 or more different ski jos. This is from a morning break near Kami Furano at Miyama Touge

Yeah, I can get a bit obsessed! The temptation to join you guys to grill some meat and drink some beer by the river tomorrow is strong though!

It's been super hot in Hokkaido recently. I've been taking advantage of the early sunrises to get out running in the morning as it's been too hot in the afternoon. Looking forward to the weekend, heading out for a nice mini bike tour around the Furano/Asahikawa area.

1) The Island of Japan

We did the 10km 'marason'. Was running with the Mrs trying to get her round in under 50, but we came in 18 seconds too late! 50:18. Next one is the Otaru half in June.

I went a couple of times this winter. Fun little place for early and late season.

Been hitting it pretty hard. Lots of running and cycling since the snow has melted off the roads. Did a long bike ride today, 200km. Felt pretty good but I'm sure I'll feel it tomorrow!