Monday 27^th March 2017

Coming back to the room last night, our beds had been made up on the floor and looked very comfortable with lightweight puffy doonas.

It snowed overnight and from the window of our room it is a picturesque scene of snow covered trees, bubbling running water and rocks of all shapes & sizes topped with snow.

Before leaving the hotel we were encouraged to take a walk over the “shaky bridge”. It stretched across the gorge, was very narrow and covered with thick snow. We walked across and it did shake from side to side. Across the other side was a pine forest which looked over to the hotel.

Having had a wonderful stay we bid farewell to the obliging staff and headed back the route we took yesterday.

We soon got on to the expressway which took us through numerous tunnels. One stretch had nine lengthy tunnels in a row. As in other parts, a lot of roadwork is happening and slows traffic.

Found our 1920’s hotel in Gamagori which is on a hill and overlooks the Mikawa Bay. There is a 400 mt narrow walkway across to the Takeshima Island. The island is a National natural monument and has many shrines on and around it. It was blowing a gale when we walked across.

Many places are still closed as this is a seasonal resort.

The coast here and around the peninsula is known for its clam digging so many of the dishes have clams in them.

Sunday 26^th March 2017

It was raining steadily this morning so we put the bimany up on the car (a type of hood). Scotty warned us yesterday that it would be raining and snow was also expected.

We drove back to the coast and headed south to Hakone where Phil had planned to drive an iconic road in Japan, the Hakone Turnpike, a road famous for drifting drivers (not that a Morgan drifts very well!). However we got to the toll gate and the road was closed, so we turned around and set off to follow the GPS up and over the hills. We passed through Hakone which is a popular resort town, wall to wall hotels, twisting winding roads climbing up into the hills. It was still raining and cold 0 to 2 degrees. We could see snow in the distance and many of the cars coming down from the hills were carrying snow on their roofs. Soon enough we were driving through snow and it continued to snow.

The snow continued to build up on our car with the wipers clearing a measly area of view. At one toll road we were stopped by an official who was checking for adequate treads on the tyres of all cars. No tread, no go!

At Fujiyoshida we pulled into a petrol station to fill up. The proprietor came running out with an umbrella. When I went into the warm office to pay, I was bombarded with gloves, maps and heat packs. The proprietor proceeded to pull up my clothes and show me how the packs worked. They were nice and warm.  Upon getting into the car, the proprietor came running out again with 2 very large plastic bags which she proceeded to use the bags to wrap around us and tuck us in. Topping off her kindness was a couple of lollies to get us on the way. It was an absolute circus.

Near Fuefuki we made a stop at ApexMoto to say hello to Saori and John who had organised our Japanese car insurance. They run a small business dealing in building, and restoring collectable motorbikes. It had stopped snowing by this stage as we were now out of the mountains. We got on our way after applying stickers to the car, group photos and farewells.

Around this area there were a lot of orchards. Interesting was the way the branches of the fruit trees were pinned horizontally, thus forming a canopy. Saori warned us to be careful driving in the country as the farmers take no notice of road rules!

We drove for another hour or so back into the hills to our hotel for the night, the Nishiyama Onsen, the oldest continually operating hot spring onsen (bathhouse) in Japan. It has been operating since 705AD and is in the Guiness Book of Records.

The idea is you book a time to take your outdoor thermal spring rockpool bath.  We booked for 4pm and had a private onsen, for 30 minutes. It was particularly hot, even for me! There are separate onsens for men & women and after 10pm they are mixed.

You can have breakfast and dinner at a time of your choosing so we went for dinner at 7pm. Inside the accommodation you leave your shoes in the hotel foyer and for the duration of your stay you walk around in slippers. Not only slippers but you wear the provided kimonos complete with sash and jackets.

Meals are an art form with a variety of different sized and shaped crockery, each containing a small tasty piece of food. The courses went on & on, like a degustation menu or tasting plates. The highlight was probably the small skewered charred fish standing in a bed of smoking pine needles.

Saturday 25^th March 2017

For the last few months we have been in touch by email with Scotty Uenoyama, an official of the Morgan Club Nippon and he had agreed to meet us at our hotel for a run with some of the members.

Scotty and his son Shoki drove into the carpark in their red 1984 Plus 8 with a 4.5lt engine and 4 x Dellorto down draught carburettors at 6.20am and we were ready to head for Ebina. 

We thought being early Saturday morning the roads would be fairly empty. Very wrong! Cars everywhere but moving along so it wasn’t too bad getting onto the expressway. More tolls and quite cold! At this point we have still not heard any driver sound their horn whether in anger or warning.

On the way down we got a good view of snow covered Mt Fuji.

Pulled into the Ebina roadside station. There were so many cars and people there you would think there was something going on, but no, just an ordinary Saturday. Another five Morgans (ranging from an early 50’s Plus 4 Interim model [Cowled nose & twin toast rack spares], to later model cars including a silver grey Roadster met us there and there was lots of discussions. A number of the owners owned multiple Morgans and it seems the world over, owners are passionate about their Morgans.

After a warming coffee, our group headed off just after 8am.

Our destination was the Car Magazine spring run at Oiso. By the time we reached the parking spot there were probably 300 cars already parked and another 100 would come in. Amongst the cars there were 5 Lamborghini Countouchs and about 6 Renault Alpines 110. Also many Ferraris, a few Audi R8’s, a number of Lotus and even a Morris Minor Woody van. Almost no pre-war cars.

At 11am the Morgan group headed off down the road for lunch. We would never have found this restaurant on our own. The fifteen of us were ushered into a private room where the drivers drank non-alcoholic beer (zero tolerance in Japan) and were served a lunch consisting of many delicious morsels (including a sardine meatball).

After fond farewells we left for our hotel about 15kms away whilst the others headed back to Tokyo.

Checked into an hotel and Phil did a wander around. He found a feuerlosher (2kg fire extinguisher) and installed it in the car.

For dinner we wandered down the street to a small restaurant, seating about 12 people. The idea was you came in the door, went to the vending machine, put money in and then selected your dishes. There were a few pictures so we pressed buttons and out came our tickets which we handed to the chef. Not long after out came two piping hot dishes of noodles in a miso soup. Very tasty.

This method of running a restaurant certainly saves on labour of waiters and other staff as there were only the chef and one off-sider (the chef did the dishes!)

Friday 24^th March 2017

Packed the car, set GPS, rugged up and headed into Tokyo. Traffic not nearly as bad as expected (or remembered from previous trip). It took 2 hours to do 60kms as there is a lot of road reconstruction. Drivers are most polite and you never hear horns sounding. The trip cost about $40 in tolls.

Arrived at our hotel in Shinjuku at 11am, too early to check-in so parked and walked downtown.

Had a look in the food hall of the Isetan department store. Amazing variety of foods, many with a cherry blossom theme and lots of samples being handed out.

Thursday 23^rd March 2017

Lots of Koi fish in the pond in the hotel garden. Obviously used to being fed as they swam towards us expectantly. One large golden coloured one stood out. No rain forecast to Saturday so we should be right to do the trip on Saturday with the Morgan people.

We went back to the cargo area of the airport and signed the declaration. 

An hour later (11am) we drove off and headed for the hotel which was 4 kms away.

As we had to load with less than a quarter tank of fuel, we needed to top up at the nearest station. Luckily there was a petrol station 200 mts from the Customs gate. Backed in as directed and the attendant pulled on a wire and a fuel nozzle emerged from above.

 Somehow we did a circle of the airport then took a wrong turn and ended up on the Expressway to Tokyo. The people manning the toll booths loved seeing the car and 15kms later we arrived at the hotel.

As we could not leave our two fire extinguishers in the car (compulsory for the rally) on the plane we decided to take the train into Narita town to see if we could find some. No luck despite a few leads. We did buy some cherry blossom for the car to keep in the spirit of things.

The hotel has a “grand age” buffet for anyone over 60 years!

Wednesday 22^nd March 2017

Bright and sunny morning but cool

Up early to get a train across town to the Japanese Auto Federation (JAF) to have the car Carnet authenticated. It was a one and a half hour journey and easily found the JAF (due to Phil’s superior technological skill where little signs were in English). Mr Sato at JAF was most helpful and completed paperwork and received the official stamp with 30 minutes.

Back on the train with documents to the cargo area of the airport to produce paperwork to freight agent for Customs clearance. Told we could collect car at 2pm tomorrow.

One of the noticeable things about our train travel today was the total absence of graffiti – none anywhere – and the trains were spotless and the locals so polite. It was interesting travelling through the suburbs and seeing lots of topiary in the house gardens. Also nearly every second house had washing hanging out to dry. Reading the local newspaper the Bureau of Meteorology has announced that 5 cherry blossoms had been discovered in Tokyo – the first of the season -  so we should see plenty on our travels over the coming weeks.

Back at the hotel we received a late email from the freight agent indicating that Customs wanted extra document from Phil stating that he would obey all Rules and Regulations!

Have to get used to having Japanese cuisine for breakfast but while there is an option we’re sticking with Western. Have to get used to restaurants closing on different nights of the week.

Tuesday 21^st March 2017

The Goose has landed!

It was raining when we left and raining on arrival in Tokyo…hoping Goose would not be out on the tarmac for too long. Two hour time difference.

Monday 20^th March 2017

Off to Lyle’s cargo premises to get final paperwork and “dangerous goods” stickers for the windscreen, then drove over to Qantas Freight. With computer system down it was a long hot wait and eventually got to warehouse and drove onto a pallet. Qantas employee was most particular in lashing the car down from the right places (ie not on the front bumper).

The Puce Goose takes flight

Following our last rally in South America, the Goose has returned very late from Lima Peru.  The Morgan arrived back on Thursday 9 March following a thorough AQIS ( quarantine ) ordered wash down.  We were then left with 10 days to carry out repairs and a minor rebuild of suspension before it flies to Japan with us on Tuesday 21 March.   

In relation to the re build, we were ably assisted by the following:

Mike Devine

Noel Macwhirter

Jon Bate

Automotive Sunroof and Trim

Rod Smith

We also need to thank Marlene Ketjen and Chris Van Wyk of Morgan Cars Australia who organised various parts for us at our email request whist we were still competing in South America.

The late return meant we missed the opportunity to ship it my sea, that cut off date being 24 February.

Luckily, fellow Morgan owner Lyle Honess of Jetta Express, www.jetta.com.au has greatly assisted along with our own national carrier Qantas and the Puce Goose is taking to the air along with us to arrive at Narita airport on Tuesday 21 March.

That leaves us time to do our private travel which we have organised before the rally.

The Puce Goose is off on another adventure, travelling through Japan on the Rally Round Samurai Challenge in April and May this year

https://rallyround.co.uk/the-samurai-challenge

We are also taking some extra time before and after the rally to drive to other areas of the country.

This will be the 33rd country we have taken the Puce Goose to since 2000