Friday 14^th April 2017

Day 3   Aso to Kokura (198kms)

Free time until midday. We drove up to the volcano area but were warned that the road could be closed due to wind direction or gases. The museum was closed and the road further on also was closed, Good view from the narrow twisting road, despite more roadworks.  Some viewpoints allowed a dramatic view across the expansive caldera and the grasslands.

Lots of horses with very thick coats in the paddocks as well as cows grazing on the lush grass. Apparently the milk from these cows is rich and creamy. Japan has a law prohibiting the importation of milk – but the feed for the cows is imported.

AT 10.30 we had to be at the Kurokawa Nursery School which has only been open for one year due to the old one damaged by the 2016 earthquake. Cherry trees were donated for the perimeter of the building and our job was to finish off the planting by shovelling dirt around the bases with the help of the very young children. Lots of young children in very colourful outfits and very obedient.

Next was a circuit test at the Autopolis Circuit – four times around the lengthy circuit and then off as you passed Point A on the fifth lap. Then it was on to a carpark within the complex where A to F cones were in place and we had to drive around the cones in the correct order and from the correct angle. The bogey time was 40 seconds. We did it in 1.06.

Lunch was at the circuit restaurant where we were given T-shirts. Finally onto a Regularity which we stuffed up as there was an interim control and we thought it was the finishing point.

Then it was 120kms to the north coast through rural towns, tree covered hills (with logging industry), a large reservoir, small cultivated fields, many bridges and a few tunnels.

During dinner we have five local ladies in kimonos giving us a demonstration of how to fit the obi/sash to the kimono. It is a work of art and I would need an extra two hours in the morning to get dressed.