Thursday 20th
April, 2017
Kyoto to Nara (73kms)
A late start into the hills and forests around Nara.
Three Regularities before lunch- narrow rural roads with some
traffic and mirrors at blind corners.
Regularity one started at 42kph, down to 34kph and then
32kph. Sounds easy but throw in deep gutters, narrow roads and sharp corners
and some traffic and you can soon get behind.
Regularity two was only about 2.6kms in length but had a very
tight right hair pin bend. It was a self start at the beginning of a narrow
road uphill to the left. A quarry truck was in front of us and we didn’t see
the crossed flags starting point as the truck obscured our view and we had to
reverse.
A local car arrived at the same time as us at the hair pin
bend and went ahead and we hoped it wouldn’t slow us down as there are few
opportunities to pass on these narrow roads. We had to do a three point turn to
get around the tight bend.
Just after the finish of this Regularity we came across a
large group of locals who were bird watching. They were lined up on the side of
the road with their huge professional cameras on tall tripods. The cameras were
pointed up the hill so hope we didn’t disturb the birds!
Regularity three started in a road with tea plantations on
either side. Average speed was 36kph, down to 34kph then down again to 24kph.
The tea plantations here, as you would expect, are so neat and manicured.
Arrived at the hotel in Nara, dropped our bags, parked and
then headed by shuttle bus or taxi for lunch at the Museum, in the National Park
where all the deer roam about. You can buy Shika Senbei which are special
crackers for them.
After lunch we went into the Museum where there was a special
exhibition by the Buddhist Master Sculptor Kaikei. Most of the sculptures were
wooden and from the 10th to 13th centuries. Exquisite
detail on many of them.
We walked back to the hotel via various lanes and happened
across some old houses, double story, attached at the lower level with walls of
corrugated iron. A real contrast to the modern buildings near them.
A sword demonstration took place during dinner.
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