Hokkaido Day 3

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Well we arrived in Hokkaido just before dawn and pulled off the ferry intending to get a bit of sleep in the car before we set out. Being such a horrible sleeper (is there such thing as being bad at sleeping?) I wasn't able to fall asleep and decided to head out while it was dark and Naomi and Ruu were dozing. On our way to the sea port of Otaru we were able to see the sun rise over the Uchiura Bay. When we reached Otaru Ruu found a nice viewing spot using our handy Rider's(motorbike) Guide and through the small maze of roads we eventually made it there.

We then left Otaru to drive along the West seacoast and were gifted with fantastic weather and gorgeous vistas. There was even a waterfall or two along the way!

Found about a sake factory in Rumoi and since Ruu and Futoshi are such sake connoisseurs we had to stop. It had an interesting little museum and free samples. I wasn't able to partake because even a speck of alcohol in the blood is considered over the limit when driving. Ruu claimed it was not as good as Niigata sake.

Naomi tried some non-alcoholic thick sake by-product of which I forget the name.

Good sake is made from only the freshest water. Ruu doesn't miss a chance to fill up.

We had lunch and then continued up the coast to Wakkanai. The further North we went the more open and vast the view became. Ruu was quite in awe but it felt just like home to me!

Some fish drying by the side of the road.

We knew it was going to rain so we decided to stay in a riders house which is like a hostel but cheaper and meant for riders. We searched for the bumble bee (or some name like that) for quite a while and then finally realized it was this dilapidated building below. Needless to say we decided not to stay there and found another riders house of higher quality.

We got recommendations for a nice onsen and went for a bath and supper at an izakaya.

Apparently riders houses are not only a place to stay but a place to meet other riders and so they often have a party every night with all the guests. We arrived back at the house with the party in full swing and the eight member all well inebriated. We were expected to join the party. make our introductions and take pictures. Normally this all would be entertaining and I wouldn't mind joining but at this point I was about ready to drop from little sleep, the men were drunk and some were being crude and we had to get up early to catch the ferry. I made an ungraceful surly exit and passed out. Naomi and Ruu were troopers and indulged their drunken questions.