The very first ‘Mountain Day Twistybutt’ was an ambitious endeavour in the planning but due to some road closures, it got less ambitious but still plenty twisty. Here’s how it turned out…
It may have been 30°+ before the sun even rose but the Weather Gods had given the Ebina area a splash to cool it off a bit, a very small bit, and although a little sleepy, the Twistybutt enthusiasm was there.The sun gave us a golden start as we headed out. Think we had 13 of us rolling out of Ebina.135km of Shin Tomei Expressway later, we pulled in to feed the steeds and do running repairs.The Rumble Pack were resting…Alex and I took off to meet the crew who were joining us in Shizuoka under the clock under the airplane above the Suzuki dealer, but they were nowhere to be found…Soon enough a bunch of other Twistybutts joined us and we got word that the running repairs back at the SA were successful and they’d be along shortly. After much sweating and watching dozens of bikes sail by headed for the twisties up in the cooler mountains, we lifted kickstands and set off hoping the speedstars behind would catch us on the way to our first destination by the dam in Ikawa.
Our crew snaking up the 362…It was a great ride up. Didn’t get much cooler or hotter but it was beautiful.Ikawako was a picture of emerald tranquility… who’s that out there on the peninsula?Why if it isn’t the crew we were supposed to meet by the plane. Actually we’d heard their gaggle of big twins coming from way off…rolling twisting thunder!The run up to Hatanagikp was lead by Darryl who knows the road very well and kept the pack entertained. A lot of the road has been resurfaced and bridges refitted. This one in particular is a real looker.Here’s a photo few get but we got it! Well done Twistybutts
Headed south again, yup one way in and one out. Views for milesLike a pack of starved boar, they fell upon the teat of the accommodating Idemitsu. First time I’ve had an old man climb atop a box to be able to fill a bike’s tank. He did well though for an ancient one.We thrived on the 362 and survived puncture ville snaking up the gorge of 389. No one saw but I bowed to the deer and petted its leg for good luck…it worked.One of Japan’s 100 best villages according to the rustic sign, Shimoguri was a good little side adventure. Mango icecream at the top and a great hillclimb from the bottom, 883m to @1100metres.Then another 800m+ upto a panoramic and comfortably cool Shirabaso Kogen.It was fantastic up there. I think all of us would have willingly stayed and kept gassing on if we didn’t have more road to ride… we’ll save that for another ride.
Unfortunately, we didn’t catch Tony’s crew or the Rumble pack who’d taken the short course. But it seems that they paired up and ran into Satoshi and Alex who’d split with us at Ikawako to continue on the short course.
We also didn’t complete the return leg of the route. After getting super chilled in the Yahazu Tunnel, we opted to head straight down the 152 and hit the expressway before dark instead, before the wayward wanderings of deer would begin.
It also was hot. One of the hottest days of the year and the hot wind being cranked out by that typhoon rolling over Tohoku was crazy hot at times.
Fortunately, we did have a clean, safe and picturesque day with good company and plenty of smiles and laughs. Well ridden Arun, Greg, Neil, Mike and Darryl. Thoroughly enjoyed your company through the testing parts of the day.
Touge Express 
Looks like another great run. Amazing views! Even from the pictures it feels steamy.
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