Asahikawa and Biei

August 13

We go to Asahikawa about 2 hours to the northeast by train, into the heart of Hokkaido Island.  

​At the train station we found a version of Copenhagen's Little Mermaid - perhaps a confirmation that Scandinavia should be our destination for next year.

Mmmmm, train-eaten bento box:

​At a very local little restaurant after arrival in ​Asahikawa:

Tim had some sort of seasoned/marinated beef - very tasty; Gerri had ramen with a curious background flavor of pork - for her, mmmmyeahokay  The place appeared to be run by 3 generations, a pops, a daughter/mother, and the  son/grandson.  They were doing as much takeaway, with loaned china, as much as eat-in customers.

​This typhoon is several days out, coming our way, but we're not too worried as it'll be a downgraded depression as it whizzes by us, probably at night in a couple days when we're back in the northern part of the 'big island' Honshu.

​August 14

The next day we walk the 18 minutes back to the train station to catch a ride down to Biei.

"Biei, population 10,374, is known for views of wide fields and hills, and is used as a backdrop for many Japanese commercials and TV shows. The bright colors of its fields attract thousands of visitors in July and August.  Since 1992, Biei has held the "Biei Healthy Marathon", which attracts runners from all around Japan."

Not so much typhoony-looking today, it's still several hundred miles away to the south...

Seeing the big farm fields and flowers even before we get to Biei.

A rare selfie with the Sony point-n-shoot camera, tricky without having the features of a smart phone:

After about an hour, the train drops us off and presses on...

We press on out of Biei to the southeast on electric-assist bicycles.  Apparently it's one frame fits all, yeah, not so much.

It's up hill all the way to Aoi Ike-Blue Pond.  The electric assist does make it a lot easier - we pedal about 75% of the load and the little "squirrels" in the back the rest.

Some American influence seen here on these Japanese biker boyz.

There's a jam and cheese sandwich, served up on the cool side - well, someone was hungry anyways.

We got us some cantaloupe ice cream, also served up cold.

​Now at the turn around point, Aoi Ike-Blue Pond - it's taken us over 2-hours including lunchtime, and with the squirrel batteries down about half-way.

Blue Pond is a man-made pond feature, the result of hydrological works on the Biei River after the 1988 eruption of Mount Tokachi to protect the town of Biei from volcanic mudflows. The color results from the accidental presence of colloidal aluminium hydroxide in the water.  

Heading back down-river to Biei, the squirrels are getting a breather.

Back to the palace, actually it wasn't too bad - lodging is a bit thin here in ​Asahikawa.  Many seasonal tourists  take in the area as a day-trip from Sapporo.