A full Saturday free and word of a bike trail on an old railway bed sent me east on my standard-issue silver colored upright bike with the shopping basket on front. I headed east, paralleling a busy highway and found the trailhead 10km later.
Within a lm of joining the asphalt rail I found trailmarkers counting downs the kms, starting at 19. The trail was fantastic. I did need to skirt around or even lift the bike over a few closed gates. I had been advised by a young man who was here a few years ago, if questioned by anyone in uniform, simply bow, look concerned and say "Watashi-wa Nihongo-o tabimasen" which roughly translates into "I don't eat Jaapnese". That should assure that further talking to me will be frustrating and useless.
The path led my through three tunnels and a wildlife preservation area. I had fantastic views of forest, bamboo thickets, and always views or the roar of white water rapids in the Asahikawa River.
I biked to the city's edge as Asahikawa, Rising Sun River, found a food store, bought sushi and fruit to take along. I stopped mid-trail on the way home for a picnic, listening to the little voice in my head, over the roar of the river, telling me that if the trail is bikable, it is runnable. So the next trip out will be a bike to the trailhead, stow the back and toe the trail! Life is getting even better!
Rhonda
