With Esther the Car on the Move in Saga ken.

In January we took Esther the RV

 for a weekend spin around 

Mt Tara in Saga ken, Kyushu.

This part of Japan and especially at this time of the year

 it is off-the-beaten-track.

Nice and quiet.

First day was exploring birdlife near the Ariaki Sea, next day was land-inwards.

There are truly zillion of soaking options in Saga ken, so of course we enjoyed a wonderful bath at one of the hot-springs.

Slept a peaceful sleep at the parking lot near a playground park (super clean toilets),

and woke up next morning to a wintery wonderland with snow at the higher altitude roads.

(Both hotspring and parking area are along route 444, 

not far from each other).

Typical mountain road...

1 car at a time.

The sudden change in weather made it into a magic scenery.

 Esther the RV.

Small, cozy and multi purpose. 

The fields across this valley have some tea crops.

So now you know how Iced Tea is grown ;-)

Traditional farm-house.

Luff those roof constructions.

Steaming hills.

Things you see when driving around Saga ken....

...and things you eat in Ureshino, small town famous for its hot springs and.....

Tofu nabe.

Wake me up any time!! 

Yummy.

See Marijke's blog for the birding part:

click HERE

Exploring Kyushu by RV, 

Way to Go.

Salute.

Do you smell that too? Is Spring in the Air?

Last Monday and Tuesday it was still weather like this:  

Confusing neh.

But then on Friday,

a warm weather front came to town.

So, quickly the hiking shoes got out and off we went to

Mt Kanondake in Imajuku, a mere 20 minute drive.

  Start of the trail, ample parking, a vending machine, a toilet

walking aids and more important: a mountain spring supplying fresh and tasty drinking water to fill the flask.

 At the top, facing West, Itoshima countryside.

Facing East.

Down there is Fukuoka.

So near, so far.

 Facing North.

Hakata Bay with Nokonoshima in the center.

That was a pleasant 3 hour hike.

Isn't Fukuoka a wonderful place to live at?

Town, sea, mountains. All nearby.

And oh boy,

Do i smell Spring....?

Salute.