December 23rd--Hakone Ride

Even in late December temperatures had been very high.  On the 22nd, I rode to work in Tokyo sweating in roughly 70 degree temperatures.  Given the warm spell, I sent a ride message to the IAC list about riding in Hakone on the public holiday on the 23rd (weather forecast was for clear skies, if a little colder).  By the time I was cycling home from work in freezing rain about 35 degrees cooler, I was having second thoughts.

Even with no takers, however, I set off in the morning to catch the 8:16 Odakyu express as advertised.  My shoes were not completely dry from the night before and I dashed on mid-train without time to walk to the front car, but I made it.  At the intermediate stops, the bitterly cold air had me ready to walk across the platform and return home....

From Shin-Matsuda on the Odakyu line, however, I followed the planned course.  First a scenic detour along the river towards Fuji-san.  As I set out, the very tip of the peak (peek?) loomed above the river through a small gap in the ominous clouds, not to be seen again.  Then the climb proper towards Ashigara-toge (足柄峠).  I gradually got warm and sweaty and finally took off the fleece skullcap at the turn to the old forest road (足柄古道入り口).  Up to the tunnel/pass at 800 meters altitude was uneventful, just one resplendent pheasant for wildlife.  There was also thankfully no ice or snow, although at the ridge the evergreens on the peaks were encrusted with ice where the clouds had passed over them in the night.

Descending from the peak my fleece vest and skullcap saw me through joining the main 138 route, turning onto route 75 and then up the final steep stretch to the pola art museum (www.polamuseum.or.jp/english/index.php).  At the museum, the guards showed me to a prime parking space, I ate the fancy French course lunch (not especially recommended) and was able to do some Christmas shopping at the gift shop.  The enfrosted evergreens upon the peak above were beautiful.

After lunch, the ride involved bombing through Gora down to the main road (138 again?), jogging left, and then taking the forest road around the ridge and back to Odawara.  After passing some mtn. bikers, I turned right and eventually emerged into fruit orchards above Odawara with views down all of Tokyo bay in the warm sunshine.  Just fabulous.  A quick descent and turn onto Route 74 brought me to the west exit of Odawara station.  A great deal of fantastic scenery and changes in temperature for little more than 50km of riding.

On the train home I met one of Japan's leading young triathletes.  A delightful day all around.