I think it's almost 2 months since we got back now, so probably about time for another story from Japan. So, last time we were off in Furano eating Pork Rectum. Ah yes.
Up early and back on the bus, but look at the state of Arun Dayris this morning. Oh, that's him on the left, the other one is a giant statue next to a local skifield. One run, just one run, that's all these kids have to play on. Gutted it wasn't actually made of snow as we thought.
Hanging out the back
Dumpy was popping in and out for a while, big big storm on the way apparently. Still plenty lines for us to ride and barely anyone there. Can't remember the names of anything, but ducking the rope up behind the cafe opened up a hole world of poudre. Got ourselves a nice 30 minute circuit. Just gotta make sure you don't get carried away and end up at the bottom of the wrong valley, as tempting as all that poo was! Found some sick mushroom action, great day's riding despite the vodka.
Nice Drop for Toby
I should put that together as a sequence, but I've no idea how.
Kamui is a wicked little resort, loved the terrain, loved being the only non-locals there. On a proper powder day this would rock. I think Kamui is something to do with a bear.
The End of The Van-Beast
Well I suppose it was bound to happen sometime. We should've realised something was up with the HUGE cracks across the windscreen, the fact the door wouldn't shut properly, bursting open at random intervals and other animals. Still, it had got us this far. So there we were cruising back along the Expressway towards Sapporo, big storm coming in, damn cold and dark outside. Suddenly....scrape, scrape, rumble, rumble...Sloth just goes to say to Toby "I think something's wrong", when BANG! BANG! Luckily he managed to pull over to the side while there was still some motion. Opened the door, quickly shut it again as diesel pouring out all over the place. Holy crap. Pas bon.
Toby gets on phone to the owner, seems a rather large piece of van has fallen off. Turns out this was a broken drive-shaft, which went straight through the fuel tank. Not sure how that didn't catch fire. Anyway, within a few minutes the (very efficient) highway patrol are on to us, accompanied by lego men with LED-covered jumpsuits. They got straight on to clearing the whole lot up and arranging a tow truck. Well, several tow trucks because the van was so big they couldn't figure out which was best. Meanwhile, we cracked open the emergency cartons of sake - knew that would come in handy! Oh yes, and what about Princess Michaela having to take a piss in front of the van on the hard shoulder in heavy snow?! Of course Jarmarly had to hit the horn!
Once the sake ran out, we finally got on the back of a tow truck, putting us right up high above everything. They took us as far as the next exit, where of course they still wanted the toll paying. Unloaded the van and hung out in the staff quarters for a while watching bizarre TV. Another couple of hours later (via a vending machine with bean-paste fish things) we got to Sapporo, having abandoned the van beast. At least we were in a decent hotel, The Ramada. Another hotel, another lift. Bang in the centre of the action, there we were all of a sudden in the city. Just got over to the ice sculptures as they were being knocked down, out for some food and put Alan to bed.