Kyushu

Left Hide`s and Erica`s for central Kyushu and the Mount Aso area. It is a caldera formed 90,000 years ago by a gigantic explosion, 127 kms. in circumference, now filled by farms, villages and towns. It`s the largest active volcanic caldera in the world.

Gassing up in the morning, about U.S. $1.60 per liter for high octane.

Cain, up near the top. The drive up was great, nice twisty roads, not crowded. It was quite windy and cool. The peak we went to was Naka -Dake, one of the smaller mountains within the outer rim

Volcanic activity within the rim.

Cain and Simon on the peak, looking back at at the road up.

The way up.

After leaving the Aso area, we all went north. Simon and Monica went to Arita and Imari in northern Kyushu to look at pottery , Cain to Fukuoka to the KTM dealership to resolve some mechanical problems and me to Miyajima, 25 kms. this side of Hiroshima on Honshu Island, the main island of Japan. Took the expressway most of the way and arrived at about 8 P.M.

Above, the bridge connecting the island of Kyushu with Japan`s main island of Honshu, taken from the Kyushu side.

Below is video of top of Naka-Dake, with Cain, Monica and Simon. Listen to the wind.