(The following entry is from my paper diary, hence the quotation marks. Comments may follow at the end. These are written after the completion of the trip.)
Day 12: Tuesday, July 27, 2010. Aomori Moya-kogen YH to Hirosaki
"Awoke at 4:30, packed, ate my oatmeal and left at 5:30.
It was a long climb - mostly walking the bicycle up to Sukayu Onsen. I arrived there about 8:45. As the road appeared to ascend once more and I anticipated a grueling walk/ride to Lake Towada, I decided to take the road down to Kuroishi. It was almost all down!
Arrived at the junction, bought lunch at a new convenience store (picture) then turned right and headed for Hirosaki. I had heard it was a castle town and so decided to visit. Passed a McDonald's so I decided to buy my usual in Tokyo, fillet-o-fish set. Ate both purchases at a michi-no-eki on the way. I arrived at the tourist information center at about 1:30. Took a picture, including the girls at the counter. Their first encounter with 'real' English?
I had considered 'pushing on' to Kosaka as it was about 50 km, but I didn't want to race the sun again and I was in a castle town so I felt I ought to do some sightseeing. I had to slow the pace down. I checked out the hostel and, though the door was open, no one seemed around. The sign indicated that check-in would start at 4 so I went to Kinokuniya bookstore and then Mr. Donut at Hirosaki Station.
Checked in at 4:30 and will share the room with a much older Japanese man from Kyoto. I saw him arrive by car.
I asked the manager about a yaki-niku place and she directed me to Moo-Moo though I looked for Lonely Planets suggestion of a beer place first. Couldn't find that - L.P. maps don't seem well designed so continued on to Moo-Moo. Ordered the tabehodai and one bottle (chu) of Sapporo. Including rice and a double ice cream, it came to 2,150 yen. Not a bad deal. The atmosphere was more like a bowling alley, however, as there were many tables.
Rode back to the hostel in a light shower which did get my traveling shirt for tomorrow wet. It's only 8:30 now, but I'm close to calling it a night. Tomorrow I'll stay long enough for the free breakfast, then take a quick look at the Tsugaru clan mausoleum very near by the hostel then set out for Kosaka. I'm hoping I'll be able to reach there in 6 hours. I'll then look up the hotel Akemi said Kudo-san recommended. One day or two? I'll have to see if I picked up any time by not going to Ohma and Misawa.
Total distance between hostels: 78 km"
A more detailed time line:
5:30 a.m., left Aomori-Moyakogen YH
6:40, arrived at highland near Kayano Tea House on Rte. 103
8:45, arrived at Sukayu Hot Spring
9:25, arrived at high bridge on Rte. 394 about 1.5 km from junction with Rte.103
10:55, arrived at junction of Rte. 394 and Rte. 102 in Kuroishi
11:25, arrived at junction of Rte. 102 and Rte. 13
1:00 p.m., on Hirosaki University campus at Rte. 109 and Rte. 127
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