(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 13: Wednesday, July 28, 2010. Hirosaki to Kosaka.
"Got up about 4:30, packed everything on the bicycle. I'm in the custom of doing this before eating breakfast. The 'free' breakfast was a 'sando-set': egg salad - not my favorite - and one with a thin piece of ham. However, it's better to set out fortified.
I followed Rte. 7 which was heavily trafficked. I also felt a bit sluggish. Finally came to where Rte. 7 and Rte. 282 divide. Rte. 282 to Kosaka turned out to be the old 'Tsugaru Kaido'. However, steep grades made me do more walking than riding. I took some pictures at the summit of the pass where the sign said welcome to Akita Prefecture. All downhill from there. Very green.
Kosaka itself didn't look especially big or prosperous. I found a convenience store and bought a beer. As I was drinking it, an early-middle-aged guy came up to me, sat down and offered me a frozen mikan popsicle. Can't turn that down. He asked a few questions so I pointed to the guide map Kudo-san had given us and pointed to the map. I said that the house belonged to our Tokyo neighbor's family. At that, he telephoned the museum nearby and told them of my desire to see the house. He told me to go right over. A kind gesture.
At the museum I was met by Mr. Kudo (?) and the museum receptionist. He said he'd open the home for me and give me a tour. Beautiful old place. Akemi would love it. Reminded me a bit of what her father intended when he rebuilt the old place. He gave me quite an animated tour which I politely pretended to understand. Took some pictures inside and out including with him. Returned to the museum to be given a quick tour there and then coffee. Very nice, friendly, enthusiastic people. And... when I mentioned the 'Gold Palace' he had the receptionist call, get information and then make a reservation for the night.
On the way to the Gold Palace I stopped and took pictures of the Meiji Era theater and mining office. If Akemi had been with me I'd have suggested staying for a performance.
At the Gold Palace they put me in the 'guest house' which was quite nice. That evening I decided to stay a second night in order to bike up to Lake Towada.
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Total distance: 55 km"
A more detailed time line:
4:30 a.m., got up at YH in Hirosaki
7:05, stopped at Lawson's convenience store at junction of Rte. 109 and Rte. 260
9:45, at michi-no-eki near Ikarigaseki Station on Rte. 7
12:00 p.m., at boundary of Aomori and Akita at Sakanashi Pass on Rte. 282
12:50, at junction of Rte. 282 and Rte. 2 in Kosaka
1:40, at Kubo Home Museum in Kosaka
6:20, bought groceries in Kosaka
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