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Hiya, folks! Long time. no see. So long, in fact, I had to re-register. Oops...

Yesterday was the first good ride of 2013, a day trip to Hakone, about an hour away from where I live. It was the first ride with a new riding buddy. Get this, he is the current head of a branch family of one of Japan's most famous warrior clans! If you google Date Masamune, that is the famous feudal era warlord.

Linked up at a local gas station and off to the hills!

Coffee break at the Toyo Tires Resthouse on the Hakone Turnpike. Gotta love a hilltop resthouse which sells bike stuff. Place is packed with riders on weekends, yesterday being a Wednesday not so much.

Down to the lake to grab some lunch. Coffee and sausages, a great combination!

View out the back of the shop.

Yummy!

Back on our bikes for a ride to my favorite viewpoint in the area. Oh yeah, fantastic road leading up to the place as well. Well groomed pavement, lots of sweeping curves, outstanding vistas.

My bucket (white) and my friend's bucket/jacket. The patch on his jacket is the family crest of the Date Clan.

Nice pathway cut through the tall grass

After that, it was back on the bikes for the trip home, as we had a late afternoon appointment for coffee and cakes with a couple lovely ladies. All in all, a great day.

Beautiful !!! Thanks for sharing !!!

Great pics!

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Good Fortune!

Welcome back! Thanks for sharing your ride with us.

Nice post WP, as always. We also been missing you at www.kawasaki-z-classik.com (most of your old buds from Z1/Z900 now meet there).

thanks for another awesome post,
and a peak into japan.

check in a lil more often sir.

leon

awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

Great pictures as always, Bill! Looks like you guys had a grand ride.