J230 – 8/4/2006

Serge took the road toward Nara, heading south, followed by a new TV station: Asahi TV.  Route 24 which runs between Kyoto and Nara is very busy.  For 30 kilometers there is a succession of traffic lights and we are driving at snail’s pace in spite of the early hour.  It seems to get hotter each day, as if our bodies can’t adjust to the heat.  Serge is covered in heat sores, which continue to increase, even though he is no longer wearing long pants.  He never had this kind of problem on his previous crossings.  It’s a real pain and one he could do without.

The road, as well as guiding Serge, was rather complicated on the first part of the route.  At kilometer 52, we took route #5 which wound as it climbed.  This sinuous road narrowed to the point of being dangerous in places where there was only room for one small car.

We were surrounded by fields of tea on both sides of the road. Tea is delicate to grow and to prevent drops in temperature which could damage the crop, stakes have been erected with mini windmills which keep the air moving above the plants.

Serge finished his stage in the midst of a mountain ascent.  It took him 45 minutes to reach Minakuchi, where we were to sleep:  a lot of time wasted.  Always in great demand, Serge had a 15 minute interview after he took his shower.

He dreams of only one thing: to sleep, as long as possible.