Last Long Drive

What a day!

It all started with a wash and polish to remove the vinyl leftovers.

Then I headed onto the highway through the city.

Midday in Tokyo, you can be lucky and have a quiet day. (checking the live traffic feeds is mandatory)

As you snake through the city you get the feelings of Japan.

I arrived at a PA to find a stock black FD driven by a 70~80 year old guy. Only in Japan!

From there it was a quick sprint to the Toyo Turnpike and some vending machine goodness.

Paying all the tolls to get here is all worth it.

Although the Turnpike is a toll road, you can go up and down as many times as you like if you know where to turn around. This spot has featured in many motoring journalists stories. Ill link some later.

Single turbo sweetness. This is the road for this car.

A while ago Dino gave me some speed-hunters stickers, I left these few on the front bar as a memento.

And at the rear. Yep it's loud. Tunnels are insane!

A rear shot before heading off again.

The roads are awesome but I ALWAYS slow down here because the view is awesome. It's hard to take a pic though.

Back to the top, one of many trips up the 15klms of road.

Back down and the sun was getting warmer. This shot has some emotion for me.

My Canon IXY compact camera couldn't handle the contrast though.

The Bride seat puts you in a great position, pedal work must be accurate here. Tyres were better than I'd thought too.

iPhone was actually doing a better job with contrast. A few pics to friends from here.

Back into the jungle.

And high on the top. the setting sun was like paradise. Sounds, Feelings and Emotions came back.

With views like this every time I pulled over.

A Diamond Shot.

I decided to do the loop. The short link road on the turnpike is 150yen of smoothness, but it's like a rally special stage. not very long.

You can see it in the background cut along the side of a steep mountain.

Out the other side is the Ashinoko Skyline. Tighter and more demanding. 2nd to 3rd gear is the main rather than 3rd and 4th on the turnpike.

There are still the mandatory breaks for a hot vending machine coffee.

Yet another flowing mountainside.

Followed by another tight corner. Some of them have red paint to slow us down.

But some are just inviting.

The tunpike is at the other end of this lake. The top pics were looking from the other side.

Peeking out, practicing some depth of field.

While I waited for the sun to set.

Then it was off for more action.

Down the Hakone pass is a tight monster that's covered with drifters rubber most of the way.

Here you can see the immense power of the RE-Amemiya Sleek light conversion.... haha

But the sun was still sending out it's last.

Back to Tokyo is another adventure.

As you drive past the same places at night. You know you're almost home.

Russ.