More Than Expected

A few photos from a recent group of university kids who had no idea what was in store for them. I am proud to say that they had a great time riding up 1,000 meters only to find that their long awaited downhill was actually covered with snow and they had to WALK down in sneakers. Tee hee hee hee... I LOVE my job! (but I hate how I am getting a bit chubby - see photo below)

Anyway, despite all their moaning and complaining along the way, their response was an overwhelming "AWESOME!". One has even changed his major (almost) to something related to outdoors and physical activity. The photo above shows them rejoicing in the hot-spring after riding up-hill for an entire day.

Aside from some hard uphill biking, they also enjoyed outdoor BBQs and breakfasts at our home, helped us in our rice field, visited the rare Mizubaho flowers with the help of our favorite neighbor's truck, and spent the night at a great little 3,000 yen mountain hut (two meals included!) that is only reachable by hand-pulled cable car across the river from an amazing out-door hot-spring.