Forecast rain never arrived, so we ventured out for a tiki-tour. Back over to the west coast to start a loop that would take us past Cape Noshappu.

Managed to avoid such a fate by taking things easy, and being able to ride a bike.

Reused-buoy art.

Fish drying racks, we think.

Big listening station just behind the cape, and its fishing harbour.

The ferry returning from Rishiri – we’d be on that tomorrow.

Returning to Wakkanai, a steep climb took us up to this observation tower and the museum at its base.

An English audio guide online helped somewhat with understanding some of it, but internet coverage in the bottom of a big concrete building – not so much. Main point that stuck was the proximity of Sakhalin island (forty kilometres to the north) – that at times has been controlled, completely or in part, by either China, Russia or Japan. Japan’s control being during its expansionist early twentieth century, Russia reclaiming it at the end of the Second World War.

Monument to nine young telephone operators that stayed on to keep communication lines open as Russia retook Sakhalin, staying to the last before taking suicide pills.

Few more days before we’d be back to ride along that coast to the northern most point of Hokkaido.

Wakkanai and another wind farm.

More perfect fruit, some a hundred New Zealand dollars each!

Local seafood market for lunch.

First example I saw of bowsers from the roof; saw them occasionally after that.

Searching for an outdoor shop, we found it in this otherwise closed up shopping precinct. Very helpful staff and a great store – we got what we needed.

Also found a bike mechanic to try and get rid of the annoying click from my bottom bracket – interesting little workshop.

Popping down to the ferry terminal to investigate what we had to get on the ferry to Rishiri the following day, we noticed our first elaborate coloured cover. We had been spotting a few different manhole cover designs in different places, but they’d all been cast iron. Eventually realising that every town has their own, spotting and photographing them became a small obsession for the next three months.

A little planning for the next few days also possible.

Just as well I’m not fond of whisky… Supermarkets would be even more perilous.

Back to the local onsen to hangount, cabinet food tonight, with a little live music.