Hi,
I am a Canadian expat living in Kyoto. I am planning a bike tour in Hokkaido and then biking back to Kyoto for Aug 19 - Sept 21. I am either going to fly to Sapporo from Osaka or take a 29 hour ferry ride from Mizuru to Otaru...haven't decided yet...and then bike around Hokkaido for about two weeks or so, and then make my way back to Kyoto via the west coast (Sea of Japan, Niigata, or in land a bit...I haven't picked a route yet, and I am open to suggestions). This trip is either going to be a very ambitious one in order to cover a lot of ground in five weeks, or a rather mellow one where I pick a few spots to enjoy and sacrifice milage (and then be forced to take a bus back to Kyoto). I am doing this trip to see more of this spectacular country and enjoy the amazingly friendly people. Japan has been an absolute pleasure to live in so far. I am really looking forward to exploring Hokkaido and northern Honshu...this is my main focus.

I have heaps of touring experience with many solo trips under my belt, but touring with a compatible partner is always way more enjoyable, so I would love to have someone join me for the whole trip or just part of it, or bits of it here and there. I will be wild camping, campground camping, and the occasional hostel, or ryokan for a special treat. I like to cook most of my meals, so I will have a fully equipped kitchen, but I also like to try local cuisine and eat out often (and then I wonder why I lug around a fully equipped kitchen on my bike...there is a fine balance I suppose).

I aim for about 100km/day, but it really depends on the day. I usually set a weekly goal, or a target destination (because this is very useful), but if things come up, they come up. I try not to get too attached to that goal. If I am a day or two behind schedule then the weekly goal is simply modified. What else can one do?

Though I do have lots of touring experience (and my non touring friends at home are intimidated to go riding with me) I am a bit of a turtle. I have a very steady cadence that tends to be on the slow end. This allows me to bike for 140km up a mountain in six hours if need be, but I can also spend an entire day biking only 30 km if the environment calls for it. Slow and steady always gets me somewhere. Fast and furious makes me tired and pissed off.

If you are new to touring I am OK with that (as long as you can ride a bike well, do most of your own maintenance, and are not afraid of the dark).

I look forward to hearing from you!