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51
Cycle Tours / Re: Hokkaido, Japan
« Last post by RonS on December 21, 2025, 08:09:55 PM »
Thanks for that Ian. Near the end of the video there is an old coal fired steam locomotive in front of what looks to me to be the cooling tower for a nuclear power plant. Would they have existed at the same time?

And that list of songs brought me back to my childhood. There was an American folk trio in the early 1960s called the Limeliters. I was but a pup then, but they were popular with my older siblings. One of the songs I remember was a rendition of Madeira, M’Dear.

Since we’re on the subject of abandoned rail lines, the pictures for today are from my last day on the road, along the Shiroishi cycling road, created from a rail line decommissioned in 1973, near Sapporo.  (I’ll jump back in time with more photos later) It’s a 20 km cycle and pedestrian path between the suburb of Kitahiroshima and the heart of Sapporo. One of the great things about it is that, despite going being in a city of nearly two million people, there are almost no road crossing. It goes over or under every major road, and I think I had only three stop signs, crossing minor streets. It's apparently very well used on the weekends and before and after school, but, on the drizzly midweek morning that I rode it I was almost by myself. It was cycling bliss.
52
Muppets Threads! (And Anything Else) / Re: Groin pain
« Last post by RonS on December 21, 2025, 08:02:26 PM »
So, yay for all that! :)

That's for sure!
53
Bikes For Sale / Re: Thorn Nomad mk2 590L 26” in California
« Last post by mickeg on December 21, 2025, 11:57:03 AM »
Just an FYI, if you load photos onto this site they have to be smaller than a half meg in size.  I usually post photos that are reduced down to 922 X 691 pixels, that is well under the size limit.  Limit of four photos per post.
54
Bikes For Sale / Thorn Nomad sold
« Last post by Kenbrown2 on December 20, 2025, 08:03:26 PM »
Sold
55
Muppets Threads! (And Anything Else) / Re: Groin pain
« Last post by in4 on December 19, 2025, 08:42:02 PM »
Thanks for sharing the update, Dan.
That is good news. I hope Matt’s progress proves unstoppable and the siren calls of his Raven will prove too much to ignore.
Similarly best  wishes to all fellow forumites who also face their own challenges with similar fortitude and optimism.
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Muppets Threads! (And Anything Else) / Re: Groin pain
« Last post by Andre Jute on December 19, 2025, 05:58:55 PM »
That's grand news, Matt.

Thanks for the report, Danneaux.
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Muppets Threads! (And Anything Else) / Re: Groin pain
« Last post by Danneaux on December 19, 2025, 04:22:02 PM »
Hey All!

I am pleased to offer a heartening update from Matt on his condition after surgery for espohageal cancer. At his request and with his permission...

• He's been home from hospital a couple weeks and is receiving ongoing assistance from a dietician. He is progressing toward a fully normal diet and hopes to regain weight soon.

• He's awaiting biopsy results from surgery and will have a better idea of things after discussion with his doctor.

• He's walking and exercising daily within limits and is looking forward to improving core strength and being aboard his RavenTour once again.

So, yay for all that! :)

Best, Dan.
58
Cycle Tours / Re: Hokkaido, Japan
« Last post by in4 on December 19, 2025, 01:16:24 PM »
Love the photos Ron. Thanks for sharing. Certainly inspires me for my next tour. 
Re abandoned/closed train lines. Although driven by immediate economic necessity seems quite sad to see them consigned to history.
There’s a comedy duo from yesteryear named Flanders & Swann, some may know them.
Amongst their most well known songs ( Armadillo, Have a Madeira M’Dear etc) is The Slow Train; a bit of a nostalgic ode to many branch line closures under the so called Beeching Report springs readily to mind. Anyway here it is. Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/U6OHD2uCpfU?si=WP93Ga4SxbAbkzE7
59
Cycle Tours / Re: Hokkaido, Japan
« Last post by Andre Jute on December 17, 2025, 05:36:39 PM »
4 Sunset from camp.

Japan, a land formed by volcanoes. Well done, Ron!
60
Cycle Tours / Re: Hokkaido, Japan
« Last post by RonS on December 17, 2025, 12:26:16 AM »
  Well spotted, Ian. I believe I adjusted the eccentric on the evening after the photo you were probably looking at was taken.
 I am running a 38 x 17 combo right now, but before my daughter moved back to Canada from the UK I ordered a Thorn 43T chainring and 19T cog and had it sent to her to bring back. It's in my toolbox now and I'll probably throw it on before the next tour.

A few more photos from the ride.

1  One of the consequences of rural depopulation.The rail line between Sapporo and the southeast coast of Hokkaido closed down a few years ago.

2&3  Curse you, Komoot. This is my third cycle tour in Japan and I'm still waiting for a mapping program that doesn't send me on an adventure almost daily. After about 10 km riding in a beautiful valley with no traffic, my GPS instructed me to "turn left here". I thought “this does not look too promising” as it went past a farm, heading into the woods. A check of the map showed that the only other option was 10 km right  back where I had come from, so off I went. After about half a kilometre the dirt road turned into a dirt path and pitched upward. It still would've been rideable if not for the 70mm of rain that had fallen overnight, making it very soft. After a few hundred metres though the path pitched up again and basically looked like a dry stream bed. Luckily for me, it only lasted for maybe 500m then began to improve. My fun for the day.

4 Sunset from camp.
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