Ride to Kintai Bridge 5/12

It's still early and we decide in order to work off our pasta lunch, we'll ride another few miles to the Kintai Bridge area. It's always so beautiful and maybe we can still catch the irises in bloom? As we approach the Nishiki River, trees everywhere are blooming and gently fragrant!


Closer view - I want some of these in my yard when we move back to US!


Stan riding over the car/pedestrian bridge. The hillside ahead is dotted with these same blossoming trees!


Looking at the Kintai bridge & cormorant boats from the bridge we're riding across. Stan is very patient to wait while I photo . . .


Our reflections in a large traffic mirror . . .


Beautiful stone bridge.


Stan under a large stone torii. Last time we were here was last year with Jake, Pam & Owen . . .


Teahouse with shaped pine, spent azalea, and a few irises below.


A quiet temple surrounded by beautiful trees.


Looking around at many stone lanterns.


A closer view of one of the lanterns.


One of my VERY favorite things in this park behind the Kintai. It's a motion-activated music box that begins to play as you walk (or bike!) by. Sugoi!!! CLICK to listen & view this brief video:


A few iris still blooming.


Children & their parents feeding the koi in a small pond.


As we ride around to the other park, fountains are spraying. Lots of families gather here.


The children are really enjoying the cool spray, although it's not very hot today.


Pretty flowers near the huge plum tree in the park.




And one azalea is still trying to hold on to its blossoms.


Near the Kintai is always crowded - but especially on this beautiful early summer day.


Stan's in line at our favorite ice cream shop.


Little girl happily playing in a little water fountain near the shop.


Yum! Chocolate for me (of course!) and probably caramel & vanilla for Stan . . . ? The heart-shaped wafer cookie is a yummy addition!


And nearby goodies are roasting over charcoal cookers. One need never go hungry here!


Yum! Those fish look & smell delicious! The circular cookers are surrounded with straw bales out of which the cooking sticks protrude!


Delicate flowers on a nearby shrub.


Crossing back over the car/pedestrian bridge with view of Kintai Bridge. It's just a little after 4, but the sun sets early behind the nearby mountain here.


Oh that's the vehicle that's usually parked near the ropeway. We've never seen it driving before! It's fueled with charcoal . . .


One last glimpse of the Kintai Bridge from in front of the bus station before we head for home.


Purple shamrock in someone's yard.


And its delicate flowers.


Riding away from the Kintai Bridge along the "Dr Seuss Trees" street with bright red shrine up above on the left side.


Waiting for the light at a junction on Hwy 2.


Looking down into the tunnel that goes under the trolley line - one of our shortcuts!


Looking from the road down into the lush gardens along the river.


And looking up at the hotel near the shrine that overlooks the river.


Crossing the bridge - looking out toward the Seto Inland Sea.


Wow - a bunch of VERY cool motorcycles stopped at a traffic light. Stan estimated we went about 12 km today. That's 7.4 miles - hooray for us old farts!

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