Driving to Tsuwano 4/10/11

Shortly after 8:30 AM (early for us on a Sunday!) we're headed out to drive to Tsuwano in Shimane Prefecture today. We'll be driving up into the mountains along the Nishiki River, which flows down from the mountains and into the Seto Inland Sea in Iwakuni. The Nishiki is the river that our famous Kintai Bridge spans. On the second Sunday in April, the annual Horseback Archery Festival is held in Tsuwano. Although we've visited Tsuwano Town several times, we've never seen this historic event. We start out from MCAS & take Hwy 2 toward Kuga.


Up ahead is where we leave Hwy 2 for Hwy 187 & just follow along the Nishiki River. We should be there in less than 3 hours . . . Speed limit is 50 kph (about 31 mph), so we can just relax & enjoy the view.


Red light, unless of course you want to bear left . . .


Only one construction area left. When we were here a few months ago, there were many construction areas. The road is narrow - above & alongside the river on our left, and right against a rock wall much of the time, so only one lane at a time through construction areas. It's all automated, but everyone follows the rules, and there is NO lack of signage . . .