It is dusk at 5:15 and we are on the way to our hotel -and it is only about 35 kilometers away! Joe is excited that we will be checking before 10:30 as that is the time we checked in last night - only to get up at 4:30 again to hit the road! However, well worth it! Our morning at Akeno was busy with helicopters everywhere. Some of them were even nice enough to pose for us! I also think one enjoyed trying to blast off our ladders. He succeeded somewhat! Blackhawks, Hueys, Loaches, a Cobra and an OH-1in and out of sunlight pretty much sums up the AM.
Then, it was off to Komachi in Nagoya. It was about an 1:45 drive on the expressway-thank goodness for the
expressways! Without them the same drive would have taken somewhere in the vicinity of 3 hours or more. You would probably be lucky to average 40 kilometers per hour. As it is, the speed limit on the expressway is 80 kph but most people must average around 100 kph. They are expensive though. Just the trip from Ise to Nagoya cost $25. 
Komachi is the place we visited briefly on Sunday with the park overlooking the airfield. Again, periods of clouds and sunlight but we faired OK. We were hoping to get a green C-130 but we had to settle for 4 blue ones. We were pleasantly surprised by an F4 and a T4. We also photoed 3 of the 4 KC-767s of the Japanese Air Self Defense Force, plus assorted rescue choppers and a couple of C-1s.
Our daily staple has become the tea at McDonalds. While different from the tea you get at home, it is available unsweetened. Our experience has been that most bottled teas are sweetened and some are even milked as well! There are vending machines with drinks in them everywhere! You will be driving by fields and come across at row of vending machines. They all have water, a variety of teas and tons of canned and bottled coffee choices. Wish I could read Japanese to know the varieties.
Then, it was off to Komachi in Nagoya. It was about an 1:45 drive on the expressway-thank goodness for the
expressways! Without them the same drive would have taken somewhere in the vicinity of 3 hours or more. You would probably be lucky to average 40 kilometers per hour. As it is, the speed limit on the expressway is 80 kph but most people must average around 100 kph. They are expensive though. Just the trip from Ise to Nagoya cost $25. 
Komachi is the place we visited briefly on Sunday with the park overlooking the airfield. Again, periods of clouds and sunlight but we faired OK. We were hoping to get a green C-130 but we had to settle for 4 blue ones. We were pleasantly surprised by an F4 and a T4. We also photoed 3 of the 4 KC-767s of the Japanese Air Self Defense Force, plus assorted rescue choppers and a couple of C-1s.
Our daily staple has become the tea at McDonalds. While different from the tea you get at home, it is available unsweetened. Our experience has been that most bottled teas are sweetened and some are even milked as well! There are vending machines with drinks in them everywhere! You will be driving by fields and come across at row of vending machines. They all have water, a variety of teas and tons of canned and bottled coffee choices. Wish I could read Japanese to know the varieties.
We arrived in Kyoto. We finally found the hotel - I had miscalculated the street we needed to turn down by about 2 kilometers. Of course, it doesn't herlp that it is dark when we arrive. Here is yet another version of the car elevator. Systems 
like this are prevalent here.
like this are prevalent here.We finally visited our first Japanese fast food restaurant for dinner.
Joe faired better than I and was happy to share his meal with me. I again ordered 
chicken. I asked and was told it was white meat.
Joe faired better than I and was happy to share his meal with me. I again ordered 
chicken. I asked and was told it was white meat.Again,it is thigh (I guess) and still has the skin on
from what I can tell. Joe ordered the pork and that is just like a deep fried boneless pork chop. Everything appears to come with shredded cabbage, miso soup and rice. OK, I'm done with the chicken...
Tomorrow our plan is to actually sightsee! We are spending the night in Kyoto and hope to have good weather and see lots there. We may also visit Uje and Nara. We have no set agenda other than to sleep to 6 AM! :-)
Wow! I do not know where you get your energy. I am amazed at the traveling you are doing at such a fast pace. Can't wait to see your pics when you get home. Love you, stay safe!
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