Day 7 June 24

Woke up to Mount Fuji obscured by clouds. No matter because we got to see it yesterday. I do feel for the travellers who come today though because theres not even a peep. From what I hear many travel here to see Fuji but you have to be lucky this time of the year. And we were.
Today we decided to hire bicycles and ride around Lake Kawaguchiko. Girls bikes mind you. But the land is flat and there won't be any problems.
It's a beautiful ride and Liz is already putting it down as a highlight of the trip halfway through it. The landscape is stunning. We stop off at not one but two lavender festivals. The second one we try some of the food stalls. Liz try a sausage but it turns out not to be cooked all the way through. So we grab a corn stick. Which is better. I try a local beer. And pick up some sake for later.
Up and down the smallest of hills and right around the lake.The weather is just right. Looking for the centre of town where we might get a bite to eat I notice a toy museum so we head there to have a look. It's small but it's brilliant. All toys are made in Japan. I notice I have a few copies of the robots. I like the tin boats as well. One part of the museum is devoted to 7 inch picture sleeves. A record museum too. Amazing. And so well set out.

At the gift shop I check out the robots for sale. Top robots by top designers with top prices too. One robot I liked seemed to have an extra 0 on the end but no it really was around the $900 mark. I had to settle for a smaller Masudaya Radicon robot. A copy of one of their 1950's "Gang of 5" robots. To get a real one would cost about $58 000.
When we come out of the museum it's starting to rain just a little but across the road Liz spies a baseball hitting/training nets. So we all have a go at hitting baseballs. Liz does well with the 80km pitching. Stupidly I try the 100km pitch. I think I hit the ball 3 out of 25 times. I should of worn my glasses.
Then the rain really starts to come down so we abandon plans to ride into the centre of town and start to head back via the supermarket. At this place we're away from town so we're cooking our own meals and we fall back on to the old standby of pasta. Looking at all the different foods on display is pretty mind boggling though. And don't mention the amount of fireworks on display. Ruby is diving to buy some. (secretly so am I) Anyway I pick up a pack of sushi for later. There's also a bread shop too and the breadstick we buy tastes amazing. We cook up as soon as we drop the bikes off and have a relatively early dinner. We haven't really eaten since breakfast. This happens a lot.
After dinner Liz and I go back to the onsen for our bathing. I'm used to the etiquette now. When I walk in I see other shoes lined up but it's some one just finishing so I'll have the bath alone. This time Ruby tries it too. Calm and relaxed we come back and drink our sake (plus a beer from the vending machine) and watch the original Night of the Living Dead.