It's Lake Nukabira -2020- day3

Today is the final day. Heading to the "Taushubetsu Bridge" at Lake Nukabira.
Rubbing my sleepy eyes, off we go!

Detour

Why am I rubbing my sleepy eyes? Lake Shikaribetsu and Lake Nukabira are close in a straight line. However, the mountain pass road between them is closed in winter. So, it's a long detour. In summer, it's probably a 30-minute drive. Now in winter, it looks like it will take an hour and a half to two hours.
Moreover, I have to go down that terrifying road to the town of Shikaoi again, with the snow that piled up last night. We left before the hotel's breakfast time, so it's a hungry drive.

Descending into town... There's no "convenience store"! Passed the town of Shikaoi and entered the town of Shihoro. Still none... wait, there it is! Not an oasis in the desert, but a Lawson in the snowy road. We don't have time, so we finished breakfast in the parking lot and left immediately.

By the lakeshore

Today, as you can see, it's a "Tokachi clear sky"! Yay!
After a drive of just under two hours from the hotel, and then another 10 minutes in the tour guide's car, we finally arrived at the shore of Lake Nukabira! We put on snowshoes and crunched through the forest. After about 20 minutes, we cleared the forest and the view opened up.
Finally, it came into view. "Ta-u-shu-be-tsu"

Once it came into view, it was over in a flash. The lake surface was covered in yesterday's snow, looking like a plain. I guess I can't see the famous Lake Nukabira "ice bubbles" like this...
Well, that just means I have a reason to come back again. But who knows when I'll be able to visit here again...

Bridge stroll

Is it called an "iron bridge" because it's made of iron, or because it's a railway bridge? Since this is made of concrete, is it a concrete bridge? Since it's filled with stones, is it a stone bridge? This is the first time in my life I've stared at a single bridge from 360 degrees so carefully. Not satisfied with just looking at it from up close, I now look at it from a bird's-eye view. Is it the ruins boom? Why am I so fascinated by something like this (if I may be rude to say so)? It is a structure with a mysterious charm.
Maybe I think I can come back because a feeling similar to nostalgia wells up.

Hungry again

I had planned to go to Memuro and eat "corn fried rice" after the morning "Taushubetsu stroll" was over, but by the time we got down to the town of Shihoro, it was well past noon. Change of plans! Lunch at the "Roadside Station" in Shihoro town. While eating, we held a strategy meeting, deciding that since we were at it, we should go to the cheese workshop in Shikaoi.
Returned to the car and started the engine. Traffic information from a local AM station came over the car radio: "...there was an accident between... and the Doto Expressway is closed..."

"What! What did you say?"

I hurriedly took out my smartphone.

"Oh no!"

Storm again

Change of plans again! Instead of the cheese workshop, the airport!
The relaxed mood changed completely, and we got on the expressway for now. The strategy is to go as far as we can. The electronic bulletin board said "Closed between Shimukappu and Mukawa Hobetsu." To make matters worse, snow started to flutter. After passing through the Tokachi Plain and entering the mountainous area, it said "Snow ahead, 50km speed limit." At the same time, the road shoulders started turning white.

"This is bad."


The white shoulders widened and spilled into the lanes. Gradually, the driving lane also began to turn white. As we entered the tunnel zone in the mountains, the snow started falling in earnest.
Yet, the speed didn't drop. It's dangerous; this is the Hokkaido expressway. I thought the closure would be lifted if I drove for a while, but the cold radio program said, "There is no prospect of resumption."

Shimukappu Kamui

The terror of being forced to drive at high speed on a one-lane expressway while the entire road surface is pure white and visibility is poor due to snow. With great effort, I pulled into the Shimukappu SA. After that, I had no choice but to exit from the Shimukappu IC. Before that, another strategy meeting. "Phew."

Before that, the restroom.




"Ah!!!"


While looking at the display at the restroom exit to check the situation,
"The closure has been lifted!"

God has descended

Well, every time, something happens, but
This trip was also a nail-biter.


New Chitose Airport was also snowy, but the plane took off as scheduled. Rubbing my stomach filled with soup curry, I fall asleep... happiness...

(The End)