Takihata Dam

osaka is really not much to look at as a city, despite, like glasgow having a great social life. unusually for such a metropolis the mountains are very close by and an hours cycle south of Abiko takes you to Kawachi Nagano via the Yamato and Ishi rivers - all with generous bike routes (just beware of squads of jogging junior high school students 6-a-breast). it's a quick navigation south again through the town centre and soon you are on the quiet route 218 which eventually turns to a traffic free zone. this climbs steadily with even a few down slopes until you reach route 61 and takihata dam. it's quite a size, an amazing sight and god knows how many mouths its feeding - but you need to watch the road. I got complacent with the lack of traffic and hit - no, not a car - but the largest 'cats eye' I've seen. probably belonged to a tiger. they really make them big as a deterent to driving in the wrong lane, but as a cyclist they can dismount you, or certainly try.

anyway, with concentration restored it's a slightly more steep climb to the summit of approximately 900 metres. the road in places has seriously homemade cobbles' (actually thats too kind - more like stones jutting out of concrete) - I guess to grip your tyres in winter - which are on inclines of, well, the steepest inclines I have ridden on public roads. all this said 95 per cent of the road is in very good condition and I only passed 3 cars and 2 cyclists during the hours climb. deep breathing through the cool shade of the cedars brings you out on top of the world - or certainly kinki. the views to Wakayama are really really worth it.

you can continue down the hairpins toward Hashimoto or Gose or just turn around and enjoy the longer descent back the way you came. bish bash bosh. back in time for tea.