The last week has not gone smoothly! We had problems with Zef's flights, and we had car problems!
When Zef tried to board his flight in Cairns he was told he needed an onwards flight booking. They did not allow him to board! (This is really strange because when they asked us the same question we explained that we would leave Japan by ferry to St. Korea. But they didn't accept that from Zef.) He lost 2 days before another suitable flight came available! That's a lot out of an already short trip!
But he is here now and we've had some good times already!
He had a great time with these fox cubs. They were playing on the track when we came up to them they were very tame, but of course he didn't touch them (foxes here carry echinococcus which is like our hydatid disease, and is often fatal).
Wildflower season is in full swing. 
We have also glad vehicle problems! The transfer case oil leak which was fixed recently has recurred! We needed to take the vehicle back to Asahikawa to the Tadano OT team for the oil leak and to get our safety inspection certificate for the renewal of our vehicle registration. Nakamura San there speaks excellent English, and this was essential for what was to come.
In order to complete the safety certificate the mechanics took off the wheels, and they didn't like what they saw! They declared that the method of fixing the wheels to the drums was wrong, and not safe! There was a 3mm gap between the alloy wheels and the brake drums. They consulted with Fuso and their engineers and we consulted with Mark at Earthcruiser but an impass was reached and our certificate was not forthcoming.
The mechanics said that there was too much stress on the bolts and that they were already damaged.
The heads of the bolts needed to be machined down flush with the wheel surface so that there was no gap between the wheel and the drums. This cost us ~$1600AU.
The delay also cost 2 of Zefs days here! But Tadano gave us a loan car and we were able to continue to show Zef around.
A bear at Bear Mountain. 
This is a sleeping Hippo at the zoo at Asahikawa! This was quite an amazing way to view such a large animal -from below!
Now we are off to Shirotoko National Park -and wild bears.....
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