It should stop raining in Fukuoka soon!!

Well we have been in Japan for a couple of days now and we are assured it should stop raining soon :)
The Japanese people that we have meet could not be more friendly and helpful. The only slight set back is that the custom officials are being very strict about letting the cars into the country. The cars are at the port of Fukuoka but are not aloud to leave the port compound and hit the roads of Japan until every T is crossed and I dotted.
Cars UK are shipping agents are doing a great job in handling all the paperwork, I am glad we didn't try and do it ourselves, Molly Porsche would probably be on the dock side for months :)
The hotel we are staying is apparently right on the beach, our room has a huge balcony, again apparently with fantastic views of this beach. When the rain stops and the sun comes out ( tomorrow) we will blown away by the vista's.  At the moment we are only blown away by the force 10 gale and driving rain. The bar is doing a roaring trade.
Molly Porsche has a roof so we will be dry, some of the cars are open tops with no roof at all. Just hope the weather picks up for these other competitors, driving in these conditions without a roof would not be fun.
We have braved the elements and gone for a walk around the grounds and found some of the famed cherry blossom. Just a few trees, but giving us a wonderful idea of what is come as we drive across Japan.

We did find the beach and watched some locals doing a really strange type of fishing. They wade into the water and proceed to use long rakes to scrape along the sea bed. We think they are looking for something like cockles. It looked jolly cold and hard work.

Lots of our rally friends are starting to arrive from all around the world. Some we haven't seen for years but it's amazing how the conversion and friendship just picks up where you left it. There is a great group of people on this rally.
The Samurai Challenge is going to be amazing rally, even better when it stops raining and the cars are outside the hotel.
Tomorrow is signing on day and we get our final instructions for the Samurai Challenge Rally.
 We have been warned on numerous occasions not to exceed the speed limits. If you drive to quickly and get caught you stand a very good chance of spending  3 days in jail and definitely no get out jail free card, not an ideal way to see Japan.

It was my birthday yesterday :) when we walked into our room the maid had made the happy birthday card out of a towel. Wonderful:)