2017 大阪 – 四國10天自駕遊 (Day 2)

日期：2017年6 月22日(四)

行程：有馬溫泉至淡路島至四國德島

今天行程主要是去淡路島及嗚門漩渦，晚上住宿於德島市。由於這次四國自駕遊需要多次使用高速公路，所以在租車時同時預定了ETC卡，不需要在離開高速公路時停車付路費。

由本州去淡路島需經過著名的明石大橋，亦是本州去四國三條主要通道之一，其他兩條為瀨戶內海大橋及島波海道。經過明石大橋便是淡路島，離開高速公路15分鐘便抵達今天第一個景點淡路夢舞台。淡路夢舞台由日本著名建築師安藤忠雄設計，原預定在1998年與明石海峽大橋開通同時竣工。由於淡路地區發生了震災，重新設計和建設花了2年的時間，卒於2000年與淡路花博的開幕同時開業。

去到淡路夢舞台不到9時，園內設施仍然可以參觀，但噴水池、溫室植物園等就要等到10時了。

http://www.yumebutai.co.jp/ando/index_ch.html

1995年阪神大地震的震央就是在淡路島與本州之間的海峽，下一站我們便是去北淡震災紀念公園，在島另外一方，駕車需要開一段山路。紀念公園就是建在當年斷層之上，包括有斷層保護館，旁邊有一座受破壞但仍然安全的民房，內部展示當年地震後的情況，最後是地震體驗館，雖然是短短幾分鐘，對不是住在地震帶的人來說，是一種不可多得的體驗。

http://www.nojima-danso.co.jp/ 

斷層保護館

地震體驗館

由紀念館出來已經是11時多，開車到島的西面去午餐，需走一段20公里的高速公路。午餐的地方是「御食国」，由壹座舊工廠改建而成，著名食物是牛丼。雖然自己很喜歡牛肉，但對和牛只是一般，所以二人都點了午餐定食，沙律則是免費自助任食。

http://www.miketsu.jp/

下午的行程是去嗚門漩渦，上了高速及過了嗚門大橋便是了。嗚門漩渦下午大潮是在4:50，觀潮最佳時段是3-6時。我們抵達渦之道海上步道不到2時，由入口走出去觀潮平台要10-15分鐘。由於每天上、下午大潮的時間都不一樣，去之前最好查看潮汐時間表。我們逗留到3時左右，便開車去坐觀潮船的碼頭。

https://www.uzunomichi.jp/

嗚門大橋

觀潮船分大小兩種，大船的船費是1,800日元，樓上豪華位是2,800日元，小船是劃一2,400日元。原來是計劃坐4:20的大船，比較接近大潮的時間。但考慮到會比較晚才到酒店，於是搭了早一班船。

觀潮船去到大橋底下，漩渦最大的地方。若果是在坐樓上，觀看效果應該較好。而另一條小船差不多同時到，更加接近最大的漩渦。

https://www.uzusio.com/tw/siomi/

今晚預定住在德島Clement Hotel，就在德島火車站上，交通方便，旁邊就是停車埸。雖然比附近酒店貴一些，但扣除了停車費及附近購物、飲食都比較方便，算是合理了。晚餐在火車站上商場的食肆。

2017 大阪 – 四國10天自駕遊 (Day 1)

日期：2017年6月21日(三)
行程：大阪關西機場至有馬溫泉

原來計劃是去英國，由於歐洲恐襲因素，決定轉去日本，不久便發生了英國曼徹斯特恐怖襲擊了。去年去了大阪踩單車去四國，但很多地方都沒時間停留參觀，加上太太未去過四國，最後決定去四國自駕遊。

計劃是由大阪租車，由明石經淡路島去四國德島、奧祖谷、高知、四萬十川、松山道後溫泉、今治，經島津海道 (Shimanami Kaido) 返回本州，再在岡山附近，姬路及神戶參觀，返回大阪停留數天。

香港至大阪來回機票及酒店通過相熟旅行社安排，四國及本州的六晚酒店則自已在網上預定，有兩晚住溫泉酒店，包括第一晚的有馬溫泉及第四晚的松山道後溫泉，其餘四晚是一般商務酒店，以有停車設施為主。

往大阪的航機是8是起飛，6時許便抵達機場。由於航機調動原因，遲了差不多2小時才起飛。航機是最新的A350，機上有WiFi，由某保險公司贊助頭壹小時免費上網，由於航機爆滿航空公司將我們升級至Premium Economy，更有某保險公司贊助USB/Lightening兩用線小禮品。

航機只遲了壹小時抵達大阪關西機場，過關及等行李都不用半小時，二時許便推著行李去租車公司。由於以前揸開Mazda車，租車公司使用是Times Car Rental，即以前的Mazda Car Rental，預定了壹台Mazda Demio (M2)，七天租車費連稅及保險不需35,000日元。

Mazda Demio 租車

禦幸莊花結阿里馬溫泉日式旅館

今天預定了有馬溫泉的禦幸莊花結阿里馬溫泉日式旅館 (御幸荘花結び)，壹泊兩食，由關西機場開車去大概壹小時半左右。旅館在溫泉大街再上10分鐘路程，有馬溫泉著名的是金、銀湯溫泉，泉水分別是泥黃色及透明。金、銀湯溫泉館就在大街附近，是公共湯浴，公眾可以買票入場。

和式房間

由酒店去溫泉大街

金湯外的免費浸腳

溫泉大街外的河川

有馬溫泉介紹：http://www.arima-onsen.com/

和式晚餐我們安掛在房間進食，除了餐前酒外有8度菜，味道不錯。吃食飯後酒店員工舖好了Futon後，我和太太一齊去頂樓的浴場浸溫泉。酒店有私人溫泉可供租用，45分鐘只需3,000日元而已。

和牛餐單

Motorized Excavator with Independently Power Undercarriage & SBrick

The original tracks were powered by two motors in the upper parts of the excavator, through a series of gears.  With power losses through transmission, the tracks moved very slow and didn't want to move when the batteries were half drained.  

As I am using two SBricks, I place one SBrick in the carriage with two motors and battery case.  The tracks are now independently powered regardless, moving smoothly and a little bit faster than I expected.  By separating the upper part and undercarriage, I don't need to replace the batteries so often.

I also modified the SBrick control panel designed by Jurgen.  The original design was to use two sliders to control the forward and backward movement of the tracks.  Due to sensitivity of the control, it was difficult to synchronize the movement.   I replaced the sliders with a joystick in the middle, turning it by 45 degree.  By moving the spot up, both tracks are moving forward.  By moving the spot to left, the left track is moving backward while the right track moving forward making a left turn.  It is easier to control the travel of the excavator now and can have several movements at the same time.

Motorized Excavator with Infrared Remote Control & SBrick

An excavator has six actions: left and right tracks, slewing, boom, stick and bucket.   The original model has only two sets of IR remote control, controlling four motors.  Out of cost control or other reasons, the designer cleverly used the fourth motor as a switch.  The other three motors controlled the left, right track and slewing, by switching the fourth motor, the other three motors were then controlling the boom, stick and bucket.

Of course, some of the enthusiasts would definite not happy about this arrangement and started their own modifications.   Jurgens' modification, using three set of IR remote control and six motors were widely adopted by many people.   You would require to purchase an extra of 180 pirces of parts and power function components to complete the modifications.

Motorized Excavator 8043

This motorized excavator was originally modified by Jurgens. 

Three IR receivers, six motors and one battery case were tightly squeezed into the back of the excavator.

Left controller to control the slewing and stick, right controller to control the boom and bucket.

Middle controller, upside down to control the left and right tracks

Ultimate 8043s

Two SBricks replaced three IR receivers.

SBrick control panel designed by Jurgens.

Motorized Track Loader with Infrared Remote Control and & SBrick

The motorized track loader was originally designed to be controlled by two sets of infrared remote control for four motors, two motors for the track, one for the lift arm and one for the bucket.

The tow receivers were installed at the back o the loader.

The left controller was modified to a joystick type to control the lift arm and bucket.  The two levers of the right control were to control the travel.

SBrick is a blue-tooth device that control the motors via your smart phone.  It can be ordered online at around HK$500 including shipping.  For one set of original Lego IR remote control at around HK$270 per set, it seems the SBrick  is not quite expensive.

First impression was that it looked quite simple and did not worth the money.  The added value using SBRick is by registration, you can design your own control panel, download to your smartphone or simply select some of the public control panels.

By using several SBricks, you can now control very complicated motorized models form your phone.

Motorized Wall-E by Infrared Remote Control & SBrick

The Wall-E is a static model with more than 600 pieces.  In order to be motorized it, you would require one set of infrared remote control and two motors to drive the two tracks.   There are a lot of  instruction and videos online, below is one of them:

http://www.miniplayhouse.com/moc/moc-lego-wall-e-rc-motorized/

The motors were installed at the bottom of the model, the IR receiver was installed at the back and a compact battery case was put inside the model.  For one set of set Lego IR control, two motor sand the battery case, it would cost more than HK$700 including shipping,

SBrick is a blue-tooth device that can control four motors via your smart phone.  It can be used to replace the IR remote control.  You could purchase at around HK$500 including shipping online.   With one set of Lego IR remote control costing more than HK$270,  a SBrick of which can replace two sets of IR remote control,  was not that expensive.  By registration, you can access the SBrick website and design the control panel by yourself or download other public panels.   By using several SBricks, you can use your smart phone to control very complicated models.