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"Adventurous Cyclist", the fun of cycling in Japan, my adventures

This should complete what pictures I have for 2011. I don't know what happened to all the other pictures, but if I find them, I'll update with another post.

Back in September of 2011 the farmers here knew me with my pet "Rocky". We would walk for hours around the countryside. Sadly I lost Rocky some years ago. The farmers were friendly here at this location back then. Enjoyed the rice balls with them and drinks. This is what I think many foreigners who come to Japan and cycle want to experience. The real daily life of the farmer. There are always smiles to greet you. Usually, that is. But times are changing and in 10 years that have gone by, seems a new "struggle" of smiles are hard to come by when seeing foreigners.

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I watched them build that one story house. The young children now are telling their aging parents to tear down the old homes here and build single story. ( at least in this area ) The road I'm taking here also has some kind of graveyard for the old Buddha Priest. Must be over ... heck I don't know, but the monuments are somewhat historical. I know I took some pictures of them... but who knows where I have them.
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In the year 2020 the owner of this land removed the vending machines. And the old house was taken down a year later. When I first moved into this area, there were few cars on the road and the high school students would stop by before and after school to buy buns at the little liquor store. The lady there is still my friend today. She is 84 now and a bit frail, but still works till 7 pm. The store no longer caters to students, 7-11 down the street killed the business years ago.
Well, I'm afraid these are the only pictures of the year 2011 that I can find. Stay tune for the next year of " who knows what I've taken ".
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Well, I think I had a good ride or I should say some good rides, some touring and camping and met up with some camping friends this year of 2022. I met some really wonderful people in the prefectures I cycled through. By the way, I did do some train and shinkansen hopping along my adventures.
I wish everyone a Happy New Year and a safe cycling adventure for you all.
I'll close the year by posting a few more very recent photos. Mostly of Yamaguchi city.

My t-shirt for 2022. Thanks to https://tokyocycle.com/threads/qual...service-from-aussie-in-japan.9058/post-134199
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A time to enjoy the life of Japan
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This was provided by the Spanish government here in Yamaguchi city.
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This is located behind the clock.
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Our little waterway throughout the city of Yamaguchi.
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Something nice to remember the Spanish visit by.
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Some pictures of the visiting group.
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This restaurant has got to be pretty old. Looks like the menu of waxed display is that old too. The prices here are pretty expensive. Yamachi city.
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It is very rare that I eat at a restaurant, but I couldn't pass up these fries to stay out of the cold the other night. Only 250 yen. But next time I'll ask for more ketchup. Better then McDonalds and real fresh tasting also
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I'll continue with a few more pictures .
 
Some more pictures of Yamaguchi and maybe other areas of Japan.

This country road follows a river that cuts through Yamaguchi city ( I think ) . I only went so far on it. Does look like it heads up the mountains though. The new year, this I will travel more to see where it leads too. Nice countryside that is only minutes out of the city.
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Same location. I was on a bridge taking this picture. I got to look on a map and see the name of this river. About 4 miles up the river I go and bring some Elbow マカロニ to feed the fish. They come up right up to the shore to feed. I took some pictures of them. I'll see if I can find them.

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Maybe I posted this already. But the road goes up to Akiyoshidai. It's famous for the caves and "winding road". The winding road is popular training for cyclist throughout Japan.


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Our city park here in Yamaguchi. Sunset time.
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Well, if I posted this already... these trees are located at a Shrine. Large parking lot so it does see a lot of visitors.

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More pictures.

Another map. Forgot where I took this picture at.

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A Sunday afternoon relaxing near the stream. A rice ball, chips and a cold drink.
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It's fall time now. Still great weather for cycling.

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I like to stop at the import store. I am surprised at the price, but ... that's life in Japan.
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A family with smiles out joy riding on a Sunday afternoon. I guess he bought that in Thailand.
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Stay and ride safe everyone.

My next adventures, well... depends I guess, but I would like to cycle Miyakojima, Okinawa or get to Hokkaido in 2023.
 
Well, last August l made it to Ibaraki, Chiba and Yokohama.
The Minami Boso bike ride was great 👍. Long day ride with a few markets.
Looking forward this year for some more Japan 🗾 cycling adventures.
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And lunch with a new friend. Can you imagine all that food.IMG_20221020_115138.jpg
 
Riding around Yudaonsen, Yamaguchi. There's a bike trail here that goes from Ogori to near Akiyoshidai. When the weather warms up a bit, I'll start in Yudaonsen and head up to Akiyoshidai. I made it half way there, but got a late start so I turned back.
Here's a link for Yudaonsen. https://yamaguchi-city.jp/w/en/hot_spring/page001.html
Here are some pictures.

This is the main river that cuts through Yudaonsen. Lots of carp and other fish there.


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The above pictures are for February 2023.
 
March19,2023
Weather is bautiful, not much wind either. Taking a new ride in Yamaguchi to Tokuji. This is really all out in real countryside.

Here are some pictures.

At the end of my ride a beer.IMG_20230319_125739.jpg

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This is your country side junkyard.IMG_20230319_121521.jpg
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On my way to Tokuji.IMG_20230319_101312.jpg

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New bike day today April 23rd Sunday.
Due to a knee injury which I'm on my end of my first month which kind of paralyzed me I cannot tour Japan like I started to plan on leaving it in April probably around April 5th I guess but that's all I probably got about six more weeks of therapy to go through.
So yesterday at the grocery, since I live in a university town,and saw all the new bikes were sold except for two, to the students, and I saw the bike and it was half price and I looked at it the features on it for half price I just couldn't pass it up, and with my knee injury I should buy it.
So it has a front basket cushion seat rear carrier and apparently the rear brake is a bit different. Don't see any break pads on it, it looks pretty complicated. It also has your nightl time automatic light so I don't have to turn on the switch or anything and a little high level handlebars and I got to say it's really comfortable for my injured knee so I'm quite happy that I bought it
So today I'm out riding it. Got a little picnic going ,brought my ukulele to do a little jamming in the park, much to my surprise the park is really really filled with people .
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A little update on my knee injury.
May 31 I changed doctors. ( I can not travel to the old doctor now).
He will do 5 liquid shots into my knee. I got 4 more to go.
He also put me in his physio therapy part of his office.
I had one physio therapy done so far.
I mentioned to this doctor that I only walk and ride a bike for my 100% transportation, although I can take the bus.
I told him about me cycling Japan for the last 3 years.
I think he knows the truth that lies ahead of me.
I am going to continue thinking positive.
The earliest for me now to cycle to Hokkaido is going to be at the end of July.
I'm a fighter.
 
On June 29th Thursday I put my bike on the train from Yamaguchi to Onomichi, Hiroshima.
The train ride was a 6-hour ride for me.
I have three transfers first one was Shin- Yamaguchi, next one was at Iwakuni and then at Mihara. Last stop at Onomichi station.
At the station there I packed up my bike and then headed over to the port to take the ferry. The ferry cost 100 yen and it takes you less than 10 minutes to the island of Mukaishima.
The first of six islands on the Setouchi Shimanami kaido cycling route.
Here are a few pictures from Yamaguchi to Onomichi station.
This is at Yudaonsen station at 4:30 am June 29th Thursday.
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This is on the train going to Onomichi, Hiroshima.
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Here at Onomichi station, Hiroshima.
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From here I leave for the ferry to the first Island.
Mukaishima.

I'll I post the update on the island in my next thread.
 

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On June 29th Thursday I put my bike on the train from Yamaguchi to Onomichi, Hiroshima.
The train ride was a 6-hour ride for me.
I have three transfers first one was Shin- Yamaguchi, next one was at Iwakuni and then at Mihara. Last stop at Onomichi station.
At the station there I packed up my bike and then headed over to the port to take the ferry. The ferry cost 100 yen and it takes you less than 10 minutes to the island of Mukaishima.
The first of six islands on the Setouchi Shimanami kaido cycling route.
Here are a few pictures from Yamaguchi to Onomichi station.
This is at Yudaonsen station at 4:30 am June 29th Thursday.
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This is on the train going to Onomichi, Hiroshima.
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Here at Onomichi station, Hiroshima.
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From here I leave for the ferry to the first Island.
Mukaishima.

I'll I post the update on the island in my next thread.

I didn't have any time there at the Onomichi station so I didn't really get to take a look at a few temples there. These are three four places that if you're in the area you might want to visit.
1. Senkoji Park
2. Senkoji Temple
3. Saikoji Temple
4. Jodoji Temple
 
The first island is Mukaishima lsland.
There you have the Takamiyama Observatory Deck. You can also visit the Mukaishima orchard center.
I took the blue arrow recommended route up to the Enoshima bridge. The bridge is a suspension bridge and it's 1,270 m.
Here are some pictures of the Mukaishima Island.
I think I started this island at around 2:00 p.m. on Thursday June 29th.

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The weather is still clear but rain clouds are moving in.

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It's been a fun ride so far no win that was very surprised and the weather was not bad.
I forgot to mention it but at the dock terminal I met a group of tour bicyclist on tour with their guide and I was able to talk to the their guides and actually made some really nice conversation with them and the most amazing thing of it is we actually met up again at the another Island and they were surprised to see me, yeah they're really surprised to see me also.

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I I guess it was about 28 km on the island for me I'm not too for sure but I just thought I would post a picture of it.IMG_20230629_170459.jpgwell it looks like I was cycling for 2 and 1/2 hours so far.

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I guess by now you guys know that the real reason why I call myself turtle speed cyclists there you can see the result. I honestly don't think anybody really wants to cycle with me because I really go too slow, but then again I'm carrying a full pack of camping gear.
Okay I'm not too sure about the next picture but I'll post it and if it's a wrong picture
I'll start another thread for the second Island of lnnoshima lsland.
I'm on the phone doing this so it really takes a lot of time.
 
Okay I'm at the Enoshima bridge as I mentioned it's suspension bridge 1,270 m long and it's a beautiful bridge it's really nice bridge.
Okay let's see what kind of pictures I got for the Enoshima bridge going to Enoshima Island.
Honest Island there are some things that you may want to visit and let's see what we're got here.
1. Innoshima Amenity Park. Well awaited restrooms are to meet you there.
2. Shiratakiyama Observatory Park. Due to the timing I couldn't make it yeah I really wanted to get there but time is going by pretty fast also there's some pretty steep hills up in that area.
3. The Enoshima flower center. Well I guess I got here at the wrong season there wasn't nothing there as far as I could tell.
4. Innoshima Suiguno Castle. This is not on the blue line cycling trail.
5. Konrenji Temple.
6. You have the Enoshima park it's a viewpoint and it's very famous for cherry blossom.

Now let's see what kind of pictures I came up with for Enoshima Island.

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I guess maybe it started to rain I don't that's the only picture I got.
Next bridge is the Ikuchi bridge it's a cable stayed bridge it's 790 m and it was pretty nice to go over I think at one time there was a little gusty wind.

This bridge takes you to the lkuchijama island.
And I'm quite sure at this time it started to rain.
 
June 29th Thursday and it's getting in the evening time now.
I crossed the Tatara Bridge.
It also is a cable stayed bridge it's 1,480 m long.
It's actually a very beautiful bridge to ride your bike on it. The ocean underneath it is very beautiful to see at the beaches of this island the water is very clear.
This bridge takes you to the lkujima island. There's a short rest area there with restrooms waiting you I'm not too sure maybe half hour bike ride.
1. There is the Hirayama lkuo Museum
2. Kosanji Temple
3. Setoda Sunset Beach. This is where I camped at.
The manager there was really nice I got there really at closing time I think it was 5:30. I didn't realize but I didn't bring any food with me and I mentioned to her again where's the nearest Lawson and she told me and I said no forget it I didn't I don't have any food well after I started to put up my tent she comes and brings me some noodles and I got a picture of it too the lady is really nice lady I would highly recommend you camping at this beach it's a really big beach.IMG_20230629_183046.jpg

I got to admit I was really hungry I only had two rice balls all day.
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I don't really eat this type of noodles so this was really a really special treat for me and it was delicious too.

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As you can see I'm the only camper there got the beach all to myself.
After I got the tent put up then the rain started and it didn't quit until about I guess around 4:30 in the morning.
It sure was lucky timing I'm not kidding it was pure lucky timing.
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This is what it looks like in the morning when I'm packing up I put my bike underneath the canopy also last night actually I should have camped right under The canopy but I didn't do it.IMG_20230630_062215.jpg
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Well I covered three islands and one day evening time I camped and three bridges yeah let's see one two three three Bridges okay it's like 7:30 in the morning I'm ready to go luckily I decided to put my raincoat on because the moment I started to leave it was rain and it rained and never stopped raining. But I was really lucky because there's no wind yeah there was no wind at all. Next Island Oomishima.
See you all on the next post.
 
Now on Oomishima Island. June 30th Friday.
Non stop rain all day.
Things to see.
1. Tateishi Observatory Deck
2. Oomishima Museum of Art
3. Miyama Port. (nothing really there )
4. Ooyamazumi Shrine
5. Toyo Museum of Architecture
Well that's about it I'll see what kind of pictures I've got.
Next coming up is the Oomishima Bridge. It's a small Bridge it's in Arch type Bridge with 328 m

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Break time
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Well it looks like I'm halfway there.
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That's the same we're all looking for.

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Next lsland is Hakatajima Island.
Here there is a S C Park. Free water 💦
One can visit Hirayama Park. The hills are steep in this area.
I think my phone is going to be running out and I can't charge it yet so might not have too many pictures.
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As you can tell it's raining.

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Okay next is Bridge number 5 Hakata Ooshima Bridge.

It's a Box Girder bridge that is 325 m also the suspension bridge of 840 m and this was one joyful ride

Now entering Ooshima lsland.
Maybe I don't have pictures on this island I do know I stopped that license to charge my battery and I don't think I really felt like taking pictures because it was really raining maybe but I'll check.

The Dolphin Farm Shimanami people go to.
The Kirosan Observatory Park. There's some steep hills in the area.
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Break time and it's raining really raining
Sorry my phone went dead last of the pictures until I tell later on in the evening.
Next coming up is the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridges.
It's the big one.
I don't have any pictures and this raining and it's going to continue raining all night and I'm going on the big bridge now to Imabari City.
 
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The next bridge and final bridge for me is the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridges.
It's a suspension bridge of 4,105 m.
There was hardly any win on that bridge so it was pretty nice took a long time actually to do it though.
Well that's it for the the bridge scene now off to Shikoku. It was really nice talking to people at the local shops and it's kind of like the wrong season actually to get fruit and so forth but people were very friendly and really down to earth and it's really kind of a slow area to live in but I found it most enjoyable.
 
It's June 30th Friday night and I'm in Imabari City.
There's a free campground near the beach about 5 km away from where I'm at anyway I thought it would be okay because it was light light rain but then suddenly it started downpouring again ,so I was checking on the guest house or cycling house and I got it to the place but they close at 5:00 and so apparently I got there around 6:00 6:30 and there was a temple across the street that I went there while it was just downpouring . The temple had some shelter there and I thought I'd stay there overnight, just take my mat and sleep on the cement , but after about a half hour I decided to to jam. I think it was about 7:00 cuz it was still light and then I decided to go back to the downtown and make a long story short I was kind of worried like where am I going to stay tonight and I went to the one of the train stations the smaller one it was hashihama station and I thought about crashing there overnight but I saw a barbershop open and I stopped over there and talked to the guy and he told me where there's some hotels near the main the big train station here in town so I went there . I went to one hotel and I really messed up but I was in my raincoat , anyway at my second hotel I took my raincoat off and went in and they said yeah sure we have a room for you and the management is really nice and well that's my story and I amhere for two nights .I leave on Sunday morning and I hope to be going on the east side of Shikoku. Do some sightseeing, camping, but actually but I understand it's going to be raining in a couple days.
 
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