WhiteGiant
Maximum Pace
- Nov 4, 2006
- 1,233
- 395
"Because it's there!" - I believe that's the usual excuse for these kinds of frivolous activities. That, and "Because I've never done it before", often go hand in hand when planning rides with the description: "600km in 4 days!"
I haven't done one of these tours in quite a while. My last was with Thomas, when we rode up to Aomori (Tour de Tohoku - May 2007). Since then, I've done a few one-day long rides - Tokyo to Niigata, and Tokyo to Nagoya; both in 24 hours - But I haven't done any multi-day rides (apart from 2 days around Noto Peninsula earlier this year).
Anyway, this time, it's Kii-hanto (peninsula), because it's there, and I've never done it before!
My plan is to catch the Shinkansen to Osaka on Saturday, Dec 27th. I'll stay overnight somewhere (TBD), and hopefully catch up with a few friends in the area.
Day 1: The ride-proper will start early on Sunday (28th) morning. For one thing, I want to get out of the city as early as possible and avoid those (ahem... "wonderful"... ahem) Osaka motorists. And for another, the first day will be the longest, at 180km, and I want to get as much of a head-start as I can.
I suppose this is where I should insert requests for "best route out of Osaka, heading south"! If anyone has any knowledge/experience in this area, your input would be greatly appreciated.
I'll head down the coast, past Wakayama, to Tanabe and hopefully get an early night.
Day 2: From Tanabe, I'll continue heading SE towards the bottom tip of the peninsula, before heading NE up to Kumano - With any luck, this 140km will be uneventful, and I'll reach my destination feeling refreshed after an easy day in the saddle (and we all know how that will likely turn out, don't we?)
Day 3: Anyone who has had any experience with these kinds of rides will tell you, that on the third day, there is a special sensation in the saddle area that makes itself known very early on - It remains there all day, threatening to get worse before it gets better, but it's bearable... usually... just! Anyway, my destination for the day is Shima - Or more specifically "Shima-Isobe". That'll be very close to 160km, and I think another early start might be in order.
Day 4: The final day should be an easy one. 120km to my final destination in Kameyama (yes, that's where Sharp makes all its plasma TV displays), Mie prefecture. My wife's uncle is a Buddhist priest, and he has his temple there. Every year, his numerous brothers & sisters (my wife's aunts and uncles on her mother's side) all bring their extended families to stay at the temple - often between 20 ~ 30 people - to celebrate the New Year. I hope to arrive there early in the afternoon.
600km in 4 days!
I haven't done one of these tours in quite a while. My last was with Thomas, when we rode up to Aomori (Tour de Tohoku - May 2007). Since then, I've done a few one-day long rides - Tokyo to Niigata, and Tokyo to Nagoya; both in 24 hours - But I haven't done any multi-day rides (apart from 2 days around Noto Peninsula earlier this year).
Anyway, this time, it's Kii-hanto (peninsula), because it's there, and I've never done it before!
My plan is to catch the Shinkansen to Osaka on Saturday, Dec 27th. I'll stay overnight somewhere (TBD), and hopefully catch up with a few friends in the area.
Day 1: The ride-proper will start early on Sunday (28th) morning. For one thing, I want to get out of the city as early as possible and avoid those (ahem... "wonderful"... ahem) Osaka motorists. And for another, the first day will be the longest, at 180km, and I want to get as much of a head-start as I can.
I suppose this is where I should insert requests for "best route out of Osaka, heading south"! If anyone has any knowledge/experience in this area, your input would be greatly appreciated.
I'll head down the coast, past Wakayama, to Tanabe and hopefully get an early night.
Day 2: From Tanabe, I'll continue heading SE towards the bottom tip of the peninsula, before heading NE up to Kumano - With any luck, this 140km will be uneventful, and I'll reach my destination feeling refreshed after an easy day in the saddle (and we all know how that will likely turn out, don't we?)
Day 3: Anyone who has had any experience with these kinds of rides will tell you, that on the third day, there is a special sensation in the saddle area that makes itself known very early on - It remains there all day, threatening to get worse before it gets better, but it's bearable... usually... just! Anyway, my destination for the day is Shima - Or more specifically "Shima-Isobe". That'll be very close to 160km, and I think another early start might be in order.
Day 4: The final day should be an easy one. 120km to my final destination in Kameyama (yes, that's where Sharp makes all its plasma TV displays), Mie prefecture. My wife's uncle is a Buddhist priest, and he has his temple there. Every year, his numerous brothers & sisters (my wife's aunts and uncles on her mother's side) all bring their extended families to stay at the temple - often between 20 ~ 30 people - to celebrate the New Year. I hope to arrive there early in the afternoon.
600km in 4 days!