Written by Nancy Obama, Shimabara Peninsula to Kurume – (81k, 920M) We skipped the hotel breakfast so that we could get an early start.  Yesterday we found a nice bakery and bought some croissants and pastries that we ate this morning, and we made coffee from the funny pour over packaged coffee that they sell … Continue reading A day of two rides, Day 31 – October 21

Written by Dave Forecast for today in Obama Japan: Drenching rain at times. Knowing this and knowing we had a few weather days built into our schedule, we decided to use one today. It rained overnight and there were some dark clouds and heavy rain in the morning. As the day progressed we mostly had … Continue reading Drenching rain at times, Day 30 – October 20

Written by Nancy Fukuregi camping, Shimoshima Island to Obama, Shimabara Peninsula – (50k, 612M) It was stunningly quiet overnight in the Fukuregi campround. While our tent was right next to the Highway, neither of us heard more than one car all night. Highway 35 seems to be a road that very few people drive. The … Continue reading Back roads to Obama, Day 29 – October 19

Written by Dave Akune to Fukuregi camping, Shimoshima Island – (66k, 1,400m) Our hostel in Akune (Iwashi) had other guests last night, at least 5 other people.  I think I mentioned yesterday that the room partitions did not go to the ceiling.  So we were ready for a noisy night, particularly as a group of … Continue reading To the Amakusa Islands, Day 28 – October 18

Written by Dave Rest day in Akune Before I say much about today, I need to report that I managed to get all four of our brakes working again yesterday afternoon. I was afraid I didn’t bring enough brake pads with us on the trip, which would have been silly after reading Mart’s nearly daily … Continue reading Rest day in Akune, Day 27 – October 17

Written by Dave Yaeyama Park Camping to Akune – (54k, 480m) I was up again this morning for the sunrise, not as good as yesterday but nice all the same. At camp today, there was only one other person who bothered getting up. Somehow, I guess everyone knew that yesterday was the postcard day, though … Continue reading Highway 3 stress day, Day 26 – October 16

Written by Dave Makurazaki (Hinokami Camping Ground) to  Yaeyama Park– (72k, 970m) The day was bookend by two of the most beautiful campsites. Our site last night seemed to have low potential at first. But the hoards of Japanese campers were generally very polite and quiet. We met another couple of touring cyclists from Korea … Continue reading Campground heaven, Day 25 – October 15

Written by Dave Ibusuki to Makurazaki (Hinokami Camping Ground) – (46k, 440m) We splurged on the hotel brekkie and boy did the Ibusuki Royal put on a show. I’m sure everyone is trying of reading about food but today was really amazing. The photo below has all the usual standards but today we had a … Continue reading Rounding Kaimonjima, Day 24 – October 14

Written by Dave Cape Sata to Ibusuki –  (41k, 710m) All was quiet overnight at the Cape Sata campsite. Though sometime after dark and after we’d gone to bed another chap on a bicycle rolled in. He was quiet but there are absolutely no lights out on the road to the cape. I have no … Continue reading Friday the 13th ride, Day 23 – October 13

Written by Dave Kanoya to Cape Sata  –  (71k, 1114m) Ok, maybe not the end of the earth, but at least the end of Kyushu and as the sign at the cape says, the furthest southern point of the Japanese mainland. I know, there is no mainland, we covered that a couple weeks back. Four … Continue reading To the end of the earth, Day 22 – October 12