Written by Dave Ohama to Abu Camping ground – Fox Shrine Day – (67k, 800M) Today was all about seeing the Motonosumi Inari Shrine. I had it circled from way back in our planning days in Oregon. We were up early but more because we were in bed last night at 7PM than being super … Continue reading Fox Shrine Day, Day 36 – October 26

Written by Dave Mojiko to Ohama – Back to Honshu – (74k, 683M) Today we crossed back into Honshu, the largest of Japan’s islands and one referred to as the “mainland”most often. We had about 3k to ride from our apartment to reach the entrance of the pedestrian tunnel under the Kanmon Straights. On the … Continue reading Back to Honshu, Day 35 – October 25

Written by Dave Rest day – Local tourist day There were heaps of big-time tourist things we could have done today, the fast train to Fukuoka, climb Mt. Kazashi just behind Mojiko, visit the train or music box museums, etc, etc. Instead, we decided to be more local and check out Mojiko at the local … Continue reading Rest day – Local tourist day, Day 34 – October 24

Written by Dave Kurume to Mojiko – Good traffic day – (95k, 880M) Today has to start with our lovely dinner last night with Nancy’s teacher, Chiharu and her husband Yasu. Nancy has been taking on-line classes with Nihongo Picnic for about a year and a half. Chiharu has been Nancy’s sensei the entire time. … Continue reading Good Traffic Day, Day 33 – October 23

Written by Dave Rest day – Supermarket Day There are so many things in Japan that make us go “huh?” Many are just odd or different, like the gas station attendees and how they guide customers in and out of the station and the clerks at stores that come out and wave at customers as … Continue reading Rest day – Supermarket day, Day 32 – October 22

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