Landed…
Happy to be on the ground… uneventful but the breakfast was good.
Landing took awhile due to low cloud… nothing like extra time where you don’t want to be… but on the positive side the landing was smooth.
Japan
Ride completed!
Woo-hoo… and 177+km later our ride around Miyakojima is complete! Here is what the last day looked like on the map.
Here is how we started the last day of travel on the road
Not too many hills – just enough. We have a great sense of achievement!
Although it did look a little like this
Unfortunately there was not a lot of time to relax, as soon as we got back to the hotel we packed and headed for the airport.
Rest day…
Every good riding tour has a rest day, today is ours. Okinawa is large… so it’s not possible to cycle where we want to visit. So it’s a rest day, and we travel by bus. I enjoy cycling but it will be good to see outside the city.
Breakfast was… as featured below. Pizza is always a good option- even if it is dessert pizza.
Instructions have been provided
Avoiding the heat…
There is no better way… than to leave. Okay it’s only temporary, do not get excited.
While we have a few hours… Kym is getting into the zone, and catching up on some reading. I just hope he doesn’t loose the library book he has brought with him.
We had a great time…
Arigatougozaimashita!
Yes… the holiday was great. But it always there are highlights…
The food – oishidesune!
Ask us about this-
Japanese friends – it was good to see you. We really valued your time, many thanks.
The new places we discovered, and the old ones we always visit…
The language mistakes I made – were probably many, but like this sign I have good intent! Oh how I must practice more!!!!
It was all great – and makes us want to return again!
(Please excuse lack of Japanese writing characters as they don’t work on this blog..)
Day 1
A short 46 km from Hodatsu to Togo on the Noto peninsula.
Helen insisted on doing the 8km leg on the beach. We had to find enough compact sand to make sure that we didn’t fall off. Fortunately, there was a pleasant beach stand that manage to sell beer and very fresh seafood. The clams and squid were awesome. We then continued on a specialised bicycle path, which at some point, we thought had been completely forgotten. For weeks I have been looking forward to visiting Sucre Plage patisserie. But when we got there we learnt it will shut every Wednesday. We were very disappointed. Perhaps, next time. From there we rode through a number of cute little fishing villages. As you might expect, this involves some climbs and some descents. By about 4:30pm we arrived at our destination.
Dinner was fantastic at the family run ryokan. I can only show you the dessert perhaps Helen can show you more.
Books
The only downside about Japan, is I don’t know enough of the language to read the books. There are so many amazing book shops – and the books and magazines themselves look really interesting – nevertheless I’m working on the language! However, if you are in Tokyo one of thee best bookshops is in a store called Ginza6. Apart from the food available in the basement – oh ichigo (strawberry) ice cream which was about $4..
….head up to the top floor and check out the bookstore. The central event space in the centre of the shop is surrounded with wooden shelves stacked with books. Spend enough time there and you can find a book on almost anything. I could of bought a book on hospital design, but thought the better for it!
Back on the road again…
I can hear it on the wind…
Japan is calling, so return we must
Japanese language… pt 2
Some of you know I work in a public library. But the system in the Toyosu library leaves me slightly confused…
Very clear signage!
Just like every library around the world – I know people don’t follow written requests, or so I was told! To be fair I was in a local library, where no tourists venture – so I feel very fortunate to be taken there by our friends – arigatou!
At least with other signage, we get the idea what you are not allowed
Wish our signage was like the below one!
There has to be more to this sign
…. and to finish, this was cute! Still love Japan, despite a lack of understanding.
Japanese language…
Learning a language is not easy – especially Japanese. I really enjoy learning the language, but I do have trouble remembering.
There are three character sets, hiragana (????), katakana, and kanji. I think perhaps I just need to do more repetition…. practice, practice and practice!
Although I will say when in Japan, I think it is probably better to go to places where you are less likely to use English. At least that way I would be forced into it! While waiting for Kym in a restaurant (don’t ask), I did manage to have a broken couple of sentence about how long we were in Kanazawa and where we were going, and how many days we were in Japan. When listening to people I could understand parts of sentences, and numbers when paying for items in shops. Let’s not forget the railway station announcements. Although it doesn’t sound so magical now compared to the first holiday. At least there is some recognition!
While on trains I did find myself attempting to sound out the words on the signs… not that I have the vocabulary to know what it meant – but it is a good feeling in at least recognising the characters.
However, when buying coffee the language is generally English! I’m just going to have to persist….
I should also thank our Japanese friends for speaking English with us. Otherwise the conversation would of taken longer, and more google translation use! Arigatougozimasu!
Only a couple more posts to do – one on the food we enjoyed, and a couple of highlights – so stay tuned!
