Shimanami

Taking the bus

Posted on by helenhmk

We left Imabari by bus to get to Fukuyama for the Shinkansen to Kobe… and it was fabulous. It’s not often you would say that about a bus ride, but I am.

Having spent the last few days cycling the Shimanami Kaido, it’s a highlight as you get to relive the bridges and the scenery you’ve passed through from another perspective.

The ride takes approximately 1.5 hours and costs $28 (pay as you leave the bus), and its bus stop 2 from the Imabari bus station… which thankfully was in front of our hotel.

Here’s a short video taken through the window of the bus – yeah qualities a little dodgy but it helps to show perspective. It reminds me how amazing the ride was.. and we’ve now cycled this route four times – it truly is one of the best cycling routes of all time.

I’ll admit these photos are pretty average … but hey they were taken from the window of a bus.

Once we got off the bus.. thankfully we had enough time for a quick coffee before caching the Shinkansen.

Setoda to Imabari

Posted on by helenhmk

A great day was had cycling to Imabari. Weather was overcast, but limited wind.

Just before going over the bridge, I stopped at my favourite sign – wild boar!

The bridges along the Shimanami Kaido are a wonderous thing. The approaching angles are really good for cyclists… even if you don’t have a battery, if you can’t cycle there is always walking. At the first lookout point of the bridge we came another Brompton rider from Korea who had cycled from Fukuoka… wow! Then we headed over the bridge, with a brief stop to scare away the dragons and on to the Ehime prefecture.

We stopped at the Tatara Cyclist Station for one of the best views, mandarin drink while taking in the view.

Then we headed for an Italian lunch spot near shopping yard (you can get super close to the ships!)… which was super tasty. We then went on to have an ocean at a nearby spot…with many photo opportunities for the next bridge.

Here we’re are with our Bromptons waiting for the Brompton Lovers meeting…which is held in May (generally every year)… last year the had 222 Brompton owners. We would have a long wait so we continued…

.. more in part two!

Bridges of Ehime…

Posted on by kymdt

Yesterday we crossed six bridges.

1) The Tatara Ohashi Bridge which opened in 1999 and is 1480 metres long. It connects Ikuchijima with Omishima.

2) The Omishima Bridge which opened in 1979 and is only 328 metres long. It connects Omishima with Hakatajima.

3) The Hakata-Oshima bridge which opened in 1988 and is 1165 metres long. From its name you can tell that it connects the islands of Hakata and Oshima.

4-6) Finally the Kurushima Kaikyo Ohashi bridges which together are 4.15 kilometres long. They opened in 1999. They connect the islands of Ohshima, Mushijima, Umashima and Shikoku. We rode up a steep hill for 3.5 kilometres and withstood gale force winds to get you this photo. As we rode across the ropes of the bridge we’re being played like a violin by the strong wind!