Day 67: Cape Sata!

Sunday, August 30, 2009

  We made it!  It took us 67 days to ride our bikes the length of mainland Japan: almost 3,000 miles from Cape Soya, the northern most point of Hokkaido, to Cape Sata, the southern most point of Kyushu. 

We slept last night in a small hotel in Minami Osumi, about 22 miles away from Cape Sata.  We started riding at 8:30am and enjoyed stunning ocean views as we pedaled up and down the challenging coastal road.  It was a sunny day, 90 degrees, and we were drenched with sweat when we reached the cape.  Akira Saito, a friend we made in Hokkaido, rode with us and took the attached picture.

Sho was nonchalant about the whole thing.  As we stared out over the beautiful, sparkling ocean from the cape, I asked him if it had been hard to bike across Japan.  He shuffled his feet and said, “Kinda.”

We’ll take a train back to Tokyo on Sep 1 to be reunited with my wife Eiko and 2-year old daughter Saya, and return to NYC on Sep 5.  It’s been a great adventure!

Day 66: Kushima to Minami Osumi

Saturday, August 29, 2009

  Biked 70km (43 miles) from Kushima to Minami Osumi with our cycling buddy Saito-san.  Stopped at the Kanoya Air Base Museum, which includes a collection of photos of the 800+ kamikaze pilots who took off from Kanoya during WW II.  The collection of final farewell letters to their families is moving and a sad reminder of the insanity of war.

Day 65: Miyazaki to Kushima

Friday, August 28, 2009

Sho and I biked with Saito-san 90km (56 miles) from Miyazaki to Kushima, taking side trips to beautiful oceanside shrines in Aoshima and Udo Jingu.

Day 64: Hyuga to Miyazaki

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Sho and I biked with Saito-san 70km (44 miles) from Hyuga to Miyazaki.

Day 63: Saiki to Hyuga

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Biked 85km (53 miles) from Saiki to Hyuga with Saito-san. Hilly ride through some beautiful mountains. Sunny, 85 degrees.

Day 62: Beppu to Saiki

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Rode 80km (50 miles) from Beppu to Saiki with Saito-san.

Day 61: Taketazu to Beppu

Monday, August 24, 2009

Rode 80km (50 miles) from Taketazu to Beppu with Saito-san. Stayed in a ryoukan traditional Japanese inn with a great onsen bath.