Japan Day 25 - A Sprint To Kyoto!

Even the double layered heavy drapes of the Toyoko Inn Takamatsu couldn't keep the sun out this morning.

Days are more productive this way when cycling. Still, sister and I can't shake out bad habits. When camping outside, we've packed our tent and bags, checked out bikes, eat a breakfast, brushed teeth, and ready to cycle by 8:30 or 9:00. In the comfort of Toyoko Inns, we barely escape our room by the 10:00 check out call. 

We know we had to make up for yesterday's loss, so we tried not to lolly-gag. You might guess we were successful. And in a way, we were.

Misfortune struck half way into a good day of cycling. We were eating up km's, going up and down hills along the final coast line leading into Naruto, when big sister's right knee started to give her enough pain that warranted a good stop. 

Now my friend Rajiv once said that if you don't have these every once and a while, you're doing something wrong. Your not pushing yourself, your not growing. Sure. That or you are peddling incorrectly. A shortcoming that's I have seen much of in all parts of Asia. One might wear the newest and sleekest Specialized spandex, but if the technique is off, your inbound for a hurting and ultimately less effective cycling. 

Not the case with sis. We believe that she sprained a muscle going up too hard, or maybe from all the stoping and going of city traffic remedied by shifting down as you stop to trigger an easier gear to start after the green light.

All said and done, it still hurts and we are contemplating a bus to Kyoto after reaching Wakayama.

Part of out later departures is due to the fact that we take full advantage of the free all you can eat breakfasts! Every hotel city is a variation, all come with miso, salad, coffee, and rice.

More udon. We've traversed the "udon kingdom" for over a week and have sampled more than a few different preparations (cold udon, get ready). Still, I do no tire of these tasty noodles or their garnishes. 

My feet taking rest in the back alley of a 7-11.

One of the breaks we took along the way - tide pools! We've enjoyed these since our youthly youth and continue to today.

Some sea side art.

Yours truly about 30 km out from Naruto.

It was a bit tricky coming down to see these pools. Not that it would have stopped us if it had been any worse.

You're arms are invaluable when balancing the slippery stones of low tide water marks.

Critter of the sea.

What species is this? Looks to be of the losers-weepers kingdom, family finders-keepers.

Gabi's knee is still hurt, so were taking it slow. Made it Tokuyama, the port town where we will catch the ferry over to Wakayama. From there it is about 145km to Kyoto, by passing Osaka with as few mountains as possible. 

We missed the ferry by fifteen minutes! Ahhh, oh well. We will sleep under a bridge tonight, vanguarded by tall shrubs and a side of the public toilet stall along a very popular running track that edges one side of the river flowing into the sea. At least, no wild animals to disturb us. Yakotori for dinner, my belly is stuffed which makes for a fine nights rest.

"As a well spent day brings happy sleep, so life well used brings happy death." 

-Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519).

Love,

-A