Japan Exodus - Day 5: Shikoku Frost

Good morning! It's a great day to wake up in the Shikoku mountains, there's nothing like it! Sure, it's cold, but we had cover. It rained a bit last night and there was a frost warning. But we campy off the grass and under some cover to avoid any frostbite. A local market provided everything we needed, including in the morning. We waited around and had breakfast here too.

Our sleeping pad for the night. A little cramped, but we made sure to leave enough room for anyone to walk by and use the restrooms we camped next too (all our stuff is usually inside our tents).

Continuing up the mountain range, we actually came across a lot of waterfalls. This was a really neat one because of all the brakes in its path down.

Me goofing off.

My bike in symmetry.

A scary rock tunnel not lined with cement braces or reinforced steel support beams. This was an old timey tunnel, the kind that simply chipped away at until you reached the other end.

If you can't image the kind of mountains we are crossing, go take a look at a topographical map of Shikoku. This terrain is nothing to sneeze at. We are tiney-tiny by comparison. As a matter of challenge, can you spot Kyle?

Don't confuse 16% slope with a 16° slope, they aren't the same. Truly, a photo cannot give you the correct impression of just how steep this hill remains. Did I mention we were going UP this monster?! As soon as I cycled up it, I cursed at it. (I think you see Kyle here misinterpreting my foul-mouthed cursing as chants of inspiration).

We kept cycling and cycling up what we made out to be the easier route yet it was anything but. As we looked down, we witnessed serene river scapes.

But as looked up, we could not ignore the approaching frost line. Yup, there be snow in them ther mountains.

I couldn't tell you it was our effort to climb up past the frost line. Up in the Shikoku snow that we were not prepared for, we at last found the overpass through the top of the mountain we were hoping for. It came in the form of a tunnel, and you'll have to remind me about the quirkiest Japanese grandmother Jojobas witness I've ever met in my life. She was a character!

(Side note: Kyle took a photo with his camera. I assume we'll exchange trip photos after he gets back into his town, and I'll update all of those for you).

So, one really cool thing about mountainous Japan is that the more up you go, there is an equal increase in frequency of onsens. There was one not too far were we wanted to camp. So, we scuffled together some clean clothes, took a well needed onsen dip, got drunk and watched some Japanese high school baseball, ate curry, pushed our bikes up the last hill (as to avoid accumulating any unwanted stress only just melted away from the onsen), rolled them down the other side, and set up camp at an out of the way park next to a river and under the budding Sakura trees.

Very Japanese. This is the view from inside the restaurant provided by the onsen. Not at all bad.

Well, that's it. We've pitched our tents and couldn't hardly say goodnight before falling into a deep sleep. It's late, it's very cold despite no longer camping the mountains, and I'm almost out of battery. But hey, there are worst things to complain about, I'm riding my f*#king bike through Japan.

Love,
-A