Saturday 01 November (Kyushu island to Yakushima island)
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so as to have plenty of time to catch the ferry.
Part A: Kagoshima to Onoma (Yakushima) – Miyanoura Port.
I assume that there is a way to reclassify the trip as a ferry ride.😀
Strava Flyover virtual summary: https://strava.app.link/LUxL18I9WXb
Perhaps the reason for the ferry operators having it on was that the Dodgers team featured a very famous Japanese player (Yamamoto) – who has won games with both ball and bat. Dodgers won, so playoff goes to Game 7
Perhaps taking advantage of the updraft caused by the strong winds striking the side of the boat as well as stirring up the fish?
Part B : Onoma (Yakushima) – Miyanoura Port to Yakushima Iwasaki Hotel.
Strava Flyover virtual summary: https://strava.app.link/fvu5e1O9WXb
Fine weather greeted us on arrival i.e. pleasant temp no rain though very windy at times. The lack of rain was most fortunate given that “Precipitation is extremely heavy, with at least 250 millimetres (9.8 in) in each month and as much as 773 millimetres (30.4 in) in June alone. Yakushima is Japan’s wettest place,[16] and annual precipitation there is one of the world’s highest, at 4,000 to 10,000 mm (160 to 390 in). There are drier periods in autumn and winter, ..” NB We are in autumn.
It was a short 10km ride to lunch – added by tailwind and often the short downhill runs providing enough momentum to make the following uphill easy.
Rode with Padraig for the first half post lunch. Mixed in with Dan, Ralph, Rita at times.
~33km post lunch with lots of ups and downs – mostly short and not too steep but still stretches of 10-12%. Legs felt the climbs at time i.e. the less you do the less you want to do.
Note the banana plants on the upper left – foliage noticeable more tropical
Yesterday there had been the clicking/ticking noise on and off throughout the day – quite loud at times. Today it was gone – perhaps washed away by the rain.
Sharing with Dan.
At the request of the hotel we had had to indicate several weeks in advance of our arrival if we wanted dinner. And if so choose either the French or Japanese option for either or both of the two nights. For the first night I chose the French.
The meal was expensive for Japan (~ AUD $85) but very high quality i.e. fine dining – well paced between courses. I ate with Tony and Jeff. Both of them and others were very impressed. Exquisite was one of the descriptors.
Well done Stephen. Some great scenery and your meals are certainly high class.
The quality of the accomodation and food has been very good. The scenery speaks for itself.
You have become a ferry officinado
Yes becoming a bit of an expert on Japanese ferries – more ferry trips to come
Hi Steve,I have been conscious that I have not responded to any of your interesting blogs despite reading them as they appear. I do apologise. I had visitors throughout October as part celebration of my birthday and 21st anniversary of Rick’s passing.It looks like you have been looked after well by the group. I can imagine your fitness level getting better as the tour progresses. What a great way to see the country side that the usual tourists may not experience. Love the scenery and the food, though I love my Thai food….gourmet that my heavenly neighbours dish out to me at least twice a week. 🤣. I am off to a Melbourne Cup luncheon today as part of our hospital foundation fund raising. Looking forward to the variety of extravaganza in fashion and the food so I had better get organised for the occasion. Enjoy the rest of your tour (which you no doubt will). Stay out of trouble.Thanks for your regular updates and I do apologise for my tardiness. Kind regardsHahineSent from my Galaxy