#TDAIHJ Day 33 (Yakushima) Onoma to Miyanoura

Posted on by Mustbesomethingbro

Monday 03 November (Yakushima island)

Strava Flyover 3D Virtual Summary: https://strava.app.link/WzU1pLLS0Xb. If you haven’t already I highly recommend checking out these Strava links – worth signing up for free account to watch them.

The view from the hotel augured well for the day’s ride.

Today was probably the most enjoyable day’s riding of the tour so far. This was due to a number of factors on the day, including :

  • Perfect temperature ~19-20C
  • Sunny
  • Good smooth wide roads for the most part
  • Along the coast – seeing the blue of the sea and hearing the waves
  • But still flashes of greenery 
  • Wildlife (lots): Monkeys and deer
  • Very manageable distance – completed ride by 14:00, with time for an ice cream before final km to hotel
  • Most climbs very modest i.e. the elevation gain was spread out over more kms.

And enhanced by the context in which it took place, including:

  • Good level of fitness developed over the preceding 4+ weeks
  • Coming after a rest day
  • We have had much tougher days to compare it with i.e. longer distances, and/or more demanding climbs, and/or less comfortable weather.
Gliding down the hotel driveway. Just a sample of its 1.6km length.

I rode with Padraig for nearly all of the day with short periods with some of the other usual suspects bringing up the rear, including Henry and Brian, amongst others.

If Padraig said it once he said it a hundred times: “What a beautiful day!”.
No disputing that.
When we couldn’t see the sea we had flowers instead.
More sandy beaches on view than previous coastal rides
Tenacious tree roots #1
Courtesy of Boaz.
Whenever I noticed Boaz had stopped to take a photograph I did likewise as he always has a good eye for such things.
A combined boat and house!
Sanctioned Detour #1 – Waterfall.
(Courtesy of Padraig)
Brian summing up his approach.
Brian and Henry poised watching the monkeys and deer in the distance.
We were shortly after joined by Paidrag and the four of us took a few minutes to appreciate what was on offer.
If you look hard enough /zoom in, there is a deer in there somewhere.
Aside from the monkeys who often viewed us with dismissive disdain, you can see a deer heading up into the foliage on the right.
Tenacious Tree Roots #2
Sanctioned Detour #2 – Lighthouse.
It was Lorna’s last substantive turn as the “sweep” (staff member riding at the rear) so Padraig and myself obliged by prolonging the time it took to complete the pre-lunch section of the day’s ride.
Our “payment” to see the lighthouse was the climb on the way out!
The bike have a rest at lunch
An unusual sight in Japan i.e. something being locked up.
In contrast, for example, most stores you can exit without going near the checkout counters.
Beach at lunch spot
Light at the end of a very short tunnel – the only one of the day.
Just cruising.
https://videopress.com/v/1O6z6ugM?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true
Isso Beach – Nice except for loud 🎹🎸🥁
More cruising – into Miyanoura (our destination)
Making a great day even better #1
An indulgence whilst waiting for check-in time at the hotel
Making a great day even better #2 (Iced Coffee)
Traditional style accommodation requires shoes off before entering the rooms. Shoes below the step stay below and slippers above stay above. Separate slippers for the toilet i.e. which stay in the toilet.
Problem was that most slippers provided were too small for me.
Sharing with Boaz.
Moved to the top roommate ranking after he made up my bed in the evening
Room View
Starting position for dinner
(L to R) Coby, Debbie and Jay, and Frank.
Succumbed to peer pressure 😀

7 thoughts on “#TDAIHJ Day 33 (Yakushima) Onoma to Miyanoura”


  1. What a fantastic looking day 🙂 you are looking fit and happy too xx

    Reply


  5. I don’t know why but I didn’t think the beaches woudl be as pretty as they were, pity about the loudness.


    I love lighthouse pics and visiting them. The clouds were beautiful.


    Thanks Steve

    Reply

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