Wednesday 05 November (Kyushu island to Amami Ōshima island)
After breakfast I had to prepare for the different phases of the coming 24+ hours. Separate and pack what I would need for (1) during the day up until we caught the ferry late afternoon; (2) the overnight stay on the ferry; and (3) riding clothing and accessories for the following day’s ride.
Used the spare time for sorting out notes and photographs etc. for the blog posts.
Just before 11:00 I dropped off my main bag, stored the stuff I wouldn’t need until we got onto the ferry and checked out of the hotel. As I was making my way out through the lobby I came across Padraig so we joined up for a mix of retail window and actual shopping at a nearby mall. Including reconnaissance for evening/overnight food supplies to buy later in the afternoon. Plus towel for shower on boat and items from pharmacy (sea sickness tablets just in case). Neither of which were needed/used. But also just browsing and getting an idea of the range and price of goods etc.
I stayed on to do more blogging and had spaghetti for lunch. After lunch, I went for a wander not sure what to do but shortly came across a hair saloon within the mall.
Before being seated, there was a cupboard in front of the chair to place one’s bag/belongings. On the ledge in front of the mirror there was a box for storing one’s glasses. Two other differences noted from the standard Australian experience: (1) They offered you your glasses before using a mirror to show you the rear view of the haircut. Often in Australia they just put the mirror up without thinking that the glasses you wear might be required for you to clearly see the image in the mirror; and (2) In addition to using a hair dryer to blow away the cut hair, they also had a vacuum hose the suck up any remaining loose hair fibres from your head and shoulders. I think this is what was translated for Step 3 as “Washer cleanly sucks up chips”. The vacuum device was also used to shape the hair style. Finally they provided a moist cloth to wipe face and neck at the end.
Final tasks of the day before going back to the hotel to get the bus (departing 4pm) to the ferry terminal was to pick up food supplies from the supermarket. Nearly left one of my overnight bags at the hotel. Then worried where did I put my cycling shoes – false alarm. Such are the days when the normal routine is disrupted.
Note bike racks on the back.
(Corrine and Rod closest to camera and then Frank and Catherine)
This was requested by TDA so the bikes would come off sooner on arrival.
There was Intermittent mobile connection i.e. brief periods. So spent most of the time reading before an early night.