#TDAIHJ Day 42 Motobu to Ada

Wednesday 12 November (Okinawa island)

Strava Flyover Virtual Summary https://strava.app.link/O3tAByDzeYb (It’s cool – worth checking out)

By the morning the weather forecast had improved slightly. I had decided to ride, subject to the information/advice to be provided at the Rider’s Briefing (as the previous day was a rest day, the Rider’s Briefing was held in this morning rather than yesterday afternoon). The TDA team had planned for various contingencies including hiring an extra van to transport the increased number of those riders who did not want to ride today i.e. due to the wind and rain. Around 7 riders chose not to ride at all and a few others rode half a day.

NB Apparently there had been a minor earthquake in Amami-Oshima island after we departed.

Weather wise the concern was more for the potential for very strong winds, exacerbated by even stronger wind gusts. So at the end of the briefing I announced: “I am going to be riding naked today!” and then clarified “That is without the sun brim on my helmet”. Much laughter followed by joking dismay, “but how will we know who you are?” 

It rained on and off throughout the day. More on than off. Light to heavy rain.

After a while I was as wet as I was going to be. Rain jacket served more to keep warm than dry. Despite shoes covers, the shoes soaked through after a while. However heavier downpours were short lived and there were enough periods with no or very light rain to provide some relief.

The day’s route included a detour to circumnavigate (5km) Kouri Island. A tourist destination (Okinawa’s “Love Island”). The riding notes and tourist information extolled its many coffee shops/cafes with the option of eating an ice cream whilst taking in the fine sand beaches and crystal clear azure sea.

Just before leaving the island I was passed by Soren, Nina, Charlene, Peter, Boaz and Jeff(?) – who unlike me had stopped for coffee. Henry and Lorna (the Sweep for the morning) were just entering. “Hey speedy!” said Lorna – surprised to see me further ahead of the sweep than usual.

After lunch came the one substantial climb of the day, gaining ~350 metres over ~7km with an average gradient of 5% but peaking above 10% at times. All always took it slow ~1hr. Nonetheless, having had an easy day (in terms of climbing) of it so far, the legs took a while to adjust to the increased demand. However, as always as soon as you are cruising on the descent all that tiredness magically dissipates and you convince yourself you feel great and could ride for much longer.

Whilst we had had many better riding days, it wasn’t the worst riding day on the trip so far. Aside from the rain, the temperature was warm; we were mostly sheltered from the wind; and most of the riding terrain was easy (comparatively flat). It would have been a great route if the weather was fine.

The hot shower was appreciated more than usual. Then onto the drying of riding shoes and airing of the various wet riding accessories (the bike bag is shower proof not water proof i.e. eventually the contents get damp unless placed in plastic bags within the bike bag).

At the afternoon Rider’s Briefing, most people indicated that they would be riding tomorrow i.e. those that didn’t ride today would resume due to improved weather forecast. It was also announced that as for dinner i.e. due to the size of the group and the limited hotel restaurant capacity, breakfast tomorrow would be in two shifts. I asked if the slower riders could be allocated the earlier shift.