Unexpected Turns in My Japan Cycle Tour
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Loading ...Three days ago, I left my home to start my cycle tour of Japan. What was going to be my solo cycling trip is now accompanied by the round-the-world cyclist, Alvaro “Biciclown” Neil, whom we have hosted at our family’s home (see this post if you haven’t yet) after his arrival from China. The timing has been perfect as he was heading to Hokkaido as well, and I am so fortunate to have an expert teammate, who’s also a clown. Life is so unexpected and crazy.
I’m getting used to cycling long distance, and I have been enjoying the beautiful weather that has blessed my start. Up till now, I have been exhausted with cycling and the nervousness which gave me such stomach pain for the three to four days prior to my start. I couldn’t sleep well the night before my start, and then the first night, and then the second night, which delayed my first blog from the road.
This whole cycling trip is such a new routine to me that trying to locate where things are in my bike panniers have been a complete comedy show if you were watching me from aside. The first bike mechanic problem happened 15km after I left home, and locating the repair material from the pannier was the first time I had to scramble.
I know I packed, unpacked, and repeated it so many times. But the nervousness of my mind for this trip completely wiped my memory of where things were, just like when you stand in front of a big audience for a speech. I was laughing every time I had to find something, and my new mantra became, “Where the heck is it?”
There are lots I want to talk about from my first two days, but I’ll post more about that on another day.
We headed south to Kumamoto, and yesterday at a lunch stop in the noodle place in Amakusa, I saw the news of the earthquake soon after it had happened. The report was still early, but I saw the tsunami swallowing Sendai Airport on live TV. I could not believe my eyes, and took me a while to place an order even though I was really hungry from cycling. As we cycled off around 5pm, I could hear the city hall of Amakusa, announcing on the outdoor speakers which can be heard from all over town. “Please get your fishing equipment off the coast. There is a tsunami warning for 7pm.”
Amakusa is a small island, very well known for its seafood such as octopus and shrimps (above was my brunch between my cycling), and also onsen (hot spring spa). Many people make their living from fishing, and it is surrounded by the water of Ariake Sea. The alarming announcement of the speakers was repeated over and over again loudly, which echoed in the hills full of trees where we were cycling. The effect of tsunami should be quite small in this particular part of south western part of Japan, but they were taking extra cautions.
So many great things have happened already in my first three days on my trip, and I will write all about it, but for now, I must go to sleep and get the much needed sleep. I am so exhausted from climbing the hills and not having slept well, and so sad and tired from crying as I ate my dinner, watching the horrific images on the news.
It’s just started raining outside a minute ago like the whole world mourning for the earthquake victims in Japan. I must keep myself positive, and keep on going.
About the Author: Sachi
