• Kerrie PalamountainJapan via Kuala LumpurTraveler
    Ryu met us at our hotel ready for our last ride
    3The Shimanami Kaido track done!1More glorious scenery2Imibari was the largest ship building centre in the world.5At a cafe you put in money, press your choice then give the docket to the barrista!37Listen to Ryu and you'll see why we love Guides!6Lunch today - a shot of banana, spinach & apple juiceLunch EntreeMain courseJapanese are obviously expert ship builders5A little family winery we visited at Ominishima2Manju - cake filled with sweet white bean mixture3Oyamazumi ShrineRice grown at the Oyamazumi Shrine for the Emperor4Camphor tree 3000 years old3On arrival back to WAKKA, we are given cold tea and very cold face washers! Beautiful!1View from our WAKKA Hotel roonA BBQ being prepared outside our room3Always salad (and wine) first!Our entree of salad with fresh figsWagu beef, chicken & prawns with vegetables2We did the cooking4Dessert - sorbet, icecream & fruit

    Imibari back to Omishima (end of bike to

    September 18 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 25 °C

    It rained overnight and this morning we had perfect conditions for riding. Ryu met us at 0900 and we said goodbye to Imibari (island of Shikoku).
    Imibari is one end of the Shimanami Kaido bike track so we had to have the obligatory photo to mark this occasion!
    We crossed a huge suspension bridge (biggest in the world) onto the island of Oshima, which is famous for granite mining (reminds us of home!) On the other side of Oshima we saw the Murakami pirate strongholds during the 1400 - 1600's. Have a listen to Ryu's description of this area - he explains it so well!
    Over the bridge onto Hakatajima Island. We had another delightful lunch at a cafe booked by Ryu. He then took us to a family run winery at Ominishima and the famous Oyamazumi Shrine built in 600 AD. This is a Shintu Shrine where Samurai warriors came prior to wars to seek help from their Gods and after wars to give thanks if they were successful.
    Back to WAKKA having had a marvellous 5 days of cycling. How good was it? Well, I (Kerrie) rarely cry, however, when we said goodbye to Ryu, I cried! Roger felt the same!
    We were then treated to a Japanese BBQ cooked just outside our accommodation. It was fabulous, something we will not forget.
    Tomorrow we go by bus to Fukushima and then by Shinkansen to Hiroshima. The Japanese Adventure continues!    Read more