Onomichi to Omishima (by bike, 57km): On our first day of cycling, we followed the Shimanami Kaido bike route across several islands, ending up on Omishima, where we stayed at Chaume Ryokan, a 150-year-old family-owned traditional inn. We visited a nearby public onsen, then returned for a vegetarian banquet-style dinner.
early morning foggy view across the channel |
when our hotel rooms had coffee, it was usually in the form of coffee bags like this one |
clip the bag over the cup using the little paper wings |
open the bag and pour hot water through it |
voila, coffee! it's a good system |
buffet-style breakfast at the hotel in Onomichi |
walk your bike |
self-portrait: ready to head out |
Dana: ready to ride |
leaving Onomichi with its hill and viewing platform |
Sarah, ready to ride |
i am in this picture and it is not entirely clear why |
Gina, ready to ride |
walking to the ferry |
Gina, on the ferry |
Sarah and David, on the ferry |
Mukaishima dock, from the ferry |
off the ferry, and ready to roll |
and we're off! |
Tom, David, Sarah, and Catherine, rolling |
sign for the Shimanami Expressway |
boats and bridges on Mukaishima |
riding by the water |
channel between Mukaishima and Iwashi |
looking west across the islands |
we're going to bike over this bridge! |
the road behind |
milling about |
additional milling about |
some neat leaves |
bike path climbing up to the bridge |
this is pretty cool, right? |
almost up to the bridge |
bridge signage for cyclists |
regrouping |
riding on the bridge! |
view from the bridge (partially obscured) |
closeup view from the bridge (very obscured) |
across the bridge on Innoshima, facing a descent |
pedestrian and bike lanes |
do not bicycle on these steps |
we stop for snacks at this park with a big dinosaur |
much teeth |
this waterslide is not in our itinerary |
toilet paper rolls, labelled by destination |
it's important to check out this children's book reading room while we're here |
page from a children's book |
the series is apparently about a girl named Mayu who has various adventures |
David, Tom, and Paul bike in front of round trees |
harbor on western Innoshima |
roofs of Innoshima |
climbing again |
now we are going to cross this bridge! |
map of the Ikuchi Bridge, in front of scenic view near the Ikuchi Bridge |
nice roof though |
David and Tom on a bike path |
locking our bikes at SOIL Setoda, where we stop for lunch |
building exterior with small trees |
some sort of food-related work |
shumai set lunch |
lamps at the restaurant |
we take a short walk after lunch to investigate these lemon chairs |
a small citrus-themed shrine |
a very pointy building, on Takaneshima Island |
view down the coast of Ikuchi |
on closer inspection, they're... lemon chairs |
bring your own socket wrench |
hazy view of a mysterious white tower across the sea |
we're rolling again |
third and final bridge of the day, leading to Omishima |
an actual lemon bush |
row of advertising banners on the climb to the bridge |
more giant lemons |
at the bridge! |
the ramp crossing under the bridge |
Gina and David at a gazebo |
wild boar crossing |
the group, on the Tatara Bridge bike lane |
view from the bridge |
four car lanes and two bike lanes; a nontrivial bridge |
my bike celebrates the bridge crossing in the arms of the Person Bike Stand |
looking back across the bridge |
Gina takes a brief nap |
Sarah and bicycle |
naturally-occurring bike path infrastructure stones |
explanation of the stone thing, with cute animal art |
coastline |
Imabari Shipbuilding |
more cyclists underway |
pointy trees |
a very small hatchback |
islands of the Seto Sea |
cartoon map of Omishima |
if you don't like your route, try this ladder |
an attractive snail |
the side road around Omishima, less busy (but no less hilly) than the main road |
mountains across the water |
ground oranges |
town in the mountains, on Omishima |
blue roofs and a cemetery |
I-beams |
entryway of our room at Chaume Ryokan |
a TV on a tatami mat |
the ryokan provided yukata and jackets, and a van ride to the town onsen (not pictured) |
due to a miscommunication, we all got vegetarian banquet dinner, which was amazing |
konjac steak with wasabi and mustard dipping sauce |
decorative eggplant plate |
time to light the soup |
eggplant and tofu |
fried tofu soup (i think) |
the tempura course |
noodles and lemon gelato |
a tile |
our dinner table |
decorative chopstick paper |
we ducked outside after dinner to light Shabbat candles |
origami crane in our room |
window in our room |
while we were at dinner, the ryokan staff setup futons in our room |