Hagi to Yoshika (by bike, 88km): today was the long day of riding, We got up early, and went up the first of two climbs. Along the way, we stopped at the Unrinji cat temple, then descended into Tsuwano for a soba lunch. The afternoon brought another climb and descent, and then a 16km race to reach our hotel at Yoshika before darkness.
morning ocean view from our hotel |
geometric breakwater, mostly submerged |
one more photo of the shells Gina found yesterday, which are unlikely to make the trip home |
the green peninsula with the Hagi Castle ruins |
another banquet-style breakfast |
the fish was great, but, honestly, i was most excited about the coffee |
a decorative screen at the hotel |
Paul, Dana, and Sarah, getting ready to get underway |
Tom and David, ready to roll |
i'm not convinced this is Texas, but it's a good try |
crossing the Matsumoto River on the way out of Hagi |
Daihatsu! |
art on a bridge railing |
trees growing in an avalanche barrier |
mountains reflected in flooded fields |
riders on the road |
a stadium or park or public art or something |
frog |
Mutsumi Village manhole cover |
a statue of a cat with a smaller cat on its head |
five little cats |
taking a step back: we stopped at Unrinji, the cat temple |
statue of a cat |
a wooden cat wearing a disguise |
an actual cat being pet |
cats guarding a bell |
cat prayer tiles |
cats dressed in cloths |
cats in costume |
an owl on top of the bell knocker |
one of a set of drawings illustrating the story of Motofusa Nagai's cat |
here is the cat sitting in front of Motofusa's grave |
these cats are clocks |
the box is labelled 'cat call switch', and i could not begin to tell you what the connotations of the corresponding Japanese phrase are |
this cat is a mermaid. good idea? unclear |
this cat is a many-tentacled nautilus |
orchestra of small cats |
cat skeleton |
ceramic cats |
a full bookshelf of cat-related manga |
origins of visitors to the cat temple |
i am wearing a cat helmet |
Gina and i are both in cat helmets |
Lilliputian cats approach Cat-Gulliver |
an actual cat on the actual street |
transport on the back of a giant cat |
on the road again: looking inside a greenhouse planted with grass |
looking along the outside of the greenhouse |
huh, seems like there's a giant swing here |
definitely we are going to bike over to the giant swing |
David and Gina, strategizing |
Gina has won the coin toss |
Gina, on the swing |
Gina, swinging |
Also there is some scenery |
back on the road, we have to walk up some more hills |
a waterfall in a stream by the roadside |
no hands! |
Gina, exiting a tunnel |
bike directional markers: to Tsuwano |
flooded fields and mountains |
Gina and David on the road ahead |
a house in a valley behind flooded fields |
flooded fields and farm roads along the valley |
low tunnel |
a striking mountain: half green and half green |
the road through the valley |
more competing trees behind a row of houses |
at our lunch stop, another large wasps' nest |
a statue in Tsuwano |
flowers at a shrine |
straight trees past a roadside cemetary |
we've started our afternoon climb |
the road goes under a torii gate |
it's hilly here |
town in the mountains (Machida?) |
closeup of town, with at least one very shiny roof |
the road behind |
my bike, enjoying another view |
a stream by the roadside |
a brief love letter to kickstands |
our route had frequent sightings of these fuzzy centipedes valiantly trying to cross the road |
riders underway |
what happened to that section of trees? very unclear |
looking down at more houses |
a leafy plant on the hillside |
many straight trees |
like, lots of trees |
Sarah walks up a hill looking at the trees |
Paul circling in front of the tunnel at the top of the climb |
looking down at a road on the descent |
many assorted trees |
road and mountains |
attractive rock-lined river visible from the last couple of hours of our trip |
building on top of a mountain |
river, town, mountain, building |
waiting for the signal on a one-lane road |
road and mountains |
road and mountains behind as we get closer to Yoshika |
road and mountains ahead |
greenhouse with plants |
rotary with flowers |
Paul at the front door of Yurara Hotel, where we have arrived |
our bikes parked at the hotel |
beginning of another banquet dinner |
sushi appetizer course |
fish and fried-things course |
bamboo and sakura course |
egg custard with tiny shrimps |
pork and onions with peanut sauce |
rice course |
mousse dessert course |
yellow catbus cross-stitch |
decorations at Yurara Hotel |