Brisbane to Kansai

You’re always expecting a bit of logistical pain at the beginning of a cycle tour.  Each time it's a familiar surprise how much effort is involved in getting the bikes broken down to fit in the airline box, transport to the airport with the ‘king huge boxes, oversized baggage check in, etc….  Today certainly lived up to expectations.

Exiting the terminal building and heading for the train station, the first thing we noticed is that it is much cooler than expected for late Spring.   First job was to find an out of the way spot to debox the bikes and pack them into the 'rinko' bags required to take them on Japanese trains.  Trains or buses are your only option to exit the island upon which Kansai Airport is located.  Behind the big sign outside the airport station in the breeze way, emphasis on breeze, looked to be the best option.  The cool, windy conditions prompted me to just throw the bikes into the bags as they came out of the boxes rather than reassembling handlebars and pedals.  With no provision to dispose of the bike boxes we opted to cut up the boxes into pieces small enough to fit in the regular burnable garbage bins.

The thing about a bicycle is that it transforms from the most elegant and efficient form of transport we’ve ever invented into the worst piece of luggage you can imagine once you remove a wheel.   Schlepping the bikes and panniers from the station to the hotel in a howling wind at 11 at night with the rinko bags acting like sails was not a joyful experience after a 9 hour flight.   I should have properly assembled the bikes at the airport so we could have at least rolled them to the hotel.

Stay and Eat

Hen na Hotel (Strange Hotel) was adequate for the job of an overnighter near the airport.   Automated check in with animatronic dinosaurs was more dramatic than effective.  I had the foresight to save the QR code to my phone knowing the portable wifi was being delivered to the hotel and available after check in.  When that failed and name lookup failed, I required assistance from someone from the Anthropocene anyway.

The included breakfast at the Henna Hotel was serviceable.