kyushu2018 ⁽¹⁰⁾

The short run up to Kagoshima hugs the coastline and has no elevation gain to speak of.  Leaving the hotel you round the headland and roll on bikeways and footpaths under blue skies and overlooking azure waters.  From the outskirts of Kagoshima there is a…

The route for the day is coast to coast with a short climb to Chiran, continuing to climb over the range with a steep descent down to the coast and a flat run into Ibusuki. The stop at Chiran is early in terms of distance…

The valley climbing up and away from Satsumanosato ryokan is a picture of bucolic tranquillity.  Misty mountains provide the backdrop to rice drying on traditional racks.  The climb is a little bit steeper than ideal but plenty manageable.  A second small climb is the last…

I was unable to find a way South out of Hitoyoshi that was safe for cycling.  Route 267 has a 4.5km long tunnel section that is very narrow with no pedestrian or bicycle access.  Route 221 was too far out of our way and also…

This day was the longest and easily the best cycling leg of the tour.  A short jump through suburban streets gives way to once again riding farm roads through crops of rice ready for the harvest and being harvested.  Reaching the Kumagawa River we turned…