From Nagasaki, Kyushu to Shikoku

The path I took leaving Nagasaki and heading to see a few of the temples in Shikoku, turned out to be more of a cycling adventure than a sightseeing one.

I cycled through picturesque views, had a few rainy days and took some nice pictures.
The entire album is here (https://photos.app.goo.gl/pr2jE2dmr89FKvAA8)
A sample of pics:
Pupils of all ages have uniforms (pants for boys, skirts for girls & shirt).
Primary school kids have a hat too!

I saw from a distance people in the sea. As I approached, I saw it was teenagers having fun in the mud. Most of the teachers were not...

A teacher came over. She spoke English (!!!!). She told me that they are from Kyoto on a school trip.

Jeffrey Emanuel - Nagasaki

The only reason I visited Nagasaki is because my father, daddy as I used to call him, was in Nagasaki half a year after the bomb. He must have been 22 at the time.

My father, who circled the world as a radio operator in the British Royal Navy during WWII, was in Hong Kong and was sent with his friends to see the devastation.

They took just a few pictures.

My father is on the bottom left.
By coincidence, the one on the left of the top row was a cousin of my mother (long before my parents met).

And here what it looks like today.

I miss my daddy.

Bamboo

It was so nice to see, for the first time, bamboo growing in nature. The dense forest area was a very pretty sight.

I have been building bicycle frames, from time to time, in the padst six years, and have been cycling on my bamboo bikes with such joy and passion, that being here, In Japan, face to face, bamboo bike and bamboo forest, was a special moment for me.

Kagoshima, heading towards Nakasaki

I was on my way to a bicycle shop that also handles mountain bikes (there really are no mountain riders or professional mountain bikes here).

Along the way, I saw an entrance to the temple. The first manned temple I had reached. The Buddhist priest, Takahisa, showed me the place and showed me how to wash my hands with the special ladle and how to bow to the gods.
He asked for and received a small contribution. He said the gods were happy.

see also:
https://photos.app.googl/o577dPYboZnSTnh83

After a rainy night in a tent in the parking lot of a park with amusement facilities (including mini golf for adults), I woke up and left (by the way, the parking lot that had toilets and an electrical outlet).

I rode for about two hours and saw a symbol of "Onsen." Onsen is a bathhouse with warm spring water. In the past bathing was for men and women together. These days, due to influence of the West, I have read, bathing is separate.

When one enters the bathing area there is a dressing. Usually one is supplied with a small towel that is not to be used on one's face but for washing the body. However, on this location, this towel was not provided. In the bathroom there are shower on one side of the room and on the other side, a small pool. Hot water runs into the pol on one side and flows out on the other (ie there is constant water change). There was one other bather.

So after I had spent about two hours in the rain, it was fun to splash in the hot water.

Amami

Amami is a relatively large island with higher mountains than the previous islands I visited. On the northern side there is the main town, Naze, while the rest of the island has small villages spread apart.

I cycled up the forest covered mountains without seeing a soul all day. Since the Rainy Season, the one between spring and summer here in Japan begun, I cycled all day in the rain. The land is volcanic here, so there was no disabilitating mud.

Towards evening I reached a small village and had a nice traditional dinner. The woman who pointed me to the restaurant was kind enough to show me to her nephew’s lodge, so I also got a good night’s sleep.

Anyhow, this island hopping has come to an end. I will hit the mainland in Kagoshima, a 12 hour ferry. Luckily ferries have sleeping areas.

Wadomari and Tokunoshima

These two islands are less populated than the previous ones which gave me a chance to go mountain biking. Typically, I prefer off-road cycling, but so far most paths are paved. Nevertheless, I had a great time crossing over the green hills and valleys of these beautiful islands.

Wadomari

I ran into a museum that displayed agriculture and local traditions. Amazing!

Tokunoshima

This is the story of a Canadian ship that was wrecked and the locals helped the survivors who made it home to Canada.

And in a small café the was a small room to commemorate this WWII war ship...

Yoron

This huge ferry pulls over and out come people, cars, motorbikes and containers. Moments later a new bunch, including me and my bamboo bicycle do the reverse.

Yoron is less densely populated and more agricultural than Okinawa.

I got to see my first shrine here. Attached to the shrine, there is a gift shop.

Later on, I ran into an outdoor museum displaying the old way of living in Yoron (Pre WWII).  Gift Shop was pretty modern as far as tourist traps go.

Food is always a major part of my journeys as I get to meet people. Japan is short on English speaking people, but a tourist from Tokyo and I had a very nice conversation (at his request, no identifying details). Anyhow, he recommended the Japanese style motel (common facilities and bare minimum bedrooms).

The next day I visited the caves he told me about, and cycled back to the port.