After adventuring in the mountains of Oita, I headed to Beppu City to catch a ferry to Shikoku. The ride down from Yufu-dake into central Beppu was nearly 10km of downhill bliss. It was incredible.
Beppu is famous as a hot spring town. My first stop was Umi Jigoku (Sea Hell) to see the famous "hells."
There are several types of "hells," but I didn't have enough time to visit them all, so I just checked this one out. The cobalt blue color of the hot spring is apparently caused by natural mineral deposits. It’s so beautiful that it doesn't feel like a "hell" at all! (lol)
Unlike Yufuin, which is lined with tourist shops, Beppu had many small, family-run hot springs and eateries. There were so many places that felt like time had stood still.
Then, after about two hours on the ferry, I finally landed in Shikoku. Since I didn't have to disassemble my bike like I would on a train, it was a breeze.
I arrived in Yawatahama City, Ehime Prefecture. "Yawatahama Champon" is famous there, and being famished, I immediately ducked into a noodle shop. The owner was incredibly kind when I told him I was on a trip; he went out of his way to help me find a place to pitch my tent nearby. My heart was warmed the moment I entered Shikoku. I was so happy.
And so, my Shikoku ride began. I've ridden alongside the ocean many times before, but the Seto Inland Sea I saw in Shikoku was the most beautiful of all.
I never get tired of looking at the sea. Its expression and colors change depending on the day and time of day. Riding along, I can't help but feel a sense of liberation.
At roadside stations, you can always enjoy local specialties; in Ehime, that’s "jakoten" (fried fish cake). I had it along with some udon.
I’ve traveled through so many landscapes and traversed vast lands. It’s simple, but I deeply feel that I had been living in such a small world.
There are so many places where you can use your five senses in nature, move your body, and feel such joy just by pedaling. Perhaps there are still many hidden gems even in the place where I live. It’s surely important to go out and find these wonderful places for yourself.
And above all, good health is everything.
Believing that I will be able to keep riding my bike for the rest of my life.
I’m going to enjoy this final leg of my journey to the fullest.