Although we were worried about rain last Sunday, we went ahead and held our Girls Ride.
This ride was organized as a prelude to the GIRLS RIDEALIVE in Hokkaido, and a total of 8 people—some participating in the Hokkaido event and some not—joined us to take on the Ninose Pass, located between Kaizu City in Gifu Prefecture and Inabe City in Mie Prefecture.
Here is the route we took.
First, we traveled by train with our bikes from Nagoya Station to Kuwana Station. Even though we were a large group, it was early in the morning so the train was empty and the trip went smoothly. The stretch from Kuwana Station to the foot of Ninose Pass is flat with few traffic lights, making it very easy to ride, so we enjoyed a relaxed pace while watching the Yoro Railway, which also offers cycle-train services.
Then, it was finally time to tackle the Ninose Pass. As it was an uphill climb, everyone made their way to the summit at their own pace.
During the climb, we took a break at a natural spring we found along the way. While there was no sun, it was cloudy, making the humidity high and the heat feel quite muggy. We cooled down by pouring water over our heads and using chilled towels. We acted like children, splashing water on each other, saying things like "Let me join in too!"
We then ate the snacks that Atchan from Alive had prepared for this ride. Now that we were refreshed, it was time for the final sprint!
The moment we reached the summit, there were shouts of "Yes! We made it!" Seeing everyone's smiles after completing the climb was wonderful.
After resting a bit at the top, we descended the Ninose Pass and washed away the day's sweat at Ageki Onsen. During our "girls' talk" in the hot spring, we made discoveries, like finding out that we all shared similar worries that we don't usually talk about easily.
Just as we arrived at Ageki Shokudo and it was finally time to eat, a guerrilla rainstorm struck. While waiting for our food, we chatted about how lucky we were that it hadn't rained during the ride, and visited the Iwata Shoten Gallery located in a corner of the Ageki shopping district.
We enjoyed a meal using the meat and vegetables that Ageki Shokudo prides itself on, all while reflecting on the day's ride. A meal after a long ride just tastes extra delicious!
Miraculously, we were able to avoid the sudden downpour, and we traveled by train with our bikes from the nearest station, Ageki Station on the Sangi Railway Hokusei Line, heading home on our respective ways.
Fun times pass in the blink of an eye, and our ride for the day concluded safely. I'm sure everyone slept very soundly that night.
Thank you to everyone who participated in this ride. The girl talk was lively from beginning to end, and it was so impressive to see everyone encouraging each other, determined to ride all the way to the finish. Moving forward, I not only want to increase the opportunities for us to have fun together, but I also want to build a community for women.
We will continue to hold Girls Rides, FIX LIKE COOK sessions, and workshops on a regular basis, so we hope you will invite your friends and join us! We look forward to seeing you there!