On the saddle

My friend Josh and I recently returned from a six day bike tour where together we traveled around parts of southern Kyushu. Only knowing the general direction of where we were interested in traveling we remained flexible and let the course of our trip unravel on its own. Since everything we needed for our trip, including our bags and camping gear, were strapped to the back of our bikes all we had to do was stay on the saddle and keep peddling. Stopping several times throughout the day to enjoy the scenery we averaged about 20 kilometers per hour and usually biked somewhere between 80 to 100 kilometers by the close of each day.

Being on the road alongside cars whizzing by at top speed was a pleasant reminder of how enjoyable it can be to just take it slow. For me cycling is like a Sunday afternoon drive through the countryside in that because there is no particular destination the drive itself becomes the reason for driving. Because Josh and I weren’t actually heading to any particular place there was no reason for us to rush through our tour. And because we weren’t zipping through each town we had plenty of time to notice truly experience our surroundings. Whether it was the bumps and curves of a particular road, the smell of the salt from the sea, the dead bug or single lost shoe on the side of the street, or the sound of crows flying overhead, we noticed it.

Once the daylight would begin to dwindle away over the horizon Josh and I would make sure that we had found a good place to set up our tent for the evening. Sometimes we camped proper at an actual campsite, but many times we ended up staying somewhere between trees in a city park or behind a slide on a playground. After scouting out a good campsite we’d then find something good to eat and finally, the most important part of the tour, find an onsen in so that we could wash up, unwind and relax for the day.

One of the perks about cycling is that making friends comes easily, especially when you aren’t Japanese. Several times throughout the week we were treated to tea and snacks by the people of the towns in which we crossed. We even met one man who was the owner of a Japanese pottery export business with retail branches operating in the United States, China and Singapore. He was a very friendly man and he spoke English quite well too. He explained to us that if his wife hadn’t been away from the house that particular evening he would have loved to have us stay over for dinner and even spend the night. As we went on our way he slipped us his business card explaining that if we had any trouble with the police in his town then all we had to do was flash his card and everything would be taken care of.

Nagasaki city was the most urban of any of the places we traveled during our tour. Urban cycling is exciting in that the cars are moving slow enough in the city to make it possible to travel with the cars and not just on the shoulder of the road. It’s a blast too because the majority of the time being on a bicycle is faster than being in a car.

Being in the same city that was demolished on August 9th, 1945 by the atomic bomb of World War II was truly a surreal experience. From the impact of the bomb 70,000 people died and another 70,000 more were injured. Everything within a mile radius of the impact zone was completely destroyed. Having the opportunity to visit the atomic bomb museum and the Nagasaki Peace Park and even just to be in Nagasaki was a powerful and meaningful experience. I’d like to visit again.

All in all, the cycling tour was fantastic. It definitely wasn’t easy, but with the right mindset and attitude even the seemingly impossible can be achieved. In the end we traveled a little shy of 500 kilometers passing through Amakusa, Nagasaki, and Saga. After returning from the journey the only thing I am certain of is that I am ready to get back out on the road and see where it leads me. 「Photo Link / 写真のリンク」