Musicisgood's Shikoku cycling journey

[Grandpa Frank]

Seems like a super human effort is required for your trip.

 

[musicisgood]

View attachment 104827 Seems like a super human effort is required for your trip.

Maybe I am lron Man after all.
More than 3 hours today I don't know maybe 6 hours pushing that bike up and up the hills and mountains what an adventure I'll have to say that something I'll always remember but the thing of it is in life you just can't give up.

 

[musicisgood]

I found a beachside campsite tonight came in about I don't know 8:00 pitch Black manager was still on the site that he was pretty cool man actually he told me the price and he told you he said don't worry about it to make it simple and we'll talk to a friendly person so I bought some drinks from them sodas of course it's a family park so I'm not going to publicly drink liquor if you know what I mean but yeah it's right next to the beach I can hear the waves crashing in matter of fact I went to the the shoreline and what the heavy flashlight and there's a lot of activity with the fish movement so I don't know what kind of fish they are but if someone had a net they sure would have a net full of fish that's for sure anyways peaceful tonight no rain no wind and it's just like I'm kicking back and I am really tired

 

[Majestic]

I think it would take a super-human effort to convince my wife to let me go on a solo bike trip around Shikoku .
I'm wondering if @musicisgood 's wife also needed convincing, or if she was OK with the whole adventure before it started. ??

 

[musicisgood]

I think it would take a super-human effort to convince my wife to let me go on a solo bike trip around Shikoku.
I'm wondering if @musicisgood 's wife also needed convincing, or if she was OK with the whole adventure before it started. ??

Hey good morning it looks like you're a motorcycle guy man I was too until I well it's a long story.
Later on in the day I'll send you a private message okay thanks for following me too.

 

[musicisgood]

July 16th Sunday morning weather is beautiful camping right next to the beach actually it's a very nice campground well well littered well supplied even has a restaurant on it and the manager last night it was pretty cool with me pretty cool that's what I can say I was probably the first Foreigner he's probably saying camp out his campground.
I took on some pretty mean bug bites my arm is puffed up no signs of entry from a bug bite though but I'm pretty strange stuff man.

I'm starting out this morning at this reading of my kilometers.
I didn't really get in that many kilometers yesterday because after three mountains of pushing my bike up the hills it takes a lot of time but anyway it worked out really good because I end up arriving at this campsite last night at 8:00 at night and the manager was still here and really cool man show everything worked out really really great for me.

Not sure if you can see what's on this map but I guess it's the location where I'm camping at.

That's my starting kilometers for July 16th Sunday Sunday morning

Morning sunrise here on Sunday July 16th beautiful this morning.

Well I hope to be starting out at least around 7:30 a.m. everything should be dry and should be able to pack everything up by then.

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

I stand by my earlier comment: you must have legs of steel! Glad to hear you're enjoying your journey!

 

[mdchachi]

There's this River in Chicago that has no dams or anything I don't know the name of it if you guys are reading this let me know what the name of it is because I would like to really find out where it is and really do some camping along it and maybe canoeing also.
As always thanks for following me and I appreciate all the comments

You may be thinking of the Shimanto River

Shimanto River | Travel Japan - Japan National Tourism Organization (Official Site)

At 196 kilometers in length, the Shimanto River is the longest river in Shikoku, and unlike many of the rivers in Japan it is far removed from urban areas and from intense development. This means that its waters are pristine, keeping it high on the list of places to visit for nature enthusiasts.

www.japan.travel

You can rent a "Canadian" canoe here but they require two people.

‘ÌŒ±EƒXƒN[ƒ‹bƒJƒk[ŠÙ

Žl–œ\ì’†—¬ˆæ‚É‚ ‚éƒJƒk[ŠÙ‚Å‚ÍA‰SŽÒ‚Å‚àƒJƒk[‚Å‚Ì쉺‚è‚ð‘ÌŒ±‚·‚邱‚Æ‚ªo—ˆ‚Ü‚·B‘¼‚É‚àA¬‚³‚¢‚¨Žq—l‚Å‚àæ‚邱‚Æ‚ª‚Å‚«‚éƒ{[ƒg‚âA‰®Œ`‘DAƒŒƒ“ƒ^ƒTƒCƒNƒ‹‚ªŠy‚µ‚ß‚Ü‚·BƒLƒƒƒ“ƒvê‚ɂ̓oƒ“ƒKƒ[‚⃃OƒnƒEƒX‚È‚Ç‚Ìh”‘Ž{Ý‚à‚ ‚è‚Ü‚·B

canoekan.com

Some people rent a bicycle but I presume you could bicycle around there for free.

Žl–œ\ì‚è‚ñ‚è‚ñƒTƒCƒNƒ‹b‘ÌŒ±EƒXƒN[ƒ‹bƒJƒk[ŠÙ

Žl–œ\ì’†—¬ˆæ‚É‚ ‚éƒJƒk[ŠÙ‚Å‚ÍA‰SŽÒ‚Å‚àƒJƒk[‚Å‚Ì쉺‚è‚ð‘ÌŒ±‚·‚邱‚Æ‚ªo—ˆ‚Ü‚·B‘¼‚É‚àA¬‚³‚¢‚¨Žq—l‚Å‚àæ‚邱‚Æ‚ª‚Å‚«‚éƒ{[ƒg‚âASUPƒcƒA[AƒŒƒ“ƒ^ƒTƒCƒNƒ‹‚ªŠy‚µ‚ß‚Ü‚·BƒLƒƒƒ“ƒvê‚ɂ̓oƒ“ƒKƒ[‚⃃OƒnƒEƒX‚È‚Ç‚Ìh”‘Ž{Ý‚à‚ ‚è‚Ü‚·B

canoekan.com

There's a free camp site along the river here:

四万十川キャンプ場 | 観光スポット検索 | 高知県観光情報Webサイト「こうち旅ネット」

 

[musicisgood]

You may be thinking of the Shimanto River

Shimanto River | Travel Japan - Japan National Tourism Organization (Official Site)

At 196 kilometers in length, the Shimanto River is the longest river in Shikoku, and unlike many of the rivers in Japan it is far removed from urban areas and from intense development. This means that its waters are pristine, keeping it high on the list of places to visit for nature enthusiasts.

www.japan.travel

You can rent a "Canadian" canoe here but they require two people.

‘ÌŒ±EƒXƒN[ƒ‹bƒJƒk[ŠÙ

Žl–œ\ì’†—¬ˆæ‚É‚ ‚éƒJƒk[ŠÙ‚Å‚ÍA‰SŽÒ‚Å‚àƒJƒk[‚Å‚Ì쉺‚è‚ð‘ÌŒ±‚·‚邱‚Æ‚ªo—ˆ‚Ü‚·B‘¼‚É‚àA¬‚³‚¢‚¨Žq—l‚Å‚àæ‚邱‚Æ‚ª‚Å‚«‚éƒ{[ƒg‚âA‰®Œ`‘DAƒŒƒ“ƒ^ƒTƒCƒNƒ‹‚ªŠy‚µ‚ß‚Ü‚·BƒLƒƒƒ“ƒvê‚ɂ̓oƒ“ƒKƒ[‚⃃OƒnƒEƒX‚È‚Ç‚Ìh”‘Ž{Ý‚à‚ ‚è‚Ü‚·B

canoekan.com

Some people rent a bicycle but I presume you could bicycle around there for free.

Žl–œ\ì‚è‚ñ‚è‚ñƒTƒCƒNƒ‹b‘ÌŒ±EƒXƒN[ƒ‹bƒJƒk[ŠÙ

Žl–œ\ì’†—¬ˆæ‚É‚ ‚éƒJƒk[ŠÙ‚Å‚ÍA‰SŽÒ‚Å‚àƒJƒk[‚Å‚Ì쉺‚è‚ð‘ÌŒ±‚·‚邱‚Æ‚ªo—ˆ‚Ü‚·B‘¼‚É‚àA¬‚³‚¢‚¨Žq—l‚Å‚àæ‚邱‚Æ‚ª‚Å‚«‚éƒ{[ƒg‚âASUPƒcƒA[AƒŒƒ“ƒ^ƒTƒCƒNƒ‹‚ªŠy‚µ‚ß‚Ü‚·BƒLƒƒƒ“ƒvê‚ɂ̓oƒ“ƒKƒ[‚⃃OƒnƒEƒX‚È‚Ç‚Ìh”‘Ž{Ý‚à‚ ‚è‚Ü‚·B

canoekan.com

There's a free camp site along the river here:

四万十川キャンプ場 | 観光スポット検索 | 高知県観光情報Webサイト「こうち旅ネット」

Thanks that's the river I was thinking of I am I have no idea where I'm at currently but I recall the names like a city named also and we'll see what happens I'll maybe if you can give me well never mind I'll try to find out today anyway it's 7:00 7:30 in the morning I'm all packed up and I'm ready to go and it is hot already at 7:30 in the morning and that's about it I didn't really travel to many kilometers yesterday because of the mountains and it looks pretty flat right now but yeah I really that's the river that's I'm thinking of I hope I didn't pass it up I passed up a lot of big Rivers so far and well if I know where I'm at I'll let you know well actually I'll I know where I'm at just a moment

Kuroshiochou town

Yeah that's where I'm at that's where I'm camping also I guess it's the name of the campground also it's obviously ran by the city cuz I can see they have a lifeguard stand up there also at the beach and well if I passed it up I passed it up but let me know if I'm in the right direction I'm going toward that River as always thanks a lot for following me man really appreciate it

 

[mdchachi]

Thanks that's the river I was thinking of I am I have no idea where I'm at currently but I recall the names like a city named also and we'll see what happens I'll maybe if you can give me well never mind I'll try to find out today anyway it's 7:00 7:30 in the morning I'm all packed up and I'm ready to go and it is hot already at 7:30 in the morning and that's about it I didn't really travel to many kilometers yesterday because of the mountains and it looks pretty flat right now but yeah I really that's the river that's I'm thinking of I hope I didn't pass it up I passed up a lot of big Rivers so far and well if I know where I'm at I'll let you know well actually I'll I know where I'm at just a moment

Kuroshiochou town

Yeah that's where I'm at that's where I'm camping also I guess it's the name of the campground also it's obviously ran by the city cuz I can see they have a lifeguard stand up there also at the beach and well if I passed it up I passed it up but let me know if I'm in the right direction I'm going toward that River as always thanks a lot for following me man really appreciate it

You're only 10km from Shimanto. It's south of you.

 

[musicisgood]

Thank you I was able to follow up on your lead and I'm at Lawson's right now so it's about actually it's about 14 km from where I'm at right now and yeah I'm going to go there I'm just going to crash out and just take it easy for a while to get my thoughts together figure out my plan for the future I'm done not that I think I have a future anymore but that's another story yeah this has been one heck of a good tour for me I learned a lot I know one thing I should have wore longer parents I brought to you recycling long wear with me I did wear them one day but I took them off the bugs here I mean I'm all I got some big bug bites I well I ain't went to the hospital for treatment and then they're pretty nasty on this island that I got to say and my legs are all kind of mosquito bitten never seen this before but anyway I'm determined to enjoy myself and make this challenge a success I got about 200 more kilometers for that 1,000 km goal of mine here she Goku I am haven't really spent hardly any time looking at temples and mainly because I'm loaded with gear and pushing up a bike and then having to climb 500 steps to see a temple sometimes I've already done it once with the shrine but I don't know it's just the ocean is the temple for me right now again thanks for keeping following up on me okay I really appreciate it

 

[musicisgood]

I stand by my earlier comment: you must have legs of steel! Glad to hear you're enjoying your journey!

I really think it's in the jeans yeah for real all my uncles are in their 90s and when I was a child they all were two of them drove motorcycles and that was my dream and I've had three motorcycles and two scooters but yeah I just might be iron Man after all of course I studied the martial arts here and Japan and Okinawa Nelson Miami but took that that might have happened I probably still can do two fingertip push-ups at least one after I do a nice breathing exercise but yeah it comes down to breathing exercises and hopefully I'm doing them correctly apparently so far okay not because I'm not joking you man when you're pushing that bike up 3 hours at a time up the mountains I don't know the pitch but it sure isn't 3% pitch that's for sure you got to have some inner strength that is God given to you man I mean they're on if you follow me on route 26 and go to satellite you'll see I did those mountains I did those mountains man I was crying I said please not another mountain and I really couldn't turn back either cuz I'd gone so far and the pictures that I've taken with The ravines shows you how high I was up in the mountain.

I really appreciate your comments cuz it really helps me keep motivated to do this tour of Shikoku..
One thing is for sure when I reach the 1,000 km Mark I can put my palms and fingers together and just praise who is ever self me to get this far yeah I'm most thankful every morning and every now and then I'd look up and just feel life is Life should be cherished till it's fullest.

 

[mdchachi]

I don't blame you for not visiting the temples. They can get pretty tiresome and not worth 500 steps in the rain or heat and humidity.

 

[musicisgood]

Okay guys I'm off to the river in Chicago famous river that has no dams there I'm going to crash out and actually when I ever for the last 4 years recycling Japan have always bought a pack of cigarettes to have a smoke at night but 18 days have gone by and I haven't even really considered even buying a pack of cigarettes but maybe I won't tonight either I probably not anyway I'm looking forward to seeing the river the fact that I grew up on the Mississippi River should bring some pretty good fond memories of my childhood I'll probably stay two nights because I'm not in no hurry I'm not in no rush although I got to get back by the 20th well that's four days away I have a hospital appointment that needs to be taken care of and I got $200 km ago that's what 50 50 km a day then maybe I can do it I don't know I don't care so what.

 

[musicisgood]

I don't blame you for not visiting the temples. They can get pretty tiresome and not worth 500 steps in the rain or heat and humidity.

Yeah thanks for understanding actually the temple that I look at is the ocean just the left side of me that's my temple and I can walk barefoot and feel the nature on the sole of my feet so but I like going to temples but in the past that's all I did was take pictures of temples and temples and temples and finally somebody says I'm tired of you taking pictures of temples and the feeling that goes behind the expressions of the photographs that I try to take the emotional aspect of Japan alive from a Foreigner's point of view it's really it's part of all part of nature so I mean whether we're canoeing on the Mississippi River down to Mississippi River to New Orleans or we're here in
Japan and taking a surfing along some surf areas along the ocean to Earth mother Earth special I want to relate to in my post

 

[musicisgood]

I made it to the river.
Quite a few campers here tonight and this is really nice so far mosquitoes are too bad I actually wish I'm late like 16 days too late to buy mosquito spray but I bought some today and so far the mosquitoes aren't out yet but man I got bitten up I look like a drug addict who's been shooting heroin all day for last 665 days terrible.
I know I'm going to stay here tonight and actually I'm kind of I got to get back to Yamaguchi on the 20th and today's the 16th so 17th to 18th 19th and 20th I got four more days and 200 km to go so what is that 50 50 km a day I probably can do it but actually I wanted to spend some time on this River and see what all these beautiful pictures we see on the internet is all about and I'm good for 6:30 in the morning to 8:30 or 9:00 at night straight cycling shopping at the convenience store getting water one thing is different about this tour I've always smoked cigarettes when I'm touring camping I mean I would smoke a cigarette at night but this is the first time in 4 years that I haven't even bought any cigarettes and yeah I haven't bought any cigarettes at all and 18 days very surprised but yeah I like smoking a cigarette when the Sun goes down around the campfire roasting hot dogs? Dogs the marshmallows and talking to the Japanese people that are very friendly yeah of course I go solo so you know I just look like hey let's talk to this guy Gene you know this bring him a beer or whatever and that's how it's been and it's really a very rewarding experience for me and yeah so that's it I'll post a picture of this Riverside stuff

 

[musicisgood]

July 16th Sunday night at the river the famous river in Chicago I'm at the campground and actually it's really mild evening so far no mosquitoes but that could change pretty rapidly I'll took a few pictures but tomorrow I intend to go up the river I suppose yeah up the river and see what's up there and maybe hopefully just jump in the river and cool off.

,

P this is pretty much where I am I'm not too sure how to I guess I'm where the red is if you look on the map that's probably where I'm at been a long day today though.

This is the world famous bridge here everybody knows this Red Bridge.

O this is the river with no dams no whatever I guess it's just straight from the mountains.

I think the water is still cold but it's Crystal clear I don't know if there's any fish in it though.

 

[musicisgood]

July 16th Sunday night at the river the famous river in Chicago I'm at the campground and actually it's really mild evening so far no mosquitoes but that could change pretty rapidly I'll took a few pictures but tomorrow I intend to go up the river I suppose yeah up the river and see what's up there and maybe hopefully just jump in the river and cool off.

,View attachment 104851

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View attachment 104854View attachment 104855


P this is pretty much where I am I'm not too sure how to I guess I'm where the red is if you look on the map that's probably where I'm at been a long day today though.
View attachment 104856

This is the world famous bridge here everybody knows this Red Bridge.

View attachment 104857

View attachment 104858
O this is the river with no dams no whatever I guess it's just straight from the mountains.

View attachment 104859

View attachment 104860
I think the water is still cold but it's Crystal clear I don't know if there's any fish in it though.

Mini campers here tonight have a very surprised on a Sunday night quite a few well then again it's camping season.

 

[musicisgood]

July 17th I hope Monday morning I hope there's a picture of the sunrise this morning campers are leaving at like 5:30 in the morning and already many of the campers have already packed up today I'm going to spend a little time going down the river or up the river up the river actually she would have looked like and from what I've seen so far it's the campground is pretty far from the actual water so I don't know what to expect within about 30 minutes to 60 minutes of riding my bike okay guys I woke up got to brush my teeth pull my hair count the gray hairs coming out yeah no joke man anyway life is grand y'all take care .

 

[musicisgood]

7:30 in the morning and I'm at Lawson's charging my batteries up and my headlight of the bike expired last night so I was riding in the dark I actually I end up using my phone light which wasn't too cool.

It's 93° right now it's going to be a hot today today but I'm quite sure I'm going to stay put until tomorrow see what happens I think rain is in the forecast later on this week.

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

How are your feet doing? With all the rain and cycling, your feet must be taking a beating.

 

[musicisgood]

How are your feet doing? With all the rain and cycling, your feet must be taking a beating.

Doing okay .the ankles aren't too bad but I did injure my knee and I injured my knee before I took this trip and it's kind of like I'm not really pushing too hard because of my knee , but in the morning it's like I'm really limping probably could actually use a cane in the morning but I'm able to ride the bike. I got the the bikers long jeans real tight changed I'm going to put those on later in the day to give it more tightness around the knee I have I'm hoping that will help the medication I had for the bug bite and knee injury is today be the last day of that finished it all so I don't know the he gave me something for the knee probably more of a pain reliever type thing and but it I'll run out of medication today other than that it's hanging in there . diet is too good , was eating pretty good in the beginning which surprised me cuz I never eat at restaurants when I'm touring and cycling and well in the 4 years I've been cycling in Japan I've only eaten out three times and well actually maybe five times six times now but the last two udon shops noodle shops one was both of them were really good yeah both were really good very happy that tokushima have noodles udon it was good stuff I'm in it was real good stuff I posted a picture of it on here too right now I got a lot of bug bites on my legs looks like on my heroin addict but very much I can do about it but I'm doing okay I got the 18th and 19th really push in some kilometers the 20th I got to decide what the 20th I got to kind of end the tour here I got to be back in Yamaguchi actually the evening of the 20th okay I think I got about 185 km to go and two days I'm not going to be able to do it unless I leave today but I want to see the river here that everybody talks about how fantastic this river is I want to see it.

 

[musicisgood]

Hey guys the 95° weather today was pretty bad yeah I had to stop at the store and kind of catch My breath for about next two and a half hours.
I don't mind pushing my bike up the mountains for 3 hours at a time but patient 95° weather in the sun with no shade now that's that doesn't cut it too well with me.
I didn't get too many kilometers in today no I didn't but I was able to reach actually I don't know what city it is of him but the signed into a hotel tonight and kicking back refreshing taking a shower and get rid of all the the bug bites that all over me it's terrible.
Anyway it's it's a decent hotel it's pretty cheap so it's not too bad tomorrow's going to be another hot day hopefully I'll start at 7:00 a.m. in the morning and see what happens and tomorrow's the 18th and then the 19th I've got to really hurry up to get too Matsuyama.

This is the lady that has the boat rides that are only done by sail.
She was a very friendly lady gave me a map but unfortunately I didn't have time to take the boat ride it would have been a great experience for me but I just didn't have time this morning.
This was on the Big River with no locks and dams or whatever the straight Big River and anyway I posted the the name of the area already.

this is what the countryside looks like the rice actually is pretty high I was very surprised CC that is actually has the kernels on it already.

I stopped at this bicycle shop to see if I can buy some oil the guy I'll put it this way you probably belongs and some type of Ward but he had oil everywhere but he told me he didn't have no oil for the chain.

Like I said he probably belongs in some kind of institution by now I don't know man this guy was scary also.

Yeah for real that's his bicycle shop motorcycle shop I don't know even his mail was still on the floor people walk all over it amazing you can't believe it that's why I took pictures.

this is the roadway to the the famous river but it was 11 km long and I went to kilometers maybe three and I turned back it was getting I had other stuff to do and I wanted to take down the tent and start.

 

[musicisgood]

Dang I lost all the pictures.

 

[musicisgood]

Well I'll start over not happy about this it's been a half hour doing it.

This is the lady that runs the boats that uses sails only unfortunately I got there too late to go up the river with the sail boat. very nice lady with I actually stopped there also to see if she had oil for my chain.

this is what the countryside really looks like it's very peaceful and quiet.

Sunrise in the morning.

I stopped into this bicycle shop to ask the guy if he had some chain oil actually he looked quite demented and deranged as you can tell by his shop it was a total mess anyway you said he didn't have any.

Yes this is his shop

I looked around for oil all I found was I actually ended up with more oil on my fingers from looking for the oil cans but from what I can tell most of them were empty anyway this guy was kind of frightening and I don't know I think he belongs in some kind of Ward

This is a picture of the river I didn't get many pictures of the river.

This is a road along the river it's a cycling road in a car road I came across two cyclists and that was all I saw all day really all morning actually.