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• Day 14 – Innoshima Island to Okayama
• Distance: 93.3km
• Ascent / descent: 621m / 615m
• Weather: overcast then rainy
• Accommodation: a warmshowers host called Senri Kondo in Okayama

Today was my longest day yet!

I was awake early so I got up to see the sunrise and while waiting, I met Miko and Kanji who are travelling around Japan in their camper van. We got talking and after watching the sunrise they invited me into their van for coffee – I’ll never say no to coffee! They’re from Hokkaido and told me to get in contact when I get there. It seems like such a long way off but I’m determined to get there!

Just before sunrise looking at Innoshima suspended bridge (1,270m long)

Sunrise and Innoshima suspended bridge (1,270m long)

Miko and Kanji in their camper van on Innoshima Island

I said goodbye to Michael from Ireland and started a little later than I was originally intending to knowing today would be a long day. I’m much better with having a destination in mind and today I had a warm showers host waiting for me in Okayama 🙂

It was overcast in the morning which made me even more grateful for such a gloriously sunny day yesterday while riding the majority of the Shimanami Kaido cycle path. After crossing to the last island I passed a couple going the opposite way who were also cycle touring and I recognised them from their blog. They were Sue and John. I turned around and cycled after them because I wanted to say thanks to Sue for the blog as it had really helped me out and also made me get Komoot which I’m throughly enjoying! We had a good chat on the side of the road, they’re planning to get up to Hokkaido as well and are flying out just a couple of days before me so maybe we’ll bump into each other again.

Crossing the last bridge I could cross by bike – Innoshima suspended bridge (1,270m long)

Innoshima suspended bridge (1,270m long)

To get off the last island there is a ferry for cyclists but Komoot was trying to get me to take the road route (which I’m pretty sure cyclists aren’t allowed on) so after missing a turn to the ferry terminal I backtracked a bit. The ferry cost ¥110 and took about 5 minutes to cross to Onomichi on Honshu.

Waiting for the ferry to finish the trip back to Honshu (bikes aren’t allowed on the last bridge)

I followed the coast then highway then small back streets and found myself cycling past Fukuyama castle so I went for a quick visit. The rain started at about 3:30pm just as I was hitting the hills.

Fukuyama castle

GoPro selfie at Fukuyama castle

I passed a pond and saw this beaver-type animal. Apparently it’s called a Nutoria which doesn’t sound Japanese and is also written in Katakana so I’m guessing it’s not a native animal but I don’t know much about it.. although it was fun to watch!

A ‘nutoria’ in a pond in Okayama prefecture

Falling down houses in the countryside of Japan

Senri came to meet me at a nearby supermarket and told me she had cooked stew for dinner for us, so I bought some snacks and plum wine and we had a great evening in her flat. She’s a medical student and her English was terrific. We chatted late into the night, thanks so much Senri for letting me stay!

Trying a new type of shellfish (from a packet) at Senri’s flat

Jb14 – elevation profile from Garmin connect

Jb14 – google map from Garmin Connect