日本夏2025年

日本夏2025年 - Day 24 June 24, 2025 Niigata to Joetsu - 127 Km Start 9:18 AM Finish 6:30 PM Total Duration 9:13 Moving Time 6:37 Stopped Time 2:36 Ascent 631 m Descent 600 m Tour Total 2,701 Km Details at: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/299866283 I slept soundly in cabin 608 aboard the Shin Nihonkai Ferry from Otaru to Niigata. After an incredible dinner, I visited the onboard onsen—yes, an onsen on a ferry. I bathed and relaxed in two indoor pools, then braved the open-air bath, where cold wind and sea mist turned the experience into something exhilarating. Though my curtains were drawn, I woke early to the soft patter of rain. We pulled into port around 8:30 AM, and I realized my eSIM had expired. Thankfully, I still had enough free international days left on my Verizon line to get through the rest of the trip. I packed up and went down to retrieve my bike. In the lower hold, a truck loaded with cattle was idling beside me. This time they let me off before the motorcycles, though I still ...

日本夏2025年 - Day 25 June 25, 2025 Joetsu to Sakaki - 111 Km Start 7:45 AM Finish 5:46 PM Total Duration 10:01 Moving Time 6:59 Stopped Time 3:03 Ascent 1,079 m Descent 718 m Tour Total 2,812 Km Details at:  https://ridewithgps.com/trips/300186654 I slept well beside the large pond at Jouetsushiikoinomori Dai 3 Campground, just outside Joetsu. The frogs croaked loudly through the night, so I wore earplugs. It was warm enough to leave both tent flys open, and I only needed my silk liner. In the morning, I draped my sleeping bag over my eyes to squeeze in a few more hours of sleep, but once the sun hit, the tent quickly grew hot. Around me, other campers were already stirring. The site was actually on an island, and I had to cross a small bridge to return to the road. Back on my route, I discovered my Wahoo GPS couldn’t load the track—“Route not found.” I’d have to rely on my phone for navigation. It drains power quickly and isn’t ideal, since the screen doesn’t stay on. I continued alo...

日本夏2025年 - Day 26 June 26, 2025 Sakaki to Honjo - 125 Km Start 7:15 AM Finish 5:04 PM Total Duration 9:49 Moving Time 7:27 Stopped Time 2:22 Ascent 1,029 m Descent 2,331 Tour Total 2,937 Km Details at:  https://ridewithgps.com/trips/300553607 I slept well last night while stealth camping beside the Chikuma River. It had started to drizzle in the evening, so I crawled into my tent early and drifted off to the sound of the river's steady current. Because I’d turned in early, I got a full night’s sleep. When the sun rose, I pulled the sleeping bag over my eyes and managed another two hours of rest. I had pitched my tent on a paved section of the river levee, surrounded by wooded hills. It was a beautiful spot. The morning was quiet and unhurried—I took my time packing, drying out my tent and footprint in the morning sun as it poked through the clouds. I was nearly out of sunscreen and wore my arm protectors from the start. My Wahoo GPS still couldn’t locate the route, so I relied once...