28 August 2011
Day 2: Choshi to Mito
Distance: 93KM
We woke up early to the sounds of birds and ocean waves. Our bodies ached from head to toes. Any cyclist who has done serious cycling knows that the second day of the cycling us the most painful day. As much as I knew the pain cannot be avoided, I also knew that pain won't last long and you just learn to live with it and eventually it will go away. So with this thoughts we took off vert early.
I was taking the lead and tried to keep average speed to 20KM/HR (which was our target) and we covered fair amount of the ground during the early hours but after a while my head drops and I watch my spinning feet. My knees bob up and down...up and down. I started to talk to myself - keep paddling - don't let up the pace - keep it up. Sometimes for a few minutes, the aches and pains disappear in the rhythm - the burning turns to warm glow.
Between Asahi and Orari, we stop at a grocery store and I literally collapse, exhausted. We bought some instant ramen and had asked store owner to pour hot water and for our surprise we had pleasant surprise from total stranger. The lady invited us to her living room and offered us a table but we insisted to stay outside in the back of the store and while we were having our ramen she gave us grapes, pickles and two warm cups of teas.
We reenergized ourselves after the lunch and Sam took a lead and them we slowly increased our average speed.
Once again, today we rode along the coast but not so much near yje beach. I thought that there was a bit traffic more than I wished. I was carrying my stuff in a carrier so I had to be bit careful as as cyclists we are sharing the road with others and so we are at the mercy of not only whether, but of every driver on the road. We are in a constant state of vulnerability. We have no roof over my head and no walls to hide behind and no doors to lock.
I was supposed to camp about 10KM before the Mito city but I've decided to ride with Sam to Mito and stay in a hotel at Mito. We reached Mito around 3PM and Sam packed his bike and head back to Tokyo and I got a room right on the train terminal.
At the hotel I met Yatabe san who lived in Canada and she really was very kind and made my rather tiring day a wonderful one. She had called a restaurant for me so I can enjoy Natto (Mito is famous for Natto). We talked a lot about Canada, charity work, traveling, etc. I still having difficulties uploading my blog to Facebook and both Kyo (Yatabe san) and her coworker ( another wonderful person) Tomoko tried to help me out but we couldn't still upload - it could be that message is too long?
Donny





