Japan Summer 2024 - Day 18 • Kami-kamagari Island to Matsuyama

Japan Summer 2024 - Day 18
June 15, 2024
Kami-kamagari Island to Matsuyama 69 Km
Start 6:56 AM Finish 1:10 PM
Total Duration 6:14
Moving Time 3:32
Stopped Time 3:32
Ascent 323 m 
Descent 311 m
Tour Total 1858 Km

I slept well on the concrete slab at Kamagari Sea Station (Citizens' Beach) boat ramp on Kami-kamagari Island. Last night a car had pulled in as I was setting up, but they didn't come all the way in and didn't see me. It was windy and I tied one of my tent lines to my bicycle. This morning on my way back to the route, I noticed that a motorist had pulled over on the side road and was sleeping in a tent.

Kami-kamagari Island was beautiful. It was surrounded by smaller islands, and last night I wasn't able to fully appreciate the splendor. That said, night riding has its own magic. 

This morning, all of my devices were charged, although the lights on my power bank wouldn't activate. For navigation I decided to just follow the blue pavement markings to Okamura. I passed through a tunnel and then crossed over the large Toyoshima bridge to the island of Toyoshima. 

I pulled over at a vending machine for a Coffee Lab latte. It was overcast and I was wearing my sweat-stained short-sleeve jersey, bib shorts, and hole-filled wool socks. This would be the last day for these socks. I would be retiring them from duty in Matsuyama. The forecast had originally called for rain, and there was a 20% chance at 2 PM. 

I climbed a steep hill and crossed a bridge to Osaki-Shimozima island. Locals were out fishing, and I crossed over an inlet and then passed through another tunnel. There are  so many small islands here. I then crossed over a large arched span called Heira bridge to Heira island. After that I crossed arched Nakanoseto bridge to small Nakanoshima island. I crossed back into Ehime Prefecture as I went over the arched Okamura bridge to Okamura Island. 

I reached the port in time for the 8:30 ferry and a man helped me purchase tickets from a vending machine. It was  ¥870 for me and ¥190 for my bicycle. One of the skippers helped secure my bike in a rack on the stern. I was the only passenger onboard. There were outlets by my seat where I could charge my thirsty devices. 

The ferry stopped at Kooge Island and then Oge Island where we picked up half a dozen passengers. The last stop before Imabari was Omishima Island where we picked up a few more passengers. Coming into Imabari we passed underneath the Kurushima bridge, where the Shimanami Kaido route had begun. 

I went to a Verdure Cafe, which was run by a family of one of Peter's students. It was  across the street from the castle. Afterwards I rode out of town on the same route I had taken from Matsuyama. I followed the blue 'Round Shikoku' pavement markings. In addition to Matsuyama they also read Dōgo, which would be my first stop 

I stopped at the Roadside Station Kazahaya-no-sato Fuwari| for an ice cream cone with two scoops of chocolate. In Matsuyama I rode to the port to verify the ferry departure time. I turned off my GPS here to 'officially end' the day's ride. 

On my way to Dōgo Onsen I stopped at a 7-eleven for a peach drink. It was Saturday afternoon and Dogo onsen had a line out front. They let me cut the line, and I enjoyed a hot soak, a scrubbing, and a shave. 

Afterwards I went to Chihiro no ma for a Dōgo beer, oysters and scallops. I was able to wash my kit in a nearby laundry and edit yesterday's report while I sat there. Riding back to the port in the dark, I had entered the wrong ferry terminal. It was wise to have verified the terminal when I got to town, and to have allowed myself an thirty extra minutes to get back there.

I queued up at the Ishizaki Ferry Line and got myself a cabin. They required me to remove my front wheel and put the bike in a rinko bag before entering the vessel. It would have been so much easier if they had let me wheel on. A nice lady let me strap it to a railing on a lower deck. As I edit this report, I'm aboard the the Ferry Hayatomo 2 to Kokura in cabin 208A. 

Camped on a boat ramp on Kami-kamagari Island

I wasn't the only person stealth camping on Kami-kamagari Island

Route to Okamura

Vending machine stop for a Coffee Lab latte

Ferry back to Imabari

Breakfast at Verdure Cafe in Imabari

Ouchea

Oysters at Chihiro no ma in Matsuyama

Nightime golf driving range (into water)

Ferry Hayatomo 2 to Kokura

Ferry Hayatomo 2 to Kokura cabin 208A

Map / elevation profile



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