November 4, 2024
Day 40: Kotohira to Marugame
Today is split up into three rides. Sorry about that. It is being true to our day, though. It's not often that we pick someone up from the airport on our bikes!
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After searching in vain for something interesting to do this morning after checkout, we decided to just head over to the campground and see if they'd let us set up early. It's something I'd wanted to do anyway, so we could have a leisurely lunch before heading to the airport.
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The campground was supposed to be nestled in the foothills, but we were faced with a couple of short but very steep climbs. It was enough to make us feel out of shape. It has been a few days since we've had a challenge like that.
I'm calling this place Marugame, but to be honest, I don't think that's correct. It's kind of nowhere, but it's also adjacent to a theme park. Sometimes bike touring brings you the oddest juxtapositions.
There are only 5 sites here. They're all pretty big. Ours comes with a nice new iron bench. Quite the perk.
Mei's flight was delayed for almost an hour. We took the opportunity to clean and lube our bikes. It's always a bit of a hack job, but one can't expect perfection under these circumstances.
The road to the airport wasn't flat. There were some rollers, and a decent climb at the end.
We didn't have to wait long for Mei. With his minimalist Brompton setup, he was ready to go in just a few minutes. I'm very envious.
The ride back to the campsite went quickly, even though things were a bit wobbly at first. Mei had to adjust to the bike, with the bulk of its weight up front. Meanwhile, my wife and I were adjusting to the new dynamic of touring as a trio. Tomorrow will be the real break-in day, as we ride a full day together with all our gear.
As darkness settled over the campground, we spent time catching up over some beers and a dinner of rice and ramen. Mei walked over to the nearby onsen while I started putting this journal entry together. It's chilly right now. Tomorrow promises to be another beautiful day for riding on Shikoku. I'm excited to be moving forward again!
Today's ride: 44 km (27 miles)
Total: 2,232 km (1,386 miles)
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