Kagoshima..a return visit from our first trip to Japan
Next stop…ferry to Okinawa
We had a fairly good sleep last night in our small bed. The only challenge was determining who could get up while the other stayed out of the way. Other reviews have cited the management as part of the problem here, and we agree. Their staff seem very good…the front desk staff were excellent, but the mgr would micromanage them in spite of how well they were doing. It was uncomfortable being in the middle of this. As well, the typical perks of free amenities (they restricted how many things you were allowed) and the free beverages were not mentioned. We felt like we were being watched in case we broke one of their rules. Anyway, enough complaining…the good thing was the breakfast which we enjoyed. Nonetheless, it will be a long time before we try a Super Hotel again.
Super Hotels offer a healthy breakfast and we really liked it.
Now for the final gripe: the bathroom is more challenging than the bedroom size. Barry is a tall guy and he was unable to use the toilet without contorting his legs. The picture doesn’t really show the perspective I am describing but the toilet is angled towards the tub and one needs to be a foot shorter than B (that would be me) in order to fit.
Barry has made up a rural, quiet route on Ride with GPS and we will follow it as long as it works for us. It is always a joy to ride in the countryside with details like this statue and stone to look at.
We know that our ride to Kagoshima could be on busy roads today as the preferred coastal route is the main road south for this area with a lot of cars and freight trucks. This is part of the route Barry made up for us. For the first part, we will be riding under busy roads as this photo shows) and train tracks when we come upon them…we like that.
We were in the middle of nowhere and riding up a very steep hill in marvellous seclusion, when these charming young guys rode in their pick up truck giving us a thumbs up and friendly greetings “Kinichiwa” out the window.
We are always mystified by these signs that pop up for a city some distance from the city…perhaps it denotes a region? Anyway this sign amused me as it was up a hill in the middle of nowhere.
The route is lovely today. One perk of the highway is that the gradient of the road is pretty easy, but riding off the beaten track, we get the full uphill experience.
Days like this we are both glad to have developed stronger legs and stronger endurance than before the trip. It is strangely satisfying to be able to work hard grinding up a hill and find success….no matter how long it takes!
Stopped at the convenience store for a coffee and a treat, we met this interesting woman. She spoke fluent English as a result of attending high school in Cork Ireland. Never heard of Ireland as a choice for Japanese students to go to Ireland before, but clearly it was a good experience for her. She, her daughter and husband chatted with us and we had such a good visit with them. As their daughter will start attending school next year, they had just returned from a 3 month cruising holiday to some pretty amazing places.
We have had to abandon Barry’s great route as I am not feeling 100% and need a bathroom, when I need it. A few times we have raced down to the main road for this reason, but we have given up. As much as we loved what we were doing, we will make better time on the bigger road
We couldn’t believe our good fortune. In deciding to stay on the main road, we came upon a place we fell in love with on our previous trip to Japan in the spring. This fishing port is situated at a very picturesque shrine and we wild camped here. Just like before, the giant red Tori gate drew us in.
A chance encounter on the road and at a Convenience Store. We have been noticing this young man on his motorbike riding by and filming us. Now we get to meet him. A lovely fellow.
We have made it to Kagoshima and are really looking forward to spending a few days here before we take the ferry to Okinawa. Riding through a pedestrian shopping street brings back good memories. The added touch of charm this time is the decorating and lights of Christmas.
We checked into the hotel we are staying at, The Dormy Inn Hotspring Kagoshima and headed out for a dinner of Kagoshima Ramen at a local ramen shop behind the hotel.
The photos of satisfied customers and celebrities endorse this small cafe’s popularity. We have watched some Sumo Wrestling on TV and we are convinced that we watched one of these guys on TV.
Love Japan. Great food made the slow old fashioned way, in a traditional manner with bar stool seating giving you a close up view of the owner/chef hard at work. And all of this for 1700¥…about $15 Cdn.
We have never stayed at a Dormy Inn before, but we are intrigued. Free ramen every night in the restaurant after 9:30 pm, free ice cream after using the onsite Onsen every night, natural hot spring Onsens on the top floor with indoor and outside (look at the stars) pools, free probiotic juice in the coolers by the onsen in the morning…such great perks.
Suffice it to say that we have loved the Dormy Inn. Initially, we wondered as the parking of our trikes confounded them. They offered us the opportunity to park our trikes at a parking garage 20 min away..we didn’t argue or make a scene…we simply said no. The poor desk clerk kept disappearing to the back room to confer with the manager. We were resolute. Finally the manager came out and asked if we would be willing to park them in the hotel’s entrance. We were gobsmacked as this was what we had been asking for…we quickly said yes. I imagine that a lot of what was being said could have been lost in the dueling devices communicating via Google Translatete, nonetheless, it worked out well and we were happy.
Our trikes are tucked in and ready to enjoy a much deserved rest at the Dormy In Hot Spring Kagoshima. Now, on to enjoy the delights of the Dormy in this order…. Onsen, ice cream, sleep, onsen in AM followed by probiotic juice. Life is sweet.
