August 15, 2018
Teshio
It started raining early this morning - it has rained every day since we got to Japan a week ago - and it didn't really let up until late this afternoon. By that time we had pushed on up to Teshio where we hoped to find a hotel or guesthouse for the night because the weather forecast suggested it would be wet and windy. In the end we had to settle for a campsite, one for which we had to pay although at 500 Yen or R120 it didn't break the bank. It has a so-so Onsen within walking distance, which we made use of, and a suprisingly good SeicoMart about a kilometer away. SeicoMarts are not usually the best konbinis but they are the ones most likely to be found on Hokkaido. This one had a great area in which we could sit and enjoy our supper, a simple pork bowl with a fresh salad which was also good.
We had a quick stop to look at a big Shag alongside the road, with real fake guano at its feet. We also stopped for a while in Shosanbetsu to check out the very pretty campsite there. If things had gone to plan we would have met our friend Siew Yung here a two nights ago.
The road up here started off slightly inland from the coast and was a series of rolling hills until we got to Enbetsu where we stopped and enjoyed a large lunch of fried chicken and rice at the Mich-no-Eki. Then we were able to divert off the main road onto a side road next the coast for most of the rest of the way to Teshio. The wind was from the north east and was a bit of a pain but, with the exception of our first day out of Chitose, we have mostly had favourable winds so we can't complain.
There were quite a few Japanese cycle tourists on the road today, most of whom seemed in quite a hurry. There are also a few staying at our campsite tonight as well. One of them (a chap closer to our age than most of the others who seem to be a lot younger) came over and had a good natter with us. Interestingly, he warned us about bike theft. We have always felt that Japan is such a crime free country but I guess things happen everywhere. It seems that everywhere across the world local people feel that crime is out of hand in their own country.
Today's ride: 71 km (44 miles)
Total: 352 km (219 miles)
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