Watch the Relive video here: (if you want to see the monkeys!
https://www.relive.com/view/vYvEGAExBG6
On the Road – Distance 56km / 35mi | Elevation 2295m / 7530ft
I tried to power as best I could with a with a car charger and power tower but to no avail…
After a little discussion with the construction worker, a slight detour got us on our way with first 4 km rollout pretty easy winding through a neighbourhood.
Then the fun started…a 30 km climb with average grade of 8%. This was no Essex County ride! We are riding on the famous Shikoku 88 trail (88 temples pilgrimage). We rode past 8 temples today (another 9 were in Matsuyama).
This route featured breathtaking scenery throughout – beautiful forests and clear streams with vegetation that changed as we rolled through the hills.
This was a fantastic opportunity to enjoy the views really make the most of this special ride, known as the most scenic in western Japan.
After a 5km traverse of Saijo city we enter the forests and begin our ascent following the Tani River up and up.. past 5 shrines, rice terraces through dense forest. And we saw another couple of pilgrims.
A quick pee break at an old copper mine turned into museum, then onward and upward
It was also the biggest climb we are to attempt on this Shogun Odyssey! As we ascended 1700m (5,578 ft)of elevation from the coast rising over the course of the day to almost 2200m. (7,218 ft)
And there were tunnels, 6 going up and then those same 6 coming back on this out and back ride. The lengths varied from 0.5 km to 1.5 km, and there was a drop of 10C in the tunnels compared to outside.
Then we turned onto one of Japan’s most famous routes heading into the peaks along the Kamegamori Rindo, known as the UFO Line which follows along the ridge at an elevation of 1,700 meters – it was magnificent with views of the sea behind us. At one point the road rose up and made a spiral 360 degree turn!
And we saw monkeys! Check out the Relive video at the top of the post to see the,!
The riding was superb with the snowy peaks always in our periphery.
Our ride today finished at the Ishizuchi Shrine where we regrouped, filled our water bottle From there we enjoyed a long descent, after a rolling UFO line to our fine hotel in Saijo.
Life is good in Saijo
Sayonara
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