Taking a power nap at Tsushidakinrin
Morioka city is quite small. At least that's what I thought. It is the capital of the Iwate prefecture. Iwate prefecture is located on the northeastern top of Japan. It is bordered to the north by Aomori, to the west by Akita, and to the south by Miyagi.
After all night cycling, I reached Morioka city at around 7am. The city streets were not full as expected. As I was stopping to check my google map I noticed a bunch of kids walking in a straight line on the opposite side from me.
Each one was following the student in front with one adult walking in front and the other behind as guards. They must be heading to school on a holiday, I thought. In Japan, there seem to be no holidays for kids. Even on school holidays, the kids are still required to do other school activities and even the homework is prepared specifically for the kids to do while on holidays.
While I was cycling to Morioka I planned to take a nap there when I arrive. So, when I arrived at Morioka I started looking for a park to rest my feet and take a nap. I searched google map and found Tsushidakinrin Park. This is the park nearest to me. I then headed in the direction where google map pointed me to.
The road to the park took me away from Route 4 into the streets of Morioka. Soon the buildings and the street gave way to a beautiful green space. I found myself at my Tsusuhidakinrin park. I stopped for a few seconds as I watched little kids playing at the elementary school's playground next to the park. Then I pushed my bike and walked around the park looking for a good spot to rest. The park is a typical Japanese park where you have trees, walking tracks, a kids playground, benches, and of course! , toilets, and drinking water. It took me around 5 minutes to finally spot the best place to take a power nap.
10 minutes after arriving a found a small shelter with a good bench to lay down. I parked my bike in front of me. Unstrapped my light reflector and removed my backpack. I used my backpack as a pillow on the bench and rest my head on it. That's all it took for me to fall asleep in less than 1 minute.
Beautiful view of Kitakami river from Route 4 on the overpass.
Heading to Hachinohe.
When I woke up it was 9 am. My stomach was begging for food. I checked my backpack and found a packet of bread and a tin fish. I brought them with me all the way from Sendai city. I quickly opened the packet of bread took out two lofts, opened the tin fish, and sandwiched the tin fish between the bread. My stomach was so empty it took me just four bites to finish the whole bread. I then drank water from the water dispenser in the park. Hurriedly packed my things and set out again. Headed back to Route 4.
Today's trip, I estimated to take me at least 4 to 5 hours. It will be short cycling just 100km and I will be in Hachinohe. I left Morioka city and slowly cycled northbound onto Route 4. This time there were more people and cars on the streets. Not the same as when I arrived. I found Route 4 a few kilometers into my cycling and continued on my journey.
When I left Morioka city the weather was fine, sunny, and warm. I prayed that it would be a good day. Please don't rain on me, I said to the clouds.
Hachinohe in 5 hours
I left Morioka city and followed Route 4. My cycling will take me through Iwate city, Ichinohe city, and Inohe city. All these cities are on Route 4.
Four hours into my cycling and the clear blue skies slowly vanished. Rain clouds started gathering up ahead. I came prepared, I bought a raincoat and wore light polymers clothing that doesn't stay wet for too long.
At around 2 pm a huge storm met me on the way. The rain was so heavy it felt like a tropical storm. Back in Papua New Guinea, such heavy rain storms don't last long, I thought. However, the rain keeps getting bigger and bigger.
I also faced another problem. Narrow road and no space for a bicycle. Hugh trucks are zooming past at a very speed. During heaving storms like these, the driver's vision is not good, I thought from my experiences back home as a driver myself.
So at Mido, I pulled to the side of the road and took shelter under a small tree while waiting for the rain to pass.
After the rain passed, I took off and did smooth cycling all the way to Inohe city. I only stopped when I wanted to take pictures or take a drink. I never had the chance to take pictures the night before on my trip from Sendai to Morioka. But this time, I have all the time to take pictures.
At Ninohe city just before I took the shortcut Route 395 and 340, I made a stop at a Family Mart convenience store and bought water and cake. I took a few minutes to eat and rest. My leg was a bit tired. So the rest made my legs feel much better. In Japan, if you decided to bike through the mountains it is important to eat full stomach or bring extra food with you. Because they are no stores in the mountains and most time, no people live in the mountains.
Passing through the direction board at Kazuya.
Route 395 and 340.
I did not want to take Routes 395 and 340. It was the google map recommendation with its screen pop-up messaging saying "we have found a shorter route with less traffic, take Route 395 ". I once went to Wakanani, north of Hokkaido, and google map recommended I take a shorter route. It was dark and I regretted making the decision to follow google. The road google map recommended led me into the darkness of the mountains and forest. I became very tired and exhausted. There were no street lights, no houses, just the night's darkness surrounding me on all sides.
This time I don't want to make the same mistake but the edge to take a shorter route to Hachinohe was very strong. So, I went ahead and took Route 395. Before taking it I looked ahead at where I was heading. I saw lots of mountains ahead.
I knew this route is going to be tough. My legs are already exhausted from non-top cycling in the last 4 hours. But I also love mountains. Cycling through mountains is difficult but it's amazing. In Japan fewer people live in the mountains so by going through the mountains you will get to enjoy the real beauty of nature.
The satisfaction you get when reaching the top is superb, and the view at the top of every climb is mesmerizing. Trust me if you cycle, take the mountain roads on your next bike trip.
The forever climb.
After I turned off Route 4 and took Route 395 I cycled for a few 100metres and I started the first steep uphill climb. In my mind, I was already cursing the moment I saw the mountains and the road. I thought it will be a short climb. But to my surprise reaching the top seemed forever. About 200m uphill, the hill started getting steeper. I had to get off my bike and push it. Paddling up was difficult.
My leg can't take the weight of the bike. The power I applied on the paddles to climb was not within my muscle power to drive the heavy bike up the steep hill.
When I finally thought I reached the top my happiness was short-lived because there were more hills to climb. At the same time, it started to get dark. The road goes through the mountain's forest and the sunlight dimmed under the trees. The shadows of the forest slowly crept into whatever sunlight was available on the forest floor.
From there the road seemed to go up forever. Every time I reached one mountain top. I keep saying to myself this must be it. This is the top, right but then there is another top. Mannnnn!, I was so mad. My head was screaming. I starting to get mad at google map. If google map was a person I would beat him up already. But then I kept telling myself I knew what I was getting myself into but I took the route anywhere.
The climbing went on for what seemed forever. All my energy was gone. I ate all my energy bars on this single mountain road. I also finished my water and I am getting desperate for water. I started to feel dehydrated. I keep asking myself in desperation, where is the top? when is this climb going to end?
Around 6pm or 7pm, I finally reached what I believed is the final top and the end of my desperate struggle to reach the top. I stopped my bike and took a 15-minute break. I was so hungry and thirsty. But the break gave me strength and a good feeling. I made it. Though, the view was not good from the mountain top where I am. I was so happy to finish the climb and ready to start my descend
On my descending, I rod in Route 340 and followed it all the way into Hachinohe. Route 340 has few climbs but It was much better. I made it into Hachinhoe just after dark. Hachinohe city is big. Not too big like Sendai but reasonably big. I cycled into the city, through downtown, pasted downtown, and followed the coast down to the Ferry Port. It took me almost an hour to finally reached the Ferry port from the southern end of the city to the Ferry port on the northern seaboard.
The beautiful rock view.
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