Bad news, Good news

Bad news-I've exceeded my limit with my photos so I have had to make a new blog.

Good news-I've finally figured out how to reduce the size of photos I post on the internet so this should be the last time I have to change blogs in a good while.

My new blog is CyclingWalkingEating

Look forward to seeing you there!

Out and About Anbou

Sunrise

Cartoon characters outside a fish shop

Hara Manhole

Agapanthus

Agapanthus

Bridge over Anbou River

Yakushima Map

Hiro Bakery in Anbou

Breakfast from Hiro Bakery up the hill

Koi over the river

Fishing boats on the Anbou River

In front of a building beside Anbou River

By the shochu factory entrance

On the the shochu factory tour. One of those places I wish I could convey the smell-soo good.

Kamogawa offers a take-out option

Some of the Kamogawa take-out options

Sashimi Teishoku at Kamogawa

Close-up of Kame no te (Turtle claw) shellfish

At Anbou Port with Toppy-the hydrafoil that links Yakushima and Kagoshima-in the background

On my last day on Yakushima I left Hirauchi early to avoid the heat of the day.

As I was departing from Anbou Port I decided to go to Anbou and base myself there for the morning.

It was a lovely quick ride but I realized how lucky I had been till then with the weather being cloudy/rainy-it would have been really hot cycling in the midday sun every day.

I cycled up to Hiro Bakery for breakfast then coasted back down to the river to eat it. Afterwards I had a walk around admiring the view. Then with nothing I wanted to do before the shochu factory opened at 9am I caught up on some sleep.

At around 9am I went to the shochu factory and was guided around (-the shochu is in production from September to March so none of the machinery was in use) then enjoyed some shochu tasting.

After buying some shochu to take home I visited a local shrine then went off in search of other omiyage (souvenirs). This took me out to the other side of Anbou.

Once my shopping was done I was ready for a sit down in the shade and repaired to Kamogawa for an early lunch. While waiting and once done with the huge amount of food (-like at Chaya Hirano I couldn't finish it) I read some manga until it was time to go to the port.

This time I put my bike in the luggage storage among all the backpacks. Nice and easy.

All in all it was a very relaxed way to end my time on the island.

Out and About on Yakushima

Flowers outside a house

A bit battered but still pretty

I can finally really see the mountains!

Cute little park

Sign for Ponkan Tankan no Sato where island fruit products (and more) are sold

Outside Chaya Hirano

Some of the 18 plus lunch dishes at Chaya Hirano -mm mmm!

Chaya Hirano's Flying Fish is the best I've tasted on the island

Flying fish wing anyone?

All gone

At the Mitake Shochu Factory-not open to the public

Close-up of Mitake bottles

Toroki Falls Walk Entrance

Toroki Falls

Ashiyu outside Onoaida Hot Spring

Don't forget to wash your feet at the tap on the right first

Aa~ah? The water was luke warm but it was still a refreshing stop.

Tiramisu cheesecake and Kenyan Coffee at Blue Drop Cafe, Hirauchi

Sign for the Hirauchi Seaside Hot Spring

Hirauchi Seaside Hot Spring-underwater due to high tide-the only time to take photos. If you want to soak go when the tide's out.

Be careful it's slippery, No swimsuits or underwear allowed to be worn, No camping or drinking alcohol

Hirauchi Seaside Hot Spring

Shrine by Hirauchi Seaside Hot Spring

Must do's on Yakushima-cycle around, have lunch or dinner at Chaya Hirano, visit the falls, go to a hot spring, drink some island shochu

Cycling around Yakushima: Day 3

Nagata River

Looking back at Inakahama and Nagata Beach

Shy deer

First monkey met on the road

Yakushima Lighthouse

View from the lighthouse

Small shrine behind the lighthouse-one more step back and I would have been over the cliff-not a spot for the faint of heart!

This 21km is mostly through the park-really lovely.

Looking back at Yakushima Lighthouse

The clear water looks so inviting

Not so shy deer

Narrowest part of the road on the island-note this is 2-way

Biggest group of monkeys I saw on the island

One of the above group (on time-out?)

Monkeys hanging out on a rock in a river

The least shy deer of the day-was still standing there and looking at me after I'd passed by

One of the many fallen flowers

A stop on one of the last hills before the longest downhill stretch of my trip

Oko Falls

Oko Falls

Where I collected fresh water from near the falls-one of the top 100 places to do so in Japan

Looking back towards the falls from the water collection point

Bridge over Kurio River

Shrine in Kurio

Cat in Kurio

House in Kurio

Nakama Gajumaru Banyan

Nakama Gajumaru Banyan

Shrine near Yodomari

Cute bell

Cute crab on the shrine steps

One of the island stores selling everything from bento to fish bait.

Hachiban Shrine in Hirauchi

Ice-cream zenzai for lunch(!) at Shi-sa Shi-sa

Dinner bento at Hirauchi Youth Hostel

This was my favorite day because of the views, animals, and greenery. Also I completed my goal of circumnavigating the island by bicycle.

I started out at 7am on the bus from Hirauchi to Nagata. I then cycled from Nagata to the Yakushima Lighthouse, then along the Seibu Rindo and on to Hirauchi.

It started to rain while I was on the Seibu Rindo then fined up once I was in Kurio.

Looking forward to some lunch once at Hirauchi I went to Shi-sa Shi-sa but found they only served sweets and drinks. Decided on the delicious ice-cream zenzai. Back at base I filled up on the plentiful food at dinner.