Hot and sunny by the time we left Rishiri Town to go the long way to the ferry, it looked like this may have been a better day to climb the mountain.
The little bridge to the shrine is still bigger than the shrine.
Earlier we’d noticed small boats returning, wondering what their catch was.
Stopping at this garage on the side of the main road, we found out as we watched this family processing the morning’s haul.
Quite the hive of industry on a Sunday morning. But not so busy that we didn’t try to communicate and find out what each other was doing.
Sea urchins, uni – spiky!
Very tasty too, can see why they’re a delicacy – both from the work involved and the taste.
Off we continued on the very quiet road, the peak now starting to cloud over.
Stopping at a pond that is known for its clear reflection of Mt Rishiri, the cloud had built further to deny us that.
But there were plenty of big butterflies and irises to catch the eye. Expensive scallops cooked in the shell satisfied the taste buds too.
Not a better day to climb the mountain.
Rachel’s photo as we headed up the east coast, pretty sure we’d make the ferry in time.
Nice cycle trail through forest as we approached port, over those bridges spied each of the previous two days.
Ferry docking, Rebun on the horizon.
With plenty of time to spare, Orlaith and Rachel went and climbed this – my legs were not interested after Mt Rishiri descent.
Never found out if the takeout was that good.
Ferry boarding and bike lashing completed, it was a shorter voyage to Rebun.
Those bridges again; still not completely sure how such bridges became part of a cycle trail. Some narrow gauge railway (but why would there be one here?) vibes in part, but I can’t find anything about the history of them.
Goodbye Rishiri – a fun island stay, pity we didn’t quite get the views for the price my legs paid on the hike descent!
Was not a busy sailing.
A short ride up the east coast to a bay at the north of the Rebun (see second map below) was only punctuated by a konbini stop for the next twenty hours’ food. Having worked out the various details of the campground and pitched our tents, we got back on the unloaded (!) bikes to see what was along the north west peninsula.
Yet another island it turned out!
And some impressive cliffs.
Old fields fading away, another sign these places used to support far more people than nowadays.
Rachel and Orlaith headed further down the west coast for more spectacular views, but having been got separated somewhere I was happy to return to camp, being quite tired now from ten days of heat, humidity and little sleep. A call home helped as the afternoon cooled a little into prevening in pleasant surroundings.
