Weekly Topics/Archive
May 2012
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Today is the last day of the tour.
Leaving V.O.C Shima Yacht Harbour which took care of us during our stay,
we come back home.
I'm going to get to JR Atami station with everyone by Hasegawa-san's car
and then go back to my home
in Yokohama by JR train.
I heard we take a shortcut without driving along Ise Bay.
That is, we go to Irago Port located at the tip of the Atsumi Peninsula
from Toba by ferry and then take
the Tomei Highway from Hamamatsu interchange.
The actual route was as below.
We are scheduled to take the 10:50 ferry of Isewan Ferry.
And so I was very busy after getting up.
It was because I had to pack my bike and send it to my home in Kusatsu
by home-delivery service.
It's the time for our saying goodby to the villa of the V.O.C where we
stayed at on the first day and yesterday.
We headed to the pier in Toba leaving the harbor at 9 a.m.
It took about 55 minutes to get to Irago from Toba.
Please click the picture to see a full-size version.
At the cafe at the ferry terminal |
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The pier of Isewan Ferry |
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The car loaded with a bike on its roof on board the ferry |
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The small boat getting into Toba Port
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The cargo ship which travels
on the Ise Bay |
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Irago Port
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I heard in this route we can't shorten the travel time but the travel distance of about 100 kilometers
between Toba and Hamamatsu.
We drived along the coastline of Atsumi Peninsula for a while and on the way had a lunch break
at the eating facility “Saburou”.
Please click the picture to see a full-size version.
As expected, what I ordered was unaju.
( Unaju means broiled eels on rice. )
I want to believe the eels are from Hamamatsu.( )
We took the Tomei Highway from Hamamatsu to Numazu interchange and dropped
tamma-san off
at home in Kannami and Bruce-san at JR Kurumiya station.
After that, I was dropped off in front of JR Atami station and said good-by.
Hasegawa-san, thank you for your driving for a long time.
[Note] take a shortcut ； ショ−トカットする、 at the tip of 〜；〜の先端に、come into port ；入港する
cargo ship ; 貨物船、 loaded with 〜 ; 〜を搭載した、 eating facility ; お食事処、 unaju ; うな重
broil ; 網焼きする、 eel ; ウナギ、 drop someone off at home ; (人)を車で家まで送る
Japanese Diary / No.449−2012.05.27 /
「伊勢志摩サイクリングツア−(第5日目−5月17日−)
Today is the final day of the tour.
Just like the weather forecast, it is very fine, entirely different from
yesterday.
Today's cycling route is as below.
And that is, we take a ferry boat from Goza Port to Hamazima Port and then
cycle along the coastline
to V.O.C Shima Yacht Harbor.
We had commemorative photos taken before leaving the inn.
I heard from okami-san that there is a shoaling beach with white sand
just near her inn and it bustles
with beachgoers as Goza swimming beach during the seaon.
It took about ten minutes by small ferry from Goza Port to Hamazima Port.
Please click the picture to see a full-size version.
My favorite bike
“ESCAPE”waiting a ferry boat in Goza Port |
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A ferry boat coming into port
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The load of our bike into the ferry boat
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Two guys on the ferry boat
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Setting out to cycle after getting off at Hamazima Port
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From here, we are going to cycle along the coastline of Kumano-nada Sea
and then the Gokasyo Bay.
Tamma-san who was riding his bike ahead around Konsa in Minami-Ise Town gave us the signal for regular
tea time.
We stopped by a cafe “England”.
Little did I dream that there would be such a fashionable cafe in a rural
town like this.
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| Today's tea time at the cafe “England” |
We arrived safely at the harbor early in the afternoon after lunch in Gokasyo.
The view of V.O.C Shima Yacht Harbor |
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Today's trip distance was 23.7 Km.
The total of trip distance over three days was about 143 Km.
Nobody had a flat tire during the tour.
We have sometimes such a rare case!
In the afternoon, as scheduled, we enjoyed leisurely sailing in the Gokasyo Bay on shimizu-san's yacht
ZENON.
Shimizu-san, thank you for your hospitarity.
Please click the picture to see a full-size version.
Shimizu-san's yacht, ZENON |
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The track chart of our sailing in Gokasyo Bay
(Illustrated by tamm-san) |
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The view of Taso Cape, and Goza Cape in the distance |
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Please click the picture to see a full-size version.
The scene of sailing
(Photo by tamma-san)
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The scene of sailing
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The view of the entrance
of Gokasyo Bay
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The finding of a yacht
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The view of Shima
yacht harbor in
the distance |
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The scenes of barbecue
party against the yacht
harbor
(Photo by tamma-san)
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After sailing, we had a seafood barbecue party on the terrace at the restaurant of the club house.
We had our fill of seafood with beer and wine.
This year's long-distance cycling come to an end with this tour.
With usual partners, this cycling tour was really pleasant.
[Note] that is ； すなわち, shoaling beach ； 遠浅の海岸、 bustle with 〜 ； 〜で賑わう
beachgoer ；海水浴客、 Little did I dream that 〜 ； まさか 〜(that 以下) とは夢にも思わなかった
Kumano-nada Sea ； 熊野灘, ahead ； 先頭で(に立って), 前方で、 have a flat tire ； パンクする
leisurely ； ゆったりした、 Thank you for your hospitarity ； お世話になりありがとうございます
track chart ； 航跡図, in the distance ； 遠方に、 have one's fill of 〜 ； 〜を堪能(満喫)する, 〜をたらふく食べる
long-distance cycling；長距離サイクリング、 come to an end with 〜；〜で(主語)が閉幕(終了)する
To be continued Weekly Topics / No.169−May26th.2012 /
“Cycling tour around Ise and Shima(The last day on May 17)”  Posting soon!
Japanese Diary / No.448−2012.05.26 /
「伊勢志摩サイクリングツア−(第4 日目−5 月16 日−)」
I took a view bath after getting up.
As expected, it is rainning lightly outside the window.
Wearing a windbreaker or a cloak for the rain, being sent off by okami-san
of the inn, we headed to
Toshi Port where there is a regular boat pier.
This municipal regular boat is the means of transportation for the island's
people.
The passengers to Toba were workers, students, people attending a funeral,
including us.
The boat arrived at Toba Marine Terminal in about 40 minutes.
Our bikes were unloaded after all the passengers got off.
Today's trip route is as below.
Our original plan was to cycle along the coast line from Toba Port and stop at the lighthouse in Anorizaki
and Daiouzaki.
However, we can't expect a great view of them in this rain.
So we decided to change the plan and take a short cut so that we took a
route to get to a inn in Gozamisaki scheduled for stay, heading south on
Pearl Road.
When we cycled on the Prefectural Road 750 in the rain, Bruce-san found a cafe and gave us the signal
to have a coffee break.
It was the fashionable log-house-like cafe, “Rider's Coffee & Rest
House ROUTE 750”.
Just as the name suggests, it looks like the rider's favorite cafe.
Please click the picture to see a full-size version.
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| Rider's Coffee & Rest House ROUTE 750 |
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A coffee break |
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Leaving the cafe |
Cycling along the road for a while after that, we got to Pearl Road.
It was still rainining and so I cycled carefully not to slip.
I tried to stay sharp because the steep downhills bring high speed riding
to us.
I rode my bike lighting front and rear LED lamps so that drivers of the
oncoming cars may visibly recognize me.
The intersection in the rain around Ise-Shima Royal Hotel (in Isobe town, Shima City) |
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We had a lunch at a cafe restaurant, “Eastpoint”, near the end of Pearl
Road.
Cafe restaurant “Eastpoint” (Photo by tamma-san) |
We ordered beef curry.
We put a cold beer on ice until dinner and settled for a coffee.
I felt cold because my undershirt was wet with rains.
I felt refreshed changing into a dry one.
From here we head straight along the by-path of Route260 to the inn in
Gozamisaki.
Luckily it stopped raining.
On the way, we crossed a beautiful pearl arch-type bridge.
I heard it's Shima-ohashi, commonly known as Shima Pearl Bridge.
Please click the picture to see a full-size version.
Shima Pearl Bridge |
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The view from Shima Pearl Bridge
(Photo by tamma-san) |
It was, perhaps, before 4 p.m. when we got to the tourist inn “Gozamisaki”.
Right away, we were led to a rumbling and typical country tool-house.
We put bikes in and hung helmets and windbreakers on the clotheslines.
A friendly old woman like former okami-san came to us.
She might have seen our wet things.
She was kind enough to arrange the drying room to dry not only underwear
but also cycling wear.
I'm very pleased that she gave such a little attention to us.
The dinner began with many dishes on the table this evening.
Off course, main dishes are fresh sea foods.
They served two types of abalone dishes per head.
In consideration of our party organizer's intention that he wouldn't like
to do a cruel thing at his age,
we have chosen sashimi and toban-yaki and not zankoku-yaki as its recipe.
We spent our today's evening enjoying fine food and local sake.
I can probably sleep deeply.
We can expect clear weather tomorrow.
Today's trip distance was 54.8 Kilometers.
[Note] view bath；展望風呂, okami-san (proprietress) ；女将さん、 munincipal ； 市営の
take a route to get to 〜 ； 〜に至るル−トをとる、 Pearl Road ； パ−ルロ−ド、 log-house-like ； ログハウス風の
rider's favorite cafe ； ライダ−御用達のカフェ−、 stay sharp ； 気を抜かない、 steep downhill；下りの激坂
oncoming car ； 対向車、 visibly recognize ； 視認する、 put 〜 on ice ； 〜をお預けにする, 〜を凍結する
settle for 〜 ； 〜で我慢する、 felt refreshed ； すっきりする, be commonly known as〜 ； 通称 〜である
tourist inn ； 観光旅館, right away；さっそく、 lead someone to 〜 ； 人を〜に案内する
hang 〜on a clothesline；物干竿に干す、 be kind enough to 〜；親切にも〜する
I'm pleased that 〜 ； (that)以下のことが)うれしいです、 give a little attention to 〜 ； 〜にちょっとした心配りをする
abalone dish ； アワビ料理, in consideration of 〜 ； 〜を考慮して
intention that someone would like to 〜；〜したいという意向
do a cruel thing ； 残酷なことをする、 toban-yaki ；陶板焼き、 zankoku-yaki；残酷焼き
To be continued Weekly Topics / No.168−May25th.2012 /
“Cycling tour around Ise and Shima(Third day on May 15) ”
Japanese Diary / No.447−2012.05.25 /
「伊勢志摩サイクリングツア−(第3 日目−5 月15 日−)」
We go for a cycle ride with our favorite bike for three days from today.
I minimized my personal items to keep my backpack as light as possible.
They are extra underwear and jersey shirts, a windbreaker, replacement tubes, bicycle pump,
digital camera, stationery and etc.
After breakfast, we had a commemorative photo taken against a background
of V.O.C yacht harbour
before departure.
It's clear and sunny, but will become unsettled late in the afternoon.
So I feel a little gloomy.
Today's cycling route is as below.
Shima Yacht Harbour → Turugitoge → Ise Shrine → (Okage Yokocho) → Toba
Aquarium →
Sadahama pier of Toba Port → Momotori Port of Toshi Island → Japanese-style
Inn “Kikuya”
in Toshi Town
In this tour, Turugitoge is the hardest part of the course.
There is a uphill road with the grade of 300 meters to 5 kilometers.
It was grueling for cyclyst.
Three riders who pedal huffing and puffing up a hill just near Turugitoge |
We took a short break and replaced fluid lost in sweat.
Please click the picture to see a full-size version.
We had a commemorative photo taken before leaving the pass.
As soon as we cross the pass, we are in Ise City.
We get stars in our eyes because some downhills and flat roads mostly continue.
We got to Ise Shrine (inner shrine) as we cycled on the road (Mie Prefectural
Road 12) which run through
lonely villages in mountain ravines.
Ise Shrine (inner shrine) |
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We visited inner shrine.
Off course, we changed into a formal suit so as not to be disrespectful
of the Deity and took off our helmet.
When I say a formal suit, I mean we just wore cotton or jeans pants over
cycling shorts.
When we went down the approach, there were a crowd of people and some Shinto priests dressed in
white among them around the daiichi-ootorii (first grand shrine gate).
When I asked one of them what happened, he answered today is May fourteenth
and so Kanmiso-sai,
which is one of annual celebration of Ise Shrine, would be held.
I heard it's the ceremony for Gods to change clothes for summer.
Please click the picture to see a full-size version.
Kanmiso-sai is held on May 14. |
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The preparation for the 62nd Shikinen sengu, which will be held in 2013,
was under way at inner shrine.
The Shikinen sengu means construction of a new shrine and transfer of
the enshrined object from the old to the new every 20 years.
I heard it has been held for 1600 years or more.
And so the new building under construction was covered with white sheets.
The new building covered with white sheets under construction for the 62nd
Shikinen sengu |
After worshiping, we came to Okage-Yokocho nearby to have a late lunch.
It was very crowded with people traveling to Ise.
The subsidiary of Akafuku Ltd which caused a mislabeling incident of changing use-by dates on akafuku,
a Japanese rice cake, has operated Okage-Yokocho, I never knew.
We entered the restaurant, Ebiya.
A glass of cold beer, Asahi Supper Dry draft beer with Ise lobster(?) we drank after visiting the shrine was
great !
We cycled along the coast of Futamigaura to next stop, Toba Aquarium.
How nostalgic I feel !
This is the first time since my school trip that I've visited Futamigaura.
Unfortunately, we didn't visit Meotoiwa in the interest of time.
The entrance of Toba Aquarium |
I have ever seen an aquiarium on TV but this is my first time to visit
it.
Entrance fee was 2000 yen by using senior discount.
This seems to be pretty good business.
This is a large three-storied aquarium.
Varriety of colorful fishes is swiming livelily.
It might cost a lot of money to keep so many varieties of fish and so many
fishes healthy.
Please click the picture to see a full-size version.
After visiting the aquarium, we took a small regular liner from nearby
Sadahama of Momotori Port of Toshi Island.
From here, we cycled along the main road of the island, called “Skyline”,
to Japanese-style inn “Kikuya”.
When we arrived at the Japanese inn, it began to sprinkle.
We have to expect that it will be rainy tomorrow.
The inn was comletely vacant.
After relaxing in the tenbouburo(View Bath), we enjoyed dinner.
Off course, main dishes were fresh seafoods.
Please look at the photos below.
They're perfect !
Please click the picture to see a full-size version.
Today's trip distance was 64.2 kilometers.
[Note] go for a cycle ride ； サイクリングに出かける， favourite ； 愛用の
personal items ； 身の回り品, extra underwear ； 着替え用下着、 replacement tube ； 交換用チュ−ブ
bicycle pump ； 自転車用空気入れ、 stationery ； 筆記具、 gloomy； 鬱陶しい、 Toba Aquarium； 鳥羽水族館
huffing and puffing；青息吐息で, ハ−ハ−と息を切らして
replace fluid lost in sweat ； 汗で失われた水分を補給する
grade of 300 meters to 5 kilometers ； 300 m / 5 Km の勾配、 grueling ；非常に骨の折れる，へとへとに疲れさせる
get stars in one's eyes ； ルンルン気分になる, mountain ravine ； 山あい
so as not to do 〜 ； 〜しないように, 〜するといけないので、 be disrespectful of 〜 ； 〜に対して非礼(失礼)だ
approach；参道、 Shrine priest；神官, daiichi-ootorii (first grand shrine gate) ；大鳥居
dressed in white ； 白装束の、 Kanmiso-sai ； 神御衣祭(かんみそさい)、 Shikinen sebgu ； 式年遷宮
under way ； 進行中で、 worship ； 参拝する、 subsidiary ； 子会社, use-by date ； 消費期限, mislabeling ；不正表示
Japanese rice cake ； 餅、 senior discount ； 高齢者割引、 school trip ； 修学旅行
in the interest of time ； 時間の都合で、 keep 〜healthy ； 〜を健康に維持する
regular liner ； 定期船、 tenbouburo(View Bath) ； 展望風呂
To be continued Weekly Topics / No.167−May24th.2012 /
“Cycling tour around Ise and Shima(Third day on May 15) ”
Japanese Diary / No.445−2012.05.23 /
「伊勢志摩サイクリングツア−(第2日目−5月14日−)」
It is the first day of the cycling tour around Ise and Shima, which has been planned for some time
by tamma−san.
Today, tour members travel from their home to V.O.C Shima Yacht Harbour
in Minami-ise Town, Mie Prefecture, where is the starting and finishing
points for the tour.
The members are four cycling and yachting friends of mine.
I travel from Kusatsu in Shiga Prefecture and other members from Atami,
Kannami and Izu-Kogen in Shizuoka Prefecture.
We will also stay at an apartment style of villa of the harbour today and
on the final day of the tour.
According to the weather forecast, it will rain late in the afternoon tomorrow
throughout the country.
However, there is an irony in this, because it's been clear and sunny since
morning today.
I used the JR Kusatsu Line from Kusatsu, the JR Kansai Line from Tuge,
the JR Kisei Line from Kameyama and Kintetsu Line from Tsu station to get
to Shima-Isobe station, which is the nearest station to the harbour.
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| Train cars of JR Kansai Line at Kameyama station |
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Train car of JR Kisei Line at Kameyama station |
For your information, transfer guide on the Net shows only a train route
using Kintetsu Line from Kyoto
station to get to Shima-Isobe.
I live in Kusatsu City and usually use JR Line from Kusatsu station.
I remembered that JR Kusatsu station is connected with Tsuge station in
Mie Prefecture by JR Kusatsu Line.
I checked train routes from Kusatsu to Shima-Isobe on the timetable.
In the case of the route using JR Kusatsu Line, I found it takes about
the same amount of time and the train
fare is 1,400 yen cheaper than the route using only Kintetsu Line.
So, I used JR Kusatsu Line for the first time.
Fresh green leaves produced vivid colors in mountain ravines on the border
of Shiga and Mie Prefectures.
After the train left the mountains behind, rice paddies which had been
rice-planted spread out endlessly.
It might be the Ise Plain.
The landscape that I saw from the train's windows, even in the train, was
really idyllic.
I took a Mie Kotsu's bus from Shima-Isobe bus stop for about 20 minutes
and then got off at Gokasyo
bus center.
Shimizu-san who is President of Shima YH picked me up there.
I got to yacht harbour before 3 p.m. and joined everyone from Atami.
The club house of V.O.C Shima Yacht Harbour |
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The name plate at the entrance of the Yacht harbour |
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A lot of yachts are moored at the big harbour in the quiet bay.
The view of yacht harbour from the club house |
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Everyone who relaxes on the sofa at the club house |
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According to Shimizu-san, V.O.C (Vivre Ocean Club) is a yacht club based
at Shima Yacht Harbour and
the chairman is Mr. Shintaro Ishihara.
I heard it's a well-known yacht harbour among yachtsmen in the wold and
some of them sometimes stop here.
A yacht from Canada is now in the harbour, I heard.
After I unpacked my bike which was sent via parcel delivery service and
put it back together, I walked around the harbour by smell of ocean.
Parents and children were enjoying fishing at the pontoon.
They was fishing small mackerels with sabiki rigs one after another.
We enjoyed dinner with a glass of local sake or wine or beer at a restaurant
of the club house.
As might be expected, main dishes were fresh seafoods.
They were abalone, turban shell, oyster, bonito, porgy and octopus.
Everything was fresh and delicious.
Especially, katsuo no tataki (lightly roasted bonito) which was made with
bonito caught off the coast
of Shima was excellent.
A bottle of local sake and some seafoods |
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Katsuo no tataki (lightly roasted bonito) |
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[Note] V.O.C Shima Yacht Harbour ； V.O.C 志摩ヨットハ−バ−
an apartment style of villa ； マンション風のヴィラ、 train route ； 列車の路線, timetable ； 時刻表
it takes about the same amount of time；かかる時間が同じ、 fresh green leaves ; 新緑，vivid ； 鮮やかな
mountain ravine ； 山あい、 leave 〜 behind ； 〜(場所)をあとにする、〜を通り抜ける、 rice paddies ； 水田
the Ise Plain；伊勢平野, idyllic；のどかな，mighty；大きな、 moor ； 係留する,pontoon ； 浮桟橋
sabiki rig ； サビキ仕掛け、 As might be expected ； さすがに， abalone ； アワビ、 turban shell ； サザエ
bonito ； カツオ， porgy ；タイ、 katsuo no tataki (lightly roasted bonito) ； カツオのたたき
To be continued Weekly Topics / No.166−May23rd.2012 /
“Cycling tour around Ise and Shima(Second day on May 14) ”
Japanese Diary / No.444−2012.05.22 /
「伊勢志摩サイクリングツア−(第１日目-5月13日-)」
 TOPペ−ジへ戻る
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