la bicyclette bleue: The Ramen Run in Kyushu: circular ride around Ibusuki

21 February 2017 (44 km)

Watched the TV this morning and saw the effects of the extreme wind yesterday.

We were called for our breakfast which was an enormous spread of Japanese bits and pieces in our own private kiosk. The food was kept warm by ducting the steam from the mountain and heating the water in the worktop holding some of our food.

We then decided to climb the steep but shorter route to Lake Ikeda. It was a tough ride with a 4km climb through pine forests, averaging about 8%. Then came the fast descent to the huge lake. Lake Ikeda, a caldera lake, is the largest lake in Kyushu with a depth of 233m. Large eels which grow to a length of 2m live in the lake. Just before getting to the lake, we saw a group of young Japanese riders racing up the hill. We found out a few minutes later that they were the Shimano Pro Racing team as we stopped at their van and asked if we could borrow a pump. The manager of the team was very friendly and helped us. He had ridden as a pro in Italy and had completed the Giro d'Italia a few times. He said that his team was training in the area that day and would cycle for 200km.

We then visited a rather strange restaurant, Tosenkyo Flowing Noodle where the noodles or somen-nagashi are tipped into a swirling bowl of water and you have to catch them with your chopsticks. The fresh spring water used to prepare the noodles gives it a light and refreshing taste.

We finished off the ride, cycling to the side of Mt Kaimon (known by locals as "Satsumafuji") which looked spectacular on a clear day. We returned to the hotel for another hot bath and then got ourselves buried in sand for 10 minutes. It was very hot but soothing. We were wrapped in yukatas and sand was shovelled up to our chins.

That evening, we returned to the last night's izakaya to taste some more barbecue pork, washed down with a local shochu. All in all, it was a very pleasant day.