2014 Nivember 18th – 22nd Shimane and Matsue Solo Ride
Day 1 – Tokyo – Shimonoseki – Nagato
Took a 1:30 AM start from Tokyo as I wanted to enjoy the Chugoku expressway in the daylight. After 7 years of abuse, my Zumo 550 mount was starting to fall in to pieces. Having lost the locking latch, I had to put some rubber bands in place to ensure the unit won’t just drop out. I have changed the mount since then…
Pretty uneventful ride all the way up to Shimonoseki with some good weather on the way.
From Shimonoseki, I took the coastel route towards Shimane. Here the weather was not so great and rain looked imminent.
Finally it started raining. I waited for some time for the weather to clear as, as it was still early in the day and I could have ridden more. But eventually I gave up and checked in a Ryokan hotel which had a nice roof onsen. Countryside view from the 7th floor hotel room.
Day 2 – Nagato – Yuyu Island – Omi Island – Hagi – Masuda – Hamada
Woke up early in the morning as today I wanted to reach and ride in Shimane. The morning sky after the overnight rain was brilliant!
And a massive rainbow in perfect full arch was out!. The 24mm lens on my EOS M was not wide enough to capture it in entirety, which is a shame…
It rained on and off a bit in the morning but wasn’t as bad as yesterday. Continuing along the coastal route soon I reached the beautiful bridge to Tsunoshima.
Crossing over to Tsunoshima, I went to Cape Yumegasaki which also has a small park (Tsunoshimatodai park) near the light house. One more Cape, lighthouse ticked!
On the way back, I stopped in the middle of the bridge to take this photo. A small Island with its lighthouse parallel to the bridge and almost midpoint between the mainland and Tsunoshima.
The weather open up a bit after this. Shame I didn’t had such good light when taking pic of the bridge to Tsunoshima…
Continuing along the route in to Kawajiri – Kawashiri Mistaki – one more ticked!
And then a quick stroll through Yuyu Island
Next Omi Island, some very good scenery here despite the overcast day!
A Jinja gate in the middle of water, so typical of Japan!
Continuing towards Hagi
Next Pond in Hagi near Shiukayama Shrine
Some clicks in Abu. This reminded of the setup I saw in South Korea, exactly same!
Pan cakes ?
A park of some sorts…
Finally after some more riding, I called it a day. Checked in to hotel in Hamada and found a nice little setup for dinner nearby.
Day 3 – Hamada – Kitahiroshia – Oonan – Matsue (Shinji-Ko and Hinamisaki)
Took at detour from coastel routes this morning and went inland on route 186. Turned out to be quite cold for this time of the year…!
Lake Sensui-Ko.
Rusty winter colors which my camera couldn’t capture well…
From Kita-Hiroshima, Took the turn back North towards Matsue on route 433. Nice scenery along this one too.
Cutting throuh Onnan on route 261, a picture perfect country house!
Some tiny roads through Misato..
Finally Hikawa River.
I then made a loop around Lake Shinji Ko. By this time, Sun was starting to come down… Some pics of the Lake.
Realizing I could perhaps reach for a beautiful sunset from Cape Hinomisaki, I then rushed towards Izumo.
The sun was coming down after though. Almost down at Inasanohama beach, some 10 kms from Hinomisaki
Finally arrived at Hinomisaki. The S10 with the light house.
Checked in at Hirata Maple hotel after this and called it a day.
Day 4 – Izumo – Jijozaki – Esashi Island – Daikon Island – Tokyo
Plan was to go to Cape Jijozaki and then to Tokyo on this day.
Brilliant sunrise over Lake ShinjiKo this morning as I rode along the Lake on route 431.
Some more pics en route to Cape Jizozaki, including a shrine by a friends name 
Finally the Cape itself.
Clicked a selfie here, poor lighting but proof that I ticked off another light-house !
Headed to the E Island next (Esashi) and Daikon Island next. Pics on the way
Some beautiful views of of Lake Nakaumi from Esashi and Daikon Island
After circling Daikon Jima, I then headed back home. Quite uneven full ride back home.
S10 at bridge to Tsunoshima
GPS stats
