Shibetsu / Betsukai
We rode down the eastern side of the Shiretoko Peninsula in no time. Our original plan was to find a nice little campsite on the other side of the peninsula in Raosu, but the closest campsite to the town didn't have any bath or shower facilities. Well, it didn't matter for most folks as they can drive down to the town for a soak in an onsen before driving back up the hill in air-conditioned comfort. However, we decided that we didn't want to be all sweaty again on the ride back to the campsite, not once we have taken a nice relaxing bath. Eventually, we decided the best option was to keep on riding down the coast. Anyway, not to bore you too much with the minute details of our tour, just let me say that riding inland from the coast in Nakabetsu, Betsukai and Akkeshi was a breeze. The whole ride consist of lots of rolling hills through pastural lands. Some roads were dead straight and stretched for miles and miles, as far as the eye can. The scenery could have easily been somewhere from the Australia or the U.S. instead of Japan as can be seen from the panoramic shot of grazing land from Route 363.
Day
11. Somewhere on Route 813 between Betsukai and Akkeshi. As you can see from
the picture on the left, roads in Eastern Hokkaido can be very straight and
run for miles and miles. Riding in Eastern Hokkaido was a breeze compared to
the earlier climbs in Daisetsuzan, Akan and Shiretoko.
Day
11. Still on Route 813. A fully packed bike on relatively flat roads is a lot
easier going than in the mountains.
Chris
with our tents at the Betsukai Fureai Camping Ground in the afternoon on Day
10. We camped at what the Japanese call an "Auto-Kyanpujo". This was
a very civilised camping ground with all the amenities catering for the motoring
crowd with kids. For cyclists, it was quite cheap. We paid only 500 yen for
the privilege of camping on manicured lawn, very different from our other campsites.
About 3 minutes' walk from the tents is a very nice onsen (hot spring). That
cost another 500 yen, but it was worth it. There was even a restaurant there,
so we decided to splurge and dine out. No camp dinner for us that night!
Day
11. Me with a whole bunch of new friends. Only in Hokkaido did I ever see any
cows. It seems like most of the countryside elsewhere in Japan is devoted to
growing rice and vegetables.
Day
12. A triumphant salute in front of Kushiro Station at the end of the ride.
Over 700km in 11 riding days. I wish I could do it all again.