Nagano Blue Ocean Ride with Akiyoshidai 2020″ Event Report

Ride starting at Senza Kitchen, Roadside Station

On Sunday, November 22, "Nagato Blue Ocean Ride with Akiyoshidai," a cycling event around Nagato City and Mine City, was held. This event, which allows participants to enjoy riding while tasting the "spectacular scenery" and "food" of the region, was first held in 2016 and will be held for the fifth time this year.

Shortly after 7:00 a.m., about 270 participants arrived at the roadside station Senza Kitchen, the starting and finishing point, at different times. As a countermeasure against new coronavirus infection, eligibility for this year's event was limited to residents of Yamaguchi Prefecture. At the reception desk, participants took their temperature and handed a physical condition check sheet to the staff.

Then, at 7:40 a.m., the first group of participants started off in order, and the 117-km ride began.

Also, Manyo Fukui (second from left) and Yasumi Gonjo (second from right), members of the Japanese national para-cycling team, who were in training camp in Sanyo-Onoda, Yamaguchi Prefecture, this month, started the event as guest riders to liven up the competition.

In this event report, we look back on the day when we worked to prevent infectious diseases while also conveying to cyclists the region's "spectacular scenery" and "food" attractions through the event.

With a view of the mountains and the sea

The first view spot is the Akiyoshidai Karst Road, lined with countless white limestone rocks.

Amidst golden silver grass reminding us of autumn, a seemingly endless expanse of scenery, ups and downs, and gentle curves await the participants. This is the spot where smiles burst out as participants take pictures with each other in the spaces along the road, saying that they are glad they made the effort to climb the mountain.

Most of the first half of the tour is on a mountain road leading from Akiyoshidai to Tawarayama, but the scenery gradually opens up as you move north.

The course runs close to private homes at times, and the participants are cheered on by people along the way.

The "Ohama Beach," a popular photo spot every year, and the "Higashi Gobata Terraced Rice Paddies," which graced the cover of this year's pamphlet, are some of the best photo spots by the sea for this year's event.

We passed through the area as the clouds gradually became thicker and the scenery we could see became hazy and white. Even so, it was impressive to see the participants, who had run more than 90 km, smiling and enjoying taking pictures.

Enjoy local flavors in the midst of nature

There were five aid points this time.

The first half of the race was in Mine City. At "Taisho-do" at the 25km point, which was set as an aid point for the first time, "Mito Chicken Chicken Burdock Fat Rolls" and special sweet sake were served by Seifuen.

This dish, a popular school lunch in Yamaguchi Prefecture, is made with Mito burdock root, a specialty of Mine City. The warm amazake is made with sake lees from Yamaguchi Prefecture's famous sake "Ki," and is delicious and soothing to a cold body.

At the 45-km point, at "Beppu Benten Pond," pork miso soup made with local vegetables and spring water from Benten Pond is prepared in a large pot surrounded by steam.

The special pork miso soup, filled with the love of local mothers, is characterized by the large number of vegetables in it. It is a hot bowl of soup that will make you forget the fatigue of coming down the mountain.

The "Satoyama Station Tawarayama" at the 68km mark is the main aid station. The aid menu in the Mine area is, metaphorically speaking, appetizers and soup. At Tawarayama, where lunch is just about to arrive, you will be served the main dish.

The sumptuous "lunch box" of 10 dishes filled with the delicacies of Tawarayama was produced by the Myuzu Kitchen, a women's group of mainly Tawarayama farmers. The dishes include rice made from terraced rice, pickles, tofu and venison hamburger steak, and wild boar meat soup, all of which bring out the full flavor of Tawarayama's unique ingredients.

Even the desserts, such as pears and "okome purin," were delicately flavored and made with ingredients from Tawarayama.

Waiting for us at "Ohama Beach" at the 89 km point was chicken curry with Choshu Kuro-Kashiwa, the prefecture's original local chicken produced by the Fukagawa Chicken Farmers Cooperative Association. This is also a great place to savor it while enjoying a view of the ocean.

The last aid point at the 102km mark is Hioki Junior High School.

Here you can enjoy cheesecake, hot coffee, and hot ginger from cafe&pottery sound, a Hagiyaki gallery cafe in Nagato Yumoto Onsen.

With about 15 km to go, the space to take a breather with a relieving taste will give you energy for the last spurt.

In the Kohado area, Otsu Soy Sauce Co., a long-established soy sauce shop with a history of over 100 years, welcomed participants at a private aid. Chicken soup" made with handmade miso and Choshu chicken was served, and participants were seen warming up for the final leg of the race.

Cycling Events in Wiz Corona

This year's conference was held under the strict prevention of new coronavirus infection.

Participants wear masks except when running, such as at the start and at the registration desk. At each aid point, participants first disinfect their hands before going to the receiving area.

Aide staff wore masks and face shields, and food was served in containers with lids. They took every precaution to ensure that all participants were well-prepared for the race.

Then, about six hours after the start, the lead team reached the goal, Senza Kitchen, a roadside station.

At the moment of the end of the long journey, unfortunately, it was raining, but the smiles of the participants burst out at the goal gate.

Once again, thanks to the support of so many people, including all the participants, the staff who helped run the aid points and provide course security and various other support services, and everyone who cheered us on from the roadside, we were able to successfully complete our fifth event. Thank you very much for your support.

In Nagato City, the Roadside Station Senza Kitchen, the starting and finishing point of this year's event, is the only cycle station in the city and offers five types of "rent-a-cycles" for casual travelers.

In the age of With Corona, the outdoors is once again gaining attention. Cycling, a great way to enjoy time outdoors, is one of the most recommended activities in Nagato City today.

We hope that someday you will enjoy our ride again, starting from Nagato City with the blue sky and the blue sea.

Related Links

• cycling in Nagato
• Nagato Blue Ocean Ride with Akiyoshidai 2020
• Roadside Station Senza Kitchen