Nagato Blue Ocean Ride with Akiyoshidai 2021″ Event Report

Start with the morning sun.

On Sunday, November 21, " Nagato Blue Ocean Ride with Akiyoshidai 2021, " a cycling event around Nagato City and Mine City, was held.

This event, which allows participants to enjoy the ride while savoring the region's "spectacular scenery" and food, was first held in 2016 and will be held for the sixth time this year.

This year, too, the number of participants was limited to those residing in Yamaguchi Prefecture in order to prevent new coronavirus infection. At the registration desk, participants took their temperature and submitted a physical condition check sheet.

On the staff side, participants were guided to ensure that the dispersal reception went smoothly, and the bicycle and bike support teams held last-minute meetings.

Then at 7:40 a.m., the first group of participants took their turn to start. The approximately 116-km ride begins.

Over the pass to the first aid point.

With the starting point, " Roadside Station Senza Kitchen, " in the background, we will drive along the coast.

The smiles of the participants were as bright as the sea glistening in the morning sun.

Along the way, local residents who saw the signs that had been set up in advance came out to support the event.

Participants responded by waving and saying "thank you" aloud.

After crossing the Yamanaka Pass, the first difficult obstacle, the team arrived at the aid point "Taisho-do" set up at the 25-km point.

We had Bito Chicken Chicken Gobo Futomaki & special amazake.

Enjoy Akiyoshidai with

The first view spot is Akiyoshidai Karst Road, located on Japan's largest karst plateau in Mine City.

Unfortunately, the weather was cloudy, but participants enjoyed the vast landscape of silver grass swaying in the autumn breeze and seemingly endless. Some participants tried to take pictures with the scenery.

By the time I arrived at the second aid point, Beppu Benten Pond, 45km after the start, there was a thin blue sky.

This menu item is Beppu Benten Pond's special pork miso soup made in a large pot.

Thanks to the warm dishes, the autumn breeze warms the chilled body.

The customary lunch box tantalizes the taste buds.

Participants departed from the aid point "Taisho-do" and returned to Nagato City after passing through 23 km of rugged terrain.

The third aid point is the Tawarayama Elementary School, located near the Tawarayama Onsen district.

At this point, which is just around lunch time, a solid lunch menu is available. Trays are handed out and dishes are placed on them one after another.

The menu posted on the table reads,

• Lunch box with a variety of foods from the mountains
  - White rice: Nagato Koshihikari Hodarumai
  - Fried Choshu Chicken Yuzukichi Karaage - Nagato Suteki Girl's idea -
  - Tawarayama Tofu Dengaku
  - Fried winter vegetables
  - Hanakkori
  - Grandma's pickles
  - Accompanied vegetables: Nagato lettuce, Nagato tomatoes, Nagato Yuzukichi Komachi
• Wild boar soup
• rice pudding
• Tsuda Farm Pears
• hot yuzu base

and they all look delicious, and the participants are all smiles.

Our stomachs are full and our strength is restored. We continue northward through Nagato City to the next aid point.

over mountains and oceans

Perhaps getting used to having a camera pointed at them, participants pose and smile at the best of times. They dash through the colored mountains.

Once you reach Aburaya Bay, the "Blue Ocean," the name of the competition, opens up before you.

The ability to fully enjoy both the mountains and the ocean is one of the best parts of this event. It was a great feeling to see the participants running in the gentle autumn breeze.

The fourth aid point is the Oda Ohama Campsite at the 88km mark.

By the Sea of Japan, we had chicken curry with "Choshu Kuro Kashiwa" (local chicken) and fried Tohei (large sea eel).

Sea of Japan x Cycling

As the course continued with a view of the Sea of Japan, we occasionally saw a few groups taking photos here and there.

Higashi Gobata Terraced Rice Paddies, selected as one of the 100 best terraced rice paddies in Japan, is a view spot.

They took pictures with their own bikes and took group photos. According to last year's participant, "Last year I was completely white, so it was nice to get my revenge.

After enjoying the scenery, head to the last aid point, Hioki Junior High School, at the 101km mark.

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

This is also the last time to take a commemorative photo at aid points.

As the participants looked back on the menu so far while tasting the desserts, we could tell that they were fully enjoying the "food" of the region.

The moment at the finish line when smiles burst forth.

With about 15 km remaining, the tour will pass Kohado Onsen (hot spring) and Tadanohama Beach ( the last scenic spot) before reaching the goal.

The first group arrived in about 6 hours. The sky was overcast, but the smiles on the faces of the participants as they reached the goal one after another were radiant.

The second "Nagano Blue Ocean Ride with Akiyoshidai 2021" was held at With Corona. What kind of drama unfolded among the participants during the 116-km ride?

We hope that this report has given you a little bit of a recap of the event and the fun that was had at the event.

See you next time on the Nagato Blue Ocean Ride, where you can enjoy the blue sky and blue sea.

Related Links

• cycling in Nagato
• Nagato Blue Ocean Ride with Akiyoshidai 2021
• Roadside Station Senza Kitchen