Day 26-29: Sakaiminato to Vladivostok

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Welcomed to town by manga 
Created by Shigeru Mizuki

A store selling roast
Sweet potatoes which taste
the same as kumera

A ryokan hotel
Everything is scaled down to size
It’s great

Lots of waiting at the terminal
Meet some riders
Tatiana

She has helped with
Booking the bike and us
And gets us nicely  sorted.

For the ferry
Eastern Dream
Second class gives us a cabin
Not bunks

Two days and nights
A stop at Donghae 
South Korea
A bright  sunset

Vladivostok
Seems to be a long way 
But I have eBooks to read

Highlights seem to be 
Meal times
It is something to do
With my driver

Passengers from Japan 
Are Korean tourists
And a cycling team

A kiwi, an Irishman
Speak English
Google translate
Is busy

Vladivostok
Golden onion domes 
Glow in the gloom

Which is brightened
By Yuri who has 
Come to help
With the paperwork.

177 sculptures of Manga cartoon characters of Yokais created by Shigeru Mizuki line the Main Street. A new phenom for me.



Let’s look at the stats.
3971 km on the road in Japan
Averaging 220km/day
Excellent roads, considerate drivers, 

And lots of Haiku

The roast sweet potato store sold only sweet potato. I was hungry and curious and succumbed.

Our bedroom with its tiny desk which is about knee height,  and low chair. Somehow it all worked.

Throughout our time in Japan the food has been delicious and beautifully served.

Onboard the ferry

Lots of pickled food, fried things too. And gravy. Miso and seaweed.  Dinner


We could have had bunks. They reminded us of Stahlratte that took us from Panama to Cartagena.


We had futon style beds. This is the wardrobe.


And the en suite.


Here we are in port.

Vladivostok.
The beginning of our next stage.























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