My First Solo Touring Trip to Yamaguchi! Part 3: The Conclusion
Despite being tossed about by the weather forecast, I managed to set off on my Yamaguchi touring trip safely. After enjoying scenic spots like Motonosumi Shrine and Tsunoshima, I arrived safely at my first day's destination, Shimonoseki. I've written about that experience in the note I posted last week, so please take a look if you'd like.
Once I safely checked into my hotel in Shimonoseki, the first thing I did was install the various security measures I'd brought for my bike. It's not that I "can't trust anyone," but I want to be as prepared as possible.
After soothing my tired body with a shower, I took the train to Kokura Station that evening. I had dinner with a classmate from my student days and we reminisced for a while. After returning to the hotel, I was enjoying a drink in my room and checking my plans for the next day when I suddenly felt sleepy... Perhaps I was just tired from my first long-distance touring trip, so I fell fast asleep until morning.
The morning of the second day of touring. Today's plan wasn't about sightseeing, but rather a healing itinerary of gourmet food and hot springs. In the crisp morning air, I eagerly removed the locks that had been keeping my beloved bike cramped in the parking lot—where it had waited without being stolen—and set off!!
The first destination was breakfast. After riding for a little less than 30 minutes from Shimonoseki, it came into view♪
As you can tell from the sign, "Michishio" in Sanyo-Onoda City is a drive-in restaurant famous for its "clam soup." I had visited before when it was featured on a certain local TV show, and I remember having to wait quite a while because it was so crowded. But I also remember that even after waiting that long, the "clam soup" was incredibly delicious. So, I visited again on my bike in search of that delicious "clam soup" from back then. It was a Saturday, but since it was morning, the parking lot was empty. The restaurant was also relatively empty, so I was able to order smoothly. What I ordered was, of course...
This is it♪ With the first sip, the flavors of the dashi, miso, and the rich umami of the clams spread through my mouth. The rice tastes great just with this "clam soup." The "clam soup" at "Michishio" is something different from just regular clam miso soup. I can't express it well in words, but it's a rich bowl where you can fully enjoy the deliciousness of clams in one serving. And so, I finished it in no time. Thank you for the meal!
Satisfied with my luxurious breakfast, I enjoyed touring on my bike to the next destination. Still, riding on unfamiliar roads is really fun. I arrived at my destination safely without getting bored. That place was...
Recently, it has become a nationwide chain before I knew it, but personally, it's a taste full of memories that I relied on heavily during my student days. I wanted to eat udon from this shop again after a long time, so I decided to have lunch here. What I ordered was...
"Kashiwa onigiri" (chicken rice balls), "botamochi," or even "oden" go well with Suke-san Udon, but this time I chose the "botamochi." The contrast between the salty, dashi-rich udon soup and the sweetness of the "botamochi" whetted my appetite, and I couldn't stop using my chopsticks. I finished this in no time as well. Although it's a local chain's flavor, there is no Suke-san Udon near where I currently live. This taste, which holds deep personal memories for me, was truly irresistibly delicious. Thank you for the meal!!
My stomach was full, and it was about time to head home in earnest. Here, an unexpected situation occurred... The weather was cloudy, but the temperature was surprisingly low. Because of this, the final plan for this touring trip was going to be disrupted. While worrying, I soon arrived at my destination. That place was...
The reason I stopped here was that I had intended to take a hot spring bath. The plan was to end the trip by soaking in a hot spring to soothe my tired body, but as mentioned earlier, the temperature felt low. If I were to ride my bike after soaking in the hot spring, I might catch a cold from getting chilled. So, after thinking about it, the alternative I came up with was...
Since I had stopped at a roadside station with a hot spring, I decided to at least enjoy the hot spring atmosphere by using the footbath.
With that, I had pretty much completed my plans for the second day, and I was able to return home safely while enjoying the rest of the ride back.
This was my first solo touring trip. It was a very satisfying little journey where I could fully enjoy the pleasure of riding on unfamiliar roads while taking in new scenery. The fun of planning, the freedom to spend time as I pleased at the destination, the unexpected developments, etc... I initially wondered if solo touring would be lonely, but that wasn't the case at all, and I was able to fully enjoy my motorcycle. I want to continue enjoying my motorcycle life in a relaxed and laid-back way, with safety as my top priority. Now then, where should I go next?
Well then, to be continued...