Seto Inland Sea Bike Tour
DAY 60: Today is my last night in Takamatsu. I plan to fly back to Japan tomorrow evening. In the morning, I rode a bicycle to the northernmost point of Shikoku, Cape Takei, to check in. I remember that on Day 17 of the Shikoku Pilgrimage, when I visited Kongofukuji Temple, the 38th sacred place, I also visited Cape Ashizuri, the southernmost point of Shikoku. It was windy and rainy that day, and my phone was blown down by the wind when I was taking a selfie with a tripod, causing the screen glass protector to break. Later, I bought a Japanese-made full-size glass protector for ¥110 at DAISO. All this happened a month and a half ago... and the two-month journey has ridden nearly 3,000 kilometers in total, which is equivalent to three trips around the island. The average daily calorie consumption is 2,000 kcal, which has made my weight go from 62 kg before departure to 54 kg now. The originally slightly protruding belly has become tight and flat, which is also a small gain brought to me by bicycle travel; in the afternoon, I returned to the city and successfully sold the bicycle that accompanied me for two months of climbing mountains and seas + island hopping by boat to the bicycle dealer. I hope its next owner will also take good care of it, and I will also treasure all the memories with it.
Note:
The Japanese TV series "Love Calling in the Center of the World" was very popular in 2005, starring Yamada Takayuki, Ayase Haruka, Ogata Naoto, and Sakurai Sachiko. The photo studio in the series (Uppira Photo Studio) is located in Takamatsu. Although there are not as many fans as before, the tear-jerking plot comes to mind when seeing the young photo of the two through the glass window. The story tells a sad and beautiful record of youth love. While traveling in Australia, the protagonist Sakutaro Matsumoto recalls his unforgettable past with his deceased lover Hirose Aki. N years ago, Sakutaro fell in love with his classmate Aki. But in the third year of their love, Aki became weaker and weaker due to leukemia. One day, Sakutaro came to Uluru (Ayers Rock, the largest independent rock in the world - referred to as the "center of the world" in the film) in Australia, where he had promised Aki to go on a school trip, and scattered Aki's ashes into the sky. I burst into tears. Why do Japanese dramas always love to write characters to death? But why are their school trips so good that they can even go abroad? I'm so envious~ I like the scene where Aki pokes Sakutaro's cheek, that scene was so youthful and cute, and the most impressive part was the last part of listening to the tape recorder, the male protagonist's affectionate confession, and in the end the father recognized Sakutaro and agreed to let his daughter fulfill her dream of wearing a wedding dress, making up for his daughter's regret.
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