When I met up with Mr. Shibui at the east exit of the station, he had already prepared the bicycles for us. The new PROPEL aero bike and the TCR, which pursues total balance, are the hottest new models. We would ride these two bikes on our trip. It is still fresh in our minds that Tsucchi broke the rear derailleur when assembling the bike on the previous "Round Izu Oshima" trip. Since we usually organize our own rides, we were just grateful for Mr. Shibui's coordination.

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Tsucchi and I live in the Kanto region therefore Kanagawa is not at all unfamiliar territory, but we have no experience riding there in a concentrated manner. Mr. Shibui, who has ridden courses all over Japan and abroad, dared to recommend Kanagawa, so we had nothing but high expectations for the trip. First, with Mr. Shibui leading the way, we headed to Chinatown for breakfast!

On the way to Chinatown, we stopped by the Red Brick Warehouse, one of Yokohama's most popular tourist attractions. On a weekday morning, there is not a soul in sight. A commemorative photo was taken with the Yokohama Landmark Tower, another tourist attraction, in the background.

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After another 5 minute ride, you will arrive at Yokohama Chinatown. Passing through the "Choyomon," the symbol of Chinatown, the streets are filled with signs in Chinese. Early in the morning on weekdays, there are few people and cars, and it is very interesting to ride through the streets of a foreign country.

Breakfast is at "Ryusen" in Chinatown, a popular restaurant that is packed from the time it opens at 7:00am. The main attraction is the porridge that Chinese people eat for breakfast (commonly known as "morning porridge"). Porridge in the morning? Tsucchi and I were intrigued and ordered a set of congee, fried spring rolls and Chinese pickles (to be added to the congee). The deep-fried wontons in the congee were clearly different from what Japanese people eat when they are sick. The soup stock is rich and full-bodied, and it is very satisfying to eat. I was impressed by the taste.

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After breakfast, it was time to start the ride. Leaving Chinatown behind, we rode along the Bayshore Road (Route 357). I was determined to test the performance of the new PROPEL aerobike, so I sped up on the wide Bayshore Road, leaving Tsucchi behind. The bike's excellent aerodynamics made cruising at speeds of 40 km/h very easy. I also think the stiffness of the handlebars made it easy for me to feel that the power I was applying was not wasted, but rather used to propel the vehicle forward.

About 25km from Yokohama Chinatown, while testing the aero performance of PROPEL on various terrains, we arrived at the next spot, Yokosuka Port and Verney Park. The powerful Self-Defense Force destroyer is docked in the harbor, and we can't help but get excited!

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The easily digestible rice porridge was used up as energy and I was hungry. While driving slowly through Yokosuka City in search of a snack, I found a Japanese sweets shop called "Shougetsu" and happily purchased a sweet treat. The store has been in business for 130 years, and all of the sweets they sell are handmade in the factory behind the shop. The freshly made chestnut dorayaki was soft and delicious.

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Uraga Bay is about 10km from Yokosuka. We took a short cut through the long and narrow bay by ferry to the other side of the bay. It had been a long time since the "Shikoku Round Trip." The addition of a boat to the ride makes it feel like a trip at once.

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Passing through Kurihama from Uraga, you will come to Nohi Beach. We had lunch at a cafe highly recommended by Mr. Shibui, who also rides a large motorcycle. The cafe is owned by Satoshi Tsujimoto, a legend who rode against the world in Japan's motorcycle heyday. With the legendary racer himself in the kitchen, it is no wonder the place is packed with bikers, even on a weekday. By the way, Mr. Tsujimoto is also a cyclist who owns two LOOKs. The store is right in front of the ocean. We enjoyed a cup of espresso and a bowl of slightly sweet rice with gapao, the owner's recommendation, in the restaurant's excellent location.

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After crossing Tsukuihama Station, the road leaves the coast and turns toward the inland area of the Miura Peninsula. A short uphill climb toward the center of the peninsula appears. After the climb, the road comes to a plateau, where fields of Miura Daikon (radish), a specialty of Miura, are spread out. In the distance, you can clearly see Mt.Fuji.

Passing through to the "Sagami Bay" side on the west side of the Miura Peninsula, we arrived at "Sajima Fishing Port". This fishing port is frequented by restaurant owners in Kamakura City who want to buy fresh fish. We were attracted by the fresh seafood lined up at "Maruyoshi Shoten" right in front of the fishing port, but we could not load it onto our bicycles, so we gave up on purchasing it.

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Take Route 134 toward Kamakura and head for Hayama City. A popular doughnut store with six locations in the prefecture, Misaki Doughnuts Hayama, is open for snacks and coffee. I chose the pistachio flavor. The sticky texture of the doughnut dough is coated with crispy chocolate, and combined with a cup of coffee, it's a sure-fire way to go to heaven.

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Dusk is approaching. At this point, we headed for Shibui's recommended sunset spot, Kotsubo Iijima Park in Zushi. Beyond Inamuragasaki, the park offers a panoramic view of Enoshima Island, the vast Sagami Bay, the Izu Peninsula, the setting sun, and even Mount Fuji. It was tempting to just stand there forever, but it would soon be dark, so we hurried on to downtown Kamakura for today's lodging.

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We arrived at "plat hostel keikyu", a 5-minute walk from Kamakura Station. It is a dormitory-type inn, Tsucchi and I stayed in a twin room with bunk beds. The clean room is equipped with a washbasin, toilet, and shower. The price for the day was unbelievably reasonable at less than 3,000 yen per person for an overnight stay with no meal, and the room was also equipped with a washing machine and a dryer. Perfect for a bicycle trip.

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We went to a chic Sicilian restaurant called "LIBERTA," a two-minute walk from the inn, to reflect on the first day's ride (a drinking session of sorts). I was thrilled by the menu, which mainly features seafood purchased from the Sashima Fishing Port, where I had stopped by earlier in the day. From carpaccio to pasta and meat dishes, the dishes are delicious despite being moderately salted because of the strong flavors of the ingredients. I was so satisfied with the scenery, roads, and tastes of Kanagawa. Tomorrow will be a different ride to today, which was a flat course with plenty of sightseeing, instead we can expect to be attacking the slopes of the Yabitsu Pass. Without a word of regret, the first night continues as we pray for the safety of tomorrow's ride.

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