We met our support rider Saito-san, who would be our guide for the day, in front of the Giant Store Kochi. Hearing that he has a lot of experience as a guide raises our expectations!

At Saito-san's suggestion, we visited a local morning market. Every Sunday from 6:00 a.m. to about 3:00 p.m., the streets of Kochi are filled with rare and unusual agricultural products, foodstuffs, and souvenirs from the suburbs, making it fun just to walk around.

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Try the "Hiyashi-ame" drink at the morning market. It is a summer drink made by dissolving water candy in hot water, adding ginger, and chilling it. It is said to be a common and familiar drink in Kansai, Chugoku, and Shikoku regions, but I had never seen it in Kanto, so it was a rare treat.

Next, we tasted the "Hat Bread." This unique sweet pastry has the sweet "edge" of the "sweet boule" commonly found in convenience stores, but is much wider. It is the perfect way to replenish energy before a ride.

Accompanied by a snickering Tsucchi, who for some reason repeatedly calls Ryoma Sakamoto "paisen" (= senior colleague/ student etc.), we rode about 14 km to Katsurahama Beach. We took a commemorative photo in front of a large bronze statue of Ryoma Sakamoto.

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On the way from Katsurahama to Susaki, we took an ice cream break when we found a mobile ice cream shop selling "iceclin," another Kochi specialty. It is between ice cream and shaved ice, and is more refreshing than it looks. The cheapness of the ice cream is delicious and tastes like candy.

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Upon entering Susaki City, Mr. Saito guided us to a lumberyard, a place he recommended. The site was filled with the strong aroma of wood, and the 10-meter-high piles of lumber (probably Japanese cedar) were quite impressive. In Kochi, where 89% of the prefectural land is covered with forests, wood resources are one of the local industries. There are several other lumberyards where lumber is auctioned off for shipment. Although not a sightseeing spot, it was a good opportunity to see an interesting scene.

Deciding to eat local gourmet food in Kochi for lunch, We went to the famous "Mayumi no Mise," but it was closed today. After getting myself together, We went to a roadside station and ordered Nabeyaki Ramen. Since it is nabeyaki, it is served hot. This dish is especially appreciated during winter rides.

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Visiting Lawson, where the Susaki City character Shinjo-kun, winner of the 2016 "Yuru-chara Grand Prix" (=City or local mascot competition), sits on the roof of the store. Susaki City was the last place where the Japanese otter, an extinct species, was found. Shinjo-kun, who combines the town's local delicacy nabeyaki ramen, is the honorary manager of this Lawson store.

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I visited a station in Kochi Prefecture after receiving word of mouth that it had a good location comparable to Shimonada Station, a popular photo spot in Ehime Prefecture. The station was under renovation and had a fence up, but the view from the station building in front of the Pacific Ocean was very nice. There was a love bench, so I took a couple of shots.

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From Awa Station, drive 6.5 km to Kure Taisho-machi Market. I heard that skipjack and other seasonal fish are landed from the nearby port, and that you can also enjoy fruits and local food. The market closes at 2:30 p.m., so it was quiet when we went there, but the 100-meter-long shopping street is lined with several small stores, indicating that the market is still active.

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We took our last break at a cafe in "Nakasato," a roadside station near today's lodgings. Saito-san and I parted ways here, so we reflected on today's ride. He introduced us to the places near the course, and of course, led us through almost the entire itinerary of the day. No matter how carefully you plan your rides, it is always nice to have a local guide you on the roads you are unfamiliar with. It was a day that made me realize that I could enjoy the ride and the scenery more than usual, and for that I am very grateful.

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The most expensive inn of the trip. Pulled by the anticipation and the name of the inn (Honjin= shoguns command group during "The age of war"), we began to roleplay a cheesy samurai period drama. The inn was luxurious, with a black-painted lobby overlooking the Pacific Ocean and a large open-air bath.

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There was no washing machine at the inn, but the luxurious indoor bath was attached, so we washed our clothes by hand and hung us out to dry on the veranda overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Could this feeling of self-sufficiency be the best part of a man's trip?