It was a fine morning for the final day of the tour. At the planning stage, we had been worried about a typhoon warning and the forecast of rain every day, but we feel that we managed to avoid the worst of it. It is a very moving feeling to think that today marks the end of our 1000km Shikoku Round-trip.

We heard that there was a giant mammoth made by the residents of Seiyo City. To be honest, we went there without much expectation, but the actual mammoth was much larger than we had imagined, and we were surprised at its precision workmanship, even though it was supposed to be made of straw. Kenta-san and the mammoth fighting (?). A commemorative photo.

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We stopped at Michi no Eki Yawatahama Minatto (Roadside Station Yawatahama Minatto) for a break. Word of mouth had told us that there was a large amount of local orange juice on display, and we found an eye-catching orange-colored corner in the section lined with specially selected products. It is said to have the largest selection in Japan, with some items costing as much as 10,000 yen! We bought the ones recommended by a mikan farmer who happened to be unloading his oranges nearby. I was able to make a gift box to send home so I could enjoy a "juice tasting" with my family at a when I returned home.

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We also extended our visit to the fish market attached to the roadside station. All of the markets we visited during our trip sold fresh seafood at reasonable prices, but this was the first time for us to see an "assortment of fish" sold for 500 yen for a box containing a variety of rather large fish that weighed well over 10 kg.

It has been a long time since I found the Blue Line. This blue line was drawn along the bicycle route around Shikoku within Ehime Prefecture to guide riders on their way. We rode this line to the final destination of the trip, Dogo Onsen Station.

Although we rarely took the train because of our bicycle trip, we were eager to visit Shimonada Station. It is a small unmanned station located right in front of the sea. The sunflowers were in full bloom next to the station, and the train arrived at the right time, so the conditions were perfect. Although it was a little cloudy, it was a fitting last stop on our trip, and the scenery was even better than the tourist information had suggested.

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In order to protect my photographic equipment from the rain that fell at Shimonada Station, I tried to remove the microphone from the camera and put it in the pouch of my bicycle... but it was stuck and I could not remove it. We took shelter in a shed next to the station and struggled for about 15 minutes. Kenta-san enjoys riding and filming at the same time, but he has to deal with additional luggage, weight, carrying on his back, equipment problems, and sudden weather conditions, making it difficult to ride and film at the same time.

Back in Matsuyama City, the starting point of the tour, we finally reached the finale. I felt nostalgic seeing the orange IYOTETSU (Iyo Railroad) that we saw on the first day after a long time.

I arrived at "Dogo Onsen Station," the goal of my 1,000km journey. Perhaps my body had become accustomed to the lifestyle of running 100 km every day, or perhaps I was surprised to find that the sense of reality of my accomplishment was not so strong. The classic station building houses a Starbucks. At first, I celebrated with a local "Kiwi Fruit Frappuccino." With no time to get emotional, we now had a mini-meeting about video and distribution. My mind is full of ideas on how to convey the fun of this trip...

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Check in at the Dougo-no-oyado Iwasaki, an inn about 500m from Dogo Onsen Station. The hotel is designed for women to stay at ease, but men are also welcome. Bicycles can be stored in the lobby, which has a nice atmosphere, and the rooms are spacious with mezzanine floors and mini-kitchens. There is also a laundry machine. The owner is a cyclist, and he is very thoughtful and considerate.

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With my cyclist-exclusive complimentry towel, I walked 10 minutes to Dogo Onsen. The main building was closed, but I entered the Asuka-no-Yu annex and soaked off some sweat.

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We went to "Monpuku," a Chinese restaurant right next to the hot spring. We toasted to my favorite Szechuan bean curd with Asahi Super Dry made with Uchinuki water! We wanted to tell someone about our adventures, and when we reported to the manager, he treated us to another beer in celebration. It is nice to have someone congratulate you, even if it's for the achievement of a personal goal.

Although he knew that the main building of Dogo Onsen was closed, he still felt a lingering regret when he saw the real Dogo Onsen Honkan, saying, "I wish I could have gone in there...." Staggering around the main building, I wandered drunkenly...

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Although he knew that the main building of Dogo Onsen was closed, he still felt a lingering regret when he saw the real Dogo Onsen Honkan, saying, "I wish I could have gone in there...." Staggering around the main building, I wandered drunkenly...

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