Day 11: Another day under the rain

This morning again we wake up with the sound of the pouring rain as soundtrack. Not as fierce as it was yesterday, but with a steady beat which is possibly even more alarming, as it sounds like something made for lasting.

A quick check on the weather forecasts confirms our fear: it will rain until late afternoon. Though it has been a nice one, we don't really long for repeating yesterday experience, so we ask the couple if we can prolong our stay for another day.

If the smile of the old man while he tells us that they are fully booked was a roof, we would have solved our problems in a brilliant way. But it isn't, and so we have to face the reality: cycle again under the rain.

The old man proves himself helpful again, and after taking his road atlas, shows us which is the best way to take considering the rain: he suggests that we avoid too hilly roads, and just take road 56, which will lead us straight (and almost flat) until our destination.

He also suggests us a place to stay in Sukumo, which he knows personally. When we agree he picks up the phone and makes the reservation for us. It may sound strange, but again his calm countenance has the magical effect of reassuring us that also today everything will go smoothly.

Before waving them goodbye I make a quick visit to the Lawson where we stopped yesterday and buy two rain suits as additional protection for two well determined henroes. They are just 1000 ¥ each and will be much better than getting soaked as we ended yesterday.

We give a small osettai to the couple and finally leave. To reach road 56 we have to get back to the Shimanto Ohashi bridge, but this time we won't venture again on the coastal road. We decide to take the tunnel, as today it seems at least not to be misty.

There is not need to rush, and we keep a slow pace. The rain is annoying but the rainsuits are working excellently in keeping us dry. While we climb to the tunnel we just stay focused on the 10 meters ahead of our wheels, and to be sure we are close to each other we use our bells as signals: the follower rings once to say "the distance is ok", rings twice to say "too far, slow down".

The tunnel has also a decent sidewalk, and together with the bell system we manage to complete with decent ease. We stop again at the very same hut we used yesterday, grab some warm drinks and proceed. 56 is a large road, but apparently all the drivers crossing our way are not in a hurry and we manage to keep a good safety feeling.

Besides trucks and cars we don't see anything else along the road, and as soon as we spot a rest hut we stop for some time: we are not keeping a fast pace and also the place we have to reach is not that far, so there is no reason to rush.

Reaching temple 39 is good reward after such a day. Though it is already afternoon we are the only two henroes visiting it, and it is easy to imagine why.

Few kilometers more and we reach the hotel in Sukumo. It's small and pretty anonymous, but its parking lot is covered and they have already prepared hangers for letting our raincoats dry. We must admit they worked excellently, and are worth way more than we payed for them. Upon parking our friends we notice another touring bike parked there, evidently we are not the only two wheeled explorers. Some minutes to recover, then we take a shower and, since we have plenty of time and the rain has ceased, take a stroll in the city looking for some place which can inspire us for having dinner.

We find nothing particularly attractive, nor as restaurants neither in the city itself, and I remember another henro telling about Sukumo "when the most attractive place in a city is its McDonald there is not much more to say about it".
Well, apart from this weird board, which I suppose shows how here they take seriously the wellness of their intestines.

The only restaurant which we find interesting is closed today. So we yield to the fate, stop by a convenience store and buy some food for dinner. Then we get back to the hotel, reserve the hotel for the next day with the assistance of the hotel staff and then retire in our room.

Ehime prefecture and sunny days are waiting for us, and still we don't know it, but we will also get to know a really nice mascot.

Where we slept:
Sukumo, business hotel Flex, 0880 63 6123