“As the stunningly gorgeous scenery scrolled by, I realized that even in achieving my long-held ambition of cycling the Shimanami Kaido, I’d need to visit again if I wanted to get the most out of the experience – like the many waka poems written about the Seto Inland Sea, there’s simply too much to take in on the first pass.”

Client: Setouchi Reflection Trip, the official travel guide to the Setouchi Region of Japan.

Project Description: Write a travel advertorial with photographs.

A Quote

“As the stunningly gorgeous scenery scrolled by, I realized that even in achieving my long-held ambition of cycling the Shimanami Kaido, I’d need to visit again if I wanted to get the most out of the experience – like the many waka poems written about the Seto Inland Sea, there’s simply too much to take in on the first pass.”

The Inside Scoop

The Shimanami Kaido (or the Shim, as I like to call it) had been on my bucket list for a long time when I was assigned this article.

But I when I had dreamed of cycling it, I never imagined it would be like this — tight schedule, bags of camera gear, and a brutal, relentless headwind that roared in my ears like a train passing.

It was also colder than a brass toilet seat.

We actually only rode part of the Shim, since it was waaaaaay not the time of year for it. Really we were just out for photos so we could ferry back to our warm hotel as fast as possible. I mean, those storm clouds in the photos aren’t for show. It was harsh our there.

The following autumn a friend and I hit the Shim for real, so I did get to finally have the real experience. And it’s a gorgeous ride that I’d recommend to anyone, presuming they do it at the right time of year. But that first trip — wobbling along on our rented road bikes with a wall of icy air squashing our faces like dogs leaning out the window on a freeway. It’ll always bring a laugh.

My Favorite Part

Epic photos. And hot cocoa after the ride.

See the results: 
Shimanami Kaido Cycling Road – A Cyclist’s Paradise