Heading back to Kagoshima

Well, today we will leave Yakushima and head back to Kagoshima. Yakushima has been a highlight for us and we plan to return one day. We feel lucky to have had this experience and wish we had more time. Yesterday we went to the ferry office to confirm our reservation and they said we weren’t on the list and would probably not get on. Oh dear, this could be complicated as we have hotels booked and need to be in Osaka on a certain date. The clerk recommended that we show up and hope that there is room for us.

We have enjoyed our stay at this well equipped cabin. The host was very pleased that we came back for a second stay. Comfy beds, fully stocked kitchen, couch for lounging…very nice.

Our cabin is on the property where the owners live. Saying farewell and thanking them for their hospitality.

Ah..the friendly, welcoming way Japanese people greet us on our trikes with big smiles, laughter and curiosity. Every day is full of such encounters from adults, children and dogs. They make our travels special.

Waiting at the ferry with fingers crossed. We are hopeful that we will get on as there are no other bikes and only 2 motorcycles. This fellow has been touring Yakushima on his motorcycle.

A lot of people are foot passengers and dogs are welcome.

The process of loading the ferry is fascinating as all vehicles, including the transport trucks, must back on. It is amazing how fast the process is.

The lines of vehicles has diminished…we will load soon.

A last look at the verdant hills and mountains of Yakushima.

We are on the ferry…lots of room. It sometimes pays not to get too excited and make a fuss. We didn’t ask and we simply rode on

We recommend stopping at the Tourist Office when you arrive.

Happy dogs on this 4 hour journey at sea

Photos below of the port as we were departing.

The ferry is old, there is no food available and it needs work, but they have a library of children books and Manga onboard.

Much of the space on the ferry is Japanese style with tatami mats and no chairs. This lounge worked better for us, plus we had windows to enjoy the view.

Some views of our four hour journey to Kagoshima.

This area is home to many volcanoes…this volcano on an island has quite a history of multiple eruptions.

These dogs were very well behaved and were so excited by everything and everybody they saw.

We got off the ferry in the dark and somehow got separated. Kagoshima has a number of ferry terminals along its coast and somehow we chose the wrong one.

We were so pleased to make good time and reach this ferry. We have a hotel booked on the other side.

However, we couldn’t figure out why the trip was so short. It stopped at its destination in 10 minutes, and there was no cost. That can’t be right…we went down to the car deck and we tried to ask the crew where we were. It took some patience, but at the same time we all came to the realization that we were on the wrong ferry and everybody had a good laugh. They told us to go back up to the passenger deck and ride back to Kagoshima…still no cost to us.

The ferry we mistakenly took is a commuter ferry to Sakurajima, the site of the active volcano, which played havoc with us when we were here a week ago.

Once we were off the “wrong” ferry, we raced in the dark down the road several km trying to reach the ferry we should have taken. As fate would have it, we just missed it. Oh well, 45 minutes isn’t too bad a wait.

Today's ride: 18 km (11 miles)
Total: 1,264 km (785 miles)

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