Day 58 — Wakayama to Tokushima - Tom and Marilee Retire to the Road

October 30, 2025

Day 58 — Wakayama to Tokushima

Another light day on the cycling front, as the only item on the agenda was to relocate to Tokushima via ferry.

We were in no rush, as the ferry went a half dozen times a day, lasted a couple of hours, and we had maybe 4-5 km to travel on either end. And for all that, even despite getting a bit lost and overshooting the terminal (it really did not present as a passenger terminal when we cycled by it), we still managed to make the 10:30, which would get us into Tokushima a little after 12:30. We were lucky with the weather and had a nice sunny sailing. marilee snoozed and planned our itinerary, and I raided the snack machines and compulsively refreshed my browser for World Series results.

In the ferry lineup with a logging truck — feels like home!

Wakayama’s waterfront is a little grittier than others

On arrival in Tokushima we pedalled very slowly along the inlets and canals that brought us to the city centre. Tokushima, despite being not much further south than Wakayama, had a much more subtropical feel, mostly because of the warm weather, but also aided by the presence of palm trees and pleasure boats on the inland waterways.

Tokushima has a real tropical feel, even though we’re no further south.

I did manage a brief walk in the afternoon sunshine, through downtown, then on to the park containing the site where the castle used to be and where the local museum was situated. I strolled through the garden adjacent to the museum, then climbed the hill to the castle’s former location, where there wasn’t much. It was an agreeable hour or two.

Entry to the garden was ¥50. It was an enjoyable stroll and also helped me get rid of a bunch of change

This was a monument for peace, but it made me rush to where the next picture was taken…

And behold! Where I come from that sort of thing is usually done with a sharpie.

We are in Tokushima for 2 nights. The weather forecast is giving us another day off the bikes. The forecast for Tokushima is for 50-75 mm rain, with over 100 mm expected further south where we are planning to ride next. That’s not a day for riding, that’s a day for laying down and avoiding. And so we shall.

Today's ride: 10 km (6 miles)
Total: 2,904 km (1,803 miles)

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Jessica BerglundHi Tom and Marilee,

Dipping into your journal for the first time today. Looks pretty epic! How much longer will you be in Japan?

Jessica B.
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2 months ago

Tom BrocklehurstHi Jessica! Great to hear from you! Our plan is to fly from Okinawa to Thailand in mid-December. Just passed 2 months out and 3000 km yesterday…
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2 months ago