An abnormally warm day today, and I couldn’t stay home and waste it. Woke up at 9, got the dogs out and about a bit and then decided where to go. A quick 40 to the castle and back? A slower 60 to the castle and back down the Tone river triangle course? The Kokaigawa course I found a few weeks ago in reverse? Yep! Love this new course.

The wind was strong but it helped me for most of the first 50km. Down the Edo river 5km to the Tone canal. Followed the canal all the way to the Moriya toll road. Took the toll road to the Kokaigawa and followed that all the way to the Tone river. I stayed on the left Ibaraki side today and went down past Inzai to the next bridge. Not sure which road it was but it was a toll road. Crossed back over into Chiba and then battled the head wind up river till I got near the Tegagawa. This little river canal goes all the way to the Tega swamp. Once I got to the Tega Numa swamp there was 75kms on the clock and my water bottle had emptied long before hand. Guzzled down a fizzy vitamin drink and re-loaded my drink bottle with some sports water. I then made my way around the swamp (which is actually a nice lake now) to a convenience store for some much deserved solid food. One pork cutlet sandwich with mustard and a doughnut. Not worried about calories as I probably spent 2000+ more than I ate today. From Tega Numa there is another little creek that goes all the way to Nagareyama. I took that then on the road a bit till I got to the junction of the Joban Expressway and the Edo river where I again had to battle the head wind home.

This is where I joined the Kokaigawa in Moriya city.

I see these swans every year down near Inba. Over from Mongolia for the winter holidays…