自分を信じて、仲間を信じて。" (Jibun o shinjite, nakama o shinjite.) "Believe in yourself, believe in your friends. This quote highlights the importance of self-confidence and trust in others. It encourages a sense of community and mutual support.

It is hard to believe, but we made it to Day 13! Our final leg of this incredible journey through Kyushu. One last climb out of Japan’s lush countryside stood between us and Fukuoka, the vibrant capital of northern Kyushu, known for its rich history, buzzing food scene, and warm hearted locals.

After a memorable night in Beppu, complete with our own private dining room and a few too many farewell drinks for Trent, we hit the road to Nakatsu. The GPS offered us three routes, and after some quick deliberation, we opted for the shorter path with more elevation and less traffic. Naturally, we missed a turn early on, rerouted, and started again, classic us.

Today was meant to be a recovery ride after three tough days of climbs, but like a classic Duncan yo-yo, what goes down must come back up. Our now familiar routine continues: descend blissfully into a town in the evening, then tackle the climb back out the following morning. Spoiler alert: tomorrow will be no different!

Some of us barely slept last night, minds racing in anticipation of today’s epic ride. We couldn’t stop thinking about that thrilling 10 km descent into Aso the day before, because what goes down must inevitably come back up!

We began our morning the Japanese way, with a traditional breakfast of grilled fish, tofu, rice, seaweed, a raw egg, and seasonal vegetables. As we sipped tea/coffee and reviewed our route, we prepared for a day filled with climbing, cool mist, and unforgettable scenery.

We gathered bright and early at 7:00 a.m. for breakfast, the TV humming in the background in fast-paced Japanese. While most of us couldn’t understand a word, Joel, Erik, Trent, and Simon H were oddly transfixed and for good reason. The forecast? Over 180 mm (that’s more than 7 inches!) of rain…

Today felt like something out of The Amazing Race! With map apps proving less than reliable, we split into three teams and relied on a combination of Komoot, Google Maps, Apple Maps, and live location sharing via WhatsApp to navigate.

This morning greeted us with a spectacular rainbow as the fog began to lift, an uplifting sight after yesterday’s grueling ride through relentless rain and mist. Over breakfast, we shared laughs and reflections, especially when Simon B joked that during the final hour yesterday, he would have happily traded his net worth for a lift in the support van!

We were up again around 4:00 am, roused by the pounding rain and the familiar tension of decision day. What should we do—ride or regroup? Matt, ever the committed domestique, had already made up his mind. Like a true mailman, he was channeling the motto: "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds." Meg and Linda were still weighing their options and would need to wait until breakfast to see who was suiting up.

We began our fourth day on the road with a traditional Japanese breakfast and a warm send-off from the owners and their children, along with a group photo, made for a heartfelt farewell that set a positive tone for the day.

We began Day 3 with a traditional Japanese breakfast, accompanied by unexpectedly excellent coffee. Setting out from Akune, we made our way toward Minamisatsuma, choosing scenic back roads over busy main highways wherever possible.

We started our day bright and early at 4:12 AM perhaps not ideal, but it gave us time to catch up on emails, social media, and news before tending to laundry and preparing for an essential part of Japanese culture: the onsen. We reminded ourselves that we need to appreciate Japanese culture even if we don’t agree or understand, and we’re here to understand.

After a night of rattling windows and rain hammering the hotel façade, dawn finally pried us from a restless sleep. We began our 13-day bikepacking adventure through the breathtaking landscapes of Kyushu (九州), Japan’s southern peninsula. This cycling tour offers a chance to immerse ourselves in Japan's stunning scenery and cultural richness.

Arrival in Tokyo: A Seamless Start to Our Japanese Journey
After landing at Tokyo Airport around 6:30 PM, we quickly navigated customs, complete with a temperature check and made our way to a service counter to ship our bikes ahead to Nagasaki, where the core of our journey will begin in four days.