Oita Charity Cycling . おつかれさま!

Oita Charity Cycling

19 March to 21 March 2011



Before setting off...



The Oita Charity Cycling (OCC) was held from 19 March to 21 March. It was a 3 days bike trip. I was excited about it but at the same time worried. Nevertheless, I went. After the half a day of cycling on the 1st day, I was thinking to myself: I must be CRAZY!!! What have I got myself into?! Why did I even think about joining?! I am damn weak!!! I am going too slow!!! I need to rest!!! I can't cycle anymore!!! It was that tough, at least for me.

I have myself to blame for not training hard for the bike trip and taking it too lightly. So, without the stamina, I had to depend on my will-power then. I went on and on. I see a hill that I can't go up, well, I got off my bike and walked up the hills. I'm always the last few to reach the destinations, but, well, I completed the 3 days of cycling. 

On the 1st day, we cycled from Beppu to Kunimi. It was more of getting use to the bike. It was tiring up and down the hills and I came in one of the last (not suprising at all). After bathing and dinner, I was totally shagged and I slept around 9pm.

The 2nd day didn't start off very well, cos it was drizzling. I had to put on my not so pro-looking raincoat and cycle in the rain. My friend and I decided to take a slightly different route from the rest in the morning so that she can pass by her town to say hello to her teachers, students and friends. The route has lots of uphills, so I had to do lots of pushing and walking. It was an enjoyable cycle though and I had a good lunch and chocolate cookies prepared by a friend living in the town. We had to go on cycling so that we can catch up with the rest. (We aren't the fastest cyclists u can find there, in fact, I'm the slowest there...sigh..., so I need to push myself harder so that I don't lag behind too much. The 1st rider always reach the destination arounf 1pm, I usually reach around 6pm. hee...) I enjoyed the 2nd day the most. I was getting used to my bike and getting the momentum of cycling (getting used to the pain on my thighs and butt). We ended pretty early, reaching the resting place in Yabakei around 5pm. There was time to rest and have a good dinner (with bento, pizzas and yoghurt) and still had some energy to chat with some people.

Still energetic b4 setting off on the 3rd day...

The 3rd day was the worst of all. It was raining (but drizzle anymore). The weather was bad and everyone was already tired out from the 1st 2 days. I was cycling very slowly and my friend and I didn't see the sign for turning and after cycling for 3 hours, we were back to near where we started. It was so depressing. We were cold and wet and back to where we started, what a way to start a day. In the end, we had no choice but to call for help. The volunteers came to pick us and our bicycles up and drove us to the next town, Ajimu. It was a boost up ahead, but I missed cycling that long stretch of route which was very tough. I'm not complaining for missing that out, just that I didn't exactly finish the bike trip. There were some who finished that stretch and decided that they can't go on in that kind of weather and some had to get back to Beppu in time to catch a train back to their prefectures (We had some participants who came from other prefectures.). They took the cars and went off 1st. My friend and I decided that since we didn't do that stretch, we should get on our bike again and cycle back to Beppu. It was not an easy route back, eventhough the volunteers said it wasn't that difficult. There were still many uphills which I totally have no more energy to cycle up. I was wet, cold, tired and slow. Worse still, I was beginning to feel bad about making the decision to continue cycling, cos the volunteers would have to wait for me to get back before they can go home. I just had to keep pedaling then. I finally reached Beppu Park at around 6pm, finally completing my 3 days of "adventure".

I am proud of myself for completing the bike ride. It was tough and I was very very very tired. I did my best at least and didn't give up, though I didn't really complete the whole ride. It was fun in a way and a great experience for me, but I doubt if I would be crazy enough to join another of this kind of cycling trip again.

おつかれさま! (Otsukaresama.辛苦啦!) :)

(Due to the fact that I was busy cycling,too tired from cycling, bad weather, I didn't take a lot of photos. It was a pity, but I will wait for the others to upload their photos before I post them here.)