Here are the details and message from Lyndon who is planning this cycling tour in Japan.

Click on all the tabs to see details of the trip and Japan. Reviews on their site are old but good. More recent reviews are on Trip Advisor and are also good. I will link the Trip Advisor reviews in the next message. One of the Trip Advisor reviews was from a Florida woman who I rode in Vietnam/Cambodia/Thailand with.

Some info on the Japan bike ride I am interested in. It would be good to have some of our DSR riders for this event. We tried to get on the ride waiting list for 3 years prior to COVID and now it is available next year 14-25 April. It is the Japan Highlights 10 day 11 night tour and is at about the same time as the cherry blossom season I think – though I am not sure of of it’s intensity where we are riding.

All meals are included. Start Izumi, end Kyoto. Cost ¥310,000/A$3,238 plus eBike rental ¥5000/A$33.35 per day. Add 5% for payment through PayPal or credit card. Concludes after breakfast on 25 Apr.

I plan to fly into Osaka and get a domestic flight to Kagoshima for the start. At the end I would get a train from Kyoto back to Osaka. Air China (Taiwanese) seems good to for the international bit – modern Airbus A350 with above average legroom in economy ~$1,296, yet to look at reviews. ANA for the internal flight $142, train on last day $42.

Historic weather: April Japan/Kyushu average 20°H & 8-10°L, but there is a 50% chance of rain. April is considered a perfect month to visit Japan – the best weather-wise.
I have been to Japan a couple of times and it certainly is different – ultra clean, and very nice people. A lot of positives.

The tour I have talked about is not a guaranteed departure – I guess they need bookings for that. I am keen to commit soon so that it is still available, ie not booked out.
Have a think about it and chat or ask questions.
Lyndon
https://www.japanbiking.com/tours-2/tours/

Arctic blast today and probable extending to tomorrow. This means it will be cold with a high chance of very light rain, if any. Look forward to the 8am start from Darnum. Warm gear, including thick or skin gloves will be order of the day.

Saturday is forecast to be cloudy with high chance of showers in the west, slight chance elsewhere. Snow falling above 1300 metres. Winds westerly 20 to 30 km/h becoming light in the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 4 and 8 with daytime temperatures reaching between 9 and 14.

Last Saturday of July and there last on this half of the calendar year. Ride the Westbury loop from Yarragon setting off at 8am. It will be a cool start with light winds so dress appropriately. Hopefully we will see more of you on this ride as the recent cooler and wet weather has kept several of us preferring their dooner rather than fronting up.

It will be mostly sunny with a slight chance of a shower about the ranges, near zero chance elsewhere. Winds northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 4 and 9 with daytime temperatures reaching between 12 and 19.

Cool to cold day, very little change of rain tomorrow with a little fog, so come rugged up appropriately. 8am street from Darnum.

Ian won’t be riding as he has has a procedure on his back to stem the depilating pain in his left knee, but will be over for coffee after your ride.

Saturday if forecast to b partly cloudy with patches of morning frost about the ranges. Medium chance of showers near Wilsons Promontory, most likely in the early morning. Near zero chance of rain elsewhere. Winds northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light in the morning then becoming west to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the middle of the day. Overnight temperatures falling to between zero and 6 with daytime temperatures reaching between 10 and 15.

We have had quite acceptable weather over the last few days considering we are in the midst of winter. Hopefully it will continue tomorrow all best being cold and a little windy for our ride starting from Darnum at 8am.

Ian has succumbed and gone over to the e-bike side. Why e-bike? A niggling back issue not previously diagnose as osteoarthritis prohibits riding on an analog bike aka usual bike. An e-bike enables riding without further causing too many physical issues – at least for the time being.

Forecast to be cloudy tomorrow with high chance of showers in the west, medium chance elsewhere. Snow falling above 1300 metres. Winds west to northwesterly 25 to 35 km/h tending west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon then tending west to northwesterly in the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 4 and 9 with daytime temperatures reaching between 10 and 15.

Late update. Apologies. We have just tickets over into the second half of 2023. Looks like Saturday will be a little damp and windy. But as with several Saturdays there might be a window for a ride. Ian will not be riding tomorrow as he will be picking up his new bike.

Cloudy Saturday. High chance of showers, most likely in the morning. Snow falling above 1400 metres. Winds west to northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h tending west to southwesterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning. Overnight temperatures falling to between 4 and 8 with daytime temperatures reaching between 8 and 14.

Believe it or not, tomorrow is the last day of June and also the passing of the equinox . Hopefully we will see more day light as the days roll by. Yes, we will start from Yarragon at 8am. It will be very cold to freezing and will be breezy tomorrow so rug up appropriately

Saturday will be partly cloudy with areas of morning frost in the east. Medium chance of showers about the ranges, slight chance elsewhere. Snow possible above 1100 metres. Winds north to northwesterly 20 to 30 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 1 and 5 with daytime temperatures reaching between 8 and 15.

Reasonable sunny but possibly windy morning for our ride tomorrow. Start from Darnum at 8am. Kevin and Ian however are unable to ride but will catch you for coffee after your ride. Have a safe ride.

It will be mostly sunny on Saturday. There will be a high chance of showers in the west, slight chance elsewhere. Snow falling above 1400 metres. Damaging winds possible about the ranges in the afternoon and evening. Winds northerly 25 to 35 km/h turning northwesterly in the evening. Overnight temperatures falling to between 4 and 10 with daytime temperatures reaching between 10 and 17.

It seems the forecasted rainy weather for this weekend earlier this week may not eventuate. It will be cold and breezy Start from Darnum at 8am. Come prepared for the cool weather. Have you batteries charge and light on please.

Saturday will be partly cloudy with medium chance of showers near Wilsons Promontory (not Darnum), most likely in the early morning. Near zero chance of rain elsewhere. Winds northwesterly 25 to 35 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 3 and 7 with daytime temperatures reaching between 10 and 16.

Winter is officially here and the forecast for Saturday certainly reflects this. We could deal with the cold but hopefully the rain will hold off until our ride. We will be back in Darnum for an 8am start.

Tomorrow’s forecast is for a cloudy day with high chance of showers, most likely in the morning and afternoon. Winds west to northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h tending west to southwesterly in the middle of the day then becoming light in the early afternoon. Overnight temperatures falling to around 6 with daytime temperatures reaching between 12 and 16.