Day 39. Monday, August 23, 2010. Matsue to Gotsu, Shimane-ken.
Left a little after 7 and had b'fast at a Gusto (a "family restaurant" chain) in Izumo. More than a 25-km ride. I flooded myself with iced coffee at the drink bar.
Route 9 generally stayed away from the coast offering only long relatively modest grades.
However, enough of them and I'm pushing. Lots of stops to drink what I'm carrying or buy cold ones from vending machines and convenience stores.I saw the turn off for the old Iwami silver mines, but decided they weren't worth the 15-km round trip.
The Sand Museum was near Route 9, but I gave it a pass and bought a cold drink across the road.As it was getting late I gave up on trying to make Hamada and settled on Gotsu. Rather a disappointment as I rode past the station so I kept going. Things warmed up a bit as I saw signs of civilization, i.e. Mosburger and Mr. Donut. The town looked as though it might be 5 km long and two blocks wide. It went on and with no sign of hotels of any kind - I think I'm beyond considering a bus shelter reasonable accommodation. I finally stopped at a Lawson and asked. The woman behind the counter pulled out a hand-written list of more than a dozen places. Picked the closest one and reached it in under 10 minutes. Very nice welcome at the front desk. One of the ladies who took to addressing me as "gaijin-san" even took me across the road where she ran a pub and karaoke place so I could use their washing machine and hang the wash on their poles behind the shop.
Wash complete, I crossed the other road and entered "Konami", a little eating place. Ordered yaki-niku and beer. As has become commonplace on this trip, I chatted with the proprietress a bit and my Japanese usage was pronounced jouzu ("good"). She asked my age and seemed surprised at the answer. That simply confirms that I AM getting up there. I asked for gohan ("rice") and she returned with rice and three side dishes. Perhaps they were included but I had the feeling that she was trying to fatten me. Now, if I can only figure out how to get that response with beer...
Before I left she and her son had me write and sign a small message card. Places often display such messages from prominent people who stop there. So, if you're ever on that side road in Gotsu in Shimane Prefecture, stop in at Konami and tell them Scott sent you.
A more detailed timeline:
6:45 a.m.: left hotel in Matsue
7:56 a.m.: stopped at Poplar shop on Rte 9 near Shobara Station, 20.5 km from Matsue
9:00 - 9:45 a.m.: stopped at Gusto restaurant for breakfast in Izumo on Rte 9 near Rte 184
10:45 a.m.: arrived at Kirarataki michi-no-eki
11:30 a.m.: photo on Rte 9 near Tagi Station, 52 km from Matsue
12:14 p.m.: stopped at Poplar shop on Rte 9 near Kute Station, 62.5 km from Matsue
1:08 p.m.: lunch at Mosburger on Rte 9 in Ota, 1.3 km west of Otashi Station, 66.5 km from Matsue
2:50 p.m.: photo & stopped at Poplar shop on Rte 9 near Nima Station, 77.5 km from Matsue
6:00 p.m.: arrived in Gotsu at Sanmall Hotel
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