In September, I rode a 16-inch mini velo across the Shikoku Mountains from Kochi to Matsuyama
From Kochi I followed the Niyodo River, climbed steep grades, and kept climbing until I finally reached the Shikoku Karst
The view there was so vast that I felt a lifelong, unforgettable thrill along with the achievement of reaching Shikoku’s ceiling by my own effort
On the Kochi Prefecture–Ehime Prefecture border, the karst terrain jutted up at 1,400 meters, looking like somewhere other than Japan, yet when I shifted my gaze sideways the steep, characteristically Japanese peaks rose up and I was reminded that I was indeed in Japan
Pale blue, white, and green formed a contrast that seemed to symbolize summer, and ridgelines stretched east and west as far as the eye could see
Summer in Shikoku was unbeatable
That night I cooked dinner, rolled out my sleeping bag, and took a short nap
At 10:00 p.m. I sensed something and crawled out of the tent to find a sky full of stars in every direction
From the cloudless Shikoku Mountains the Milky Way rose up
In my just-over-twenty years of life, that was by far the most beautiful Milky Way I have ever seen
I had come to Shikoku alone, carrying heavy camping gear on a small-wheeled bike, enduring the fierce heat and hardship to finally reach this place—perhaps that made the view all the more moving
Will I ever encounter such a sense of wonder again in my life?
Maybe I travel by bicycle to seek out encounters like that
More than comfort, stability, or security, I want the overwhelming exhilaration of being moved
For that, I feel I can overcome any hardship by my own strength
Because this is Japan, I hope more people can experience everything that bicycle travel can offer