Cycling Day 42: More Lake Biwa
Beautiful, warm sunny morning! I was glad of the shady spot I'd been suggested for my tent.
I spotted a small hole in my tent outer and stuck some duct tape over it for now.
On examining my slow puncture, I found 2 old repairs were leaking - looked like they'd got hot enough the rubber had stuck to the tyre and the patches had come a bit unstuck from the inner tube - time to deploy my inner tube I think!
Today I will cycle back to lake Biwa, follow it's cycle tour a little, then decide whether to stay by the lake, or head east...
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Koka Castle
I stopped in at a local bicycle shop, but they didn't have the right size inner tube in stock to replace my spare - apparently it would have had to have been a special order.
I had meant to ask about a replacement chain too, as mine is probably a bit tired after over 2500km and it would be good not to wear out the cassette with the chain like I usually do! However, demoralised by the lack of inner-tube, I didn't.
Back at lake Biwa
At this point the lake Biwa cycle path just runs next to a very busy road 🫤
A good deed
I saw a road bike cyclist stopped by a bridge. I managed to help him get his front chain rings running smoothly again! Finally managed a good deed on this trip!
He'd cycled on with an arigato and a handshake before I thought a photo might be good, so here's one from the bridge.
Lake Biwa free camping
This park with free camping is very popular today, although people are staying to pack up now that it's Sunday afternoon! It's lovely and sunny, but there's a strong breeze making it a bit chilly unless you're in the sun. If it weren't for that breeze, I would be tempted to stop here for the day!
Mandatory afternoon sewing
I didn't get far after my lunch stop before noticing four of my front food bag straps had come unsewn from the bag. I last re-sewed several of these on the ferry to Wakayama, but have had to resew a couple since too. I've found myself a bench out of the wind and sat down to spend an hour or so relating things again...
Maybe I should have just started at the free camping and found a sheltered spot there!
Sewing completed!
Hmmm, probably too late for a paid campsite now - most of them have a reception closing at 5pm...
Free campsite, or wild camp probably tonight...
17 May 2026 - 16:42
Evening meal
Not sure what they'd found, but it was popular!
17 May 2026 - 17:53
Nagahama Biwako Daibutsu
They have a very large Buddha statue!