A Touch of Red… or Yellow

 

I set out thinking, maybe a few early bloomers are out already?

But no—seems the cluster amaryllis (higanbana) are sticking to their calendar.

Along the irrigation channels they’ll burst into red right around the equinox, but today, no chance of spotting that classic “a single red flower among endless green『万緑叢中紅一点』.”

Instead, I found a wildflower along the roadside—something hibiscus-like. 

＊Google Lens tells me it’s called Yanone-bontenka (also known as Takasago-fuyou) in the mallow family.

The bright orange-red of wild gourd fruit (karasuuri) was a nice consolation, though.

Riding along the Okagaki-machi cycling path by the Shioiri River, the grass was growing like crazy from both sides.

Down at Hatsu beach, someone had set up a white swing made from a surfboard, with “ryocamping (glamping & hotel(ryokan) stay)” tents pitched nearby.

I thought about turning back, but… no, that would feel like giving up too easily. Better to follow the coast for a bit longer.

Sure enough, the long-closed Hatoba Café looked to be back in business. Their hot sandwiches? Fantastic.

＊This area—near the Hatsu-ki—was part of the Tour de Kyushu Fukuoka Stage (2024) route.

The pro cyclists from all over the world passed here nine times, before heading over the Tarumi Pass.




Further along the Hibikinada cycling road, I wondered how far I should go.

Passed by the site of an old, once-popular café—some locals still hope it’ll reopen someday.




＊On the roadside near the rocky shoreline, I spotted a stone monument: “Sacred landing site of Fukutari Shrine’s deity.”

Apparently, once a year, parishioners from Fukutari Shrine in Munakata come here, wade into the sea, and collect a bit of sand or stone that touched their feet.

After crossing the highest point of the cycling path, I began the downhill and suddenly—there it was. 

The reddish-purple blossoms of wild kudzu.

For some reason, those flowers always make me feel a little relieved.


I stopped for a breather.

Hot day.




At Satsuki Matsubara, the black pines framed views of Chi-shima and Oh-shima across the water.  Beautiful.



Even spotted some coral trees (American deigo) still blooming.

By now, I’d made it far enough that only one thing would do: Poppo-chan’s famous tamago-kake gohan (raw egg over rice). Can’t miss it!

So, no “one spot of red” this time. But I was welcomed instead by a cheerful spot of yellow.



I wandered back along the Matsubara forest path, debating whether to return by the coast.

I chose the grassy coastal trail—hard going, but worth it.

＊＊＊
Back home, the final test: the brutal climb up to our place near the town’s water tank at the very top.

Halfway up, my thigh cramped badly.

After a rest, I managed to clear the remaining steep slope without putting a foot down.

Left me strangely encouraged—like, hey, maybe I’ve still got it.

A fine little ride for Respect for the Aged Day, 2025.