行きたいリストにあった烏山と茂木を結ぶルート。アユの天ぷらも。
A long-lasting item on my bucket list: cycling from Karasuyama Station to Motegi and treating myself to early-summer ayu (sweetfish) tempura.
烏山線はキハ40ではなくバッテリー電車になっていた。
The battery train at Utsunomiya Station bound for Karasuyama.
Needed to purchase a paper ticket to enter Karasuyama Line.
Arrived at Karasuyama.
The train began to charge.
Karasuyama Station.
Headed west to the hill and valley area.
Ryumon-no-taki (龍門の滝) waterfall.
Taiheiji (太平寺) Temple.
Scenery from the ridge.
Paddies in the valley.
Soba (buckwheat) fields on river terraces.
Wide river terrace.
Reached the Arakawa (荒川) River.
Bright graveyard on the hill.
Walked upstream along the Arakawa River.
Young rice plants blowing.
Due to a mechanical problem on my bike, decided to take a train at Kobana Station (小塙駅) to Karasuyama. Gave up the plan to Motegi.
Took a numbered ticket, just like on a bus.
Returned to Karasuyama Station, where I deposited my bicycle for a walk in a good old atmosphere.
Checked an item off my bucket list! Ayu tempura at Syogetsu-an (松月庵) restaurant.
After lunch, walked down to see the Naka River (那珂川).
Wide bank of the Naka River.
The river flows beyond the paddy fields.
Soba fields, too.
Crossing the River by Shimono-oh-hashi Bridge (下野大橋).
Kayaking in the best season.
The stone monument describes the place used to be a ferry point.
Spring water by the River, and interesting earth strata.
Wooden boat in use.
Crossed the bridge again to go back to the Karasuyama Station.
Saw a tube tunnel for kids, like in Doraemon.
Stone-built warehouse, used to serve logistics in history.
Got back to the Station with an iced coffee and some sweets from a nearby 7-11.
