"Bicycle bicycle bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle bicycle bicycle
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride my bike
I want to ride my bicycle
I want to ride it where I like"
Queen ~ Bicycle Race

Two attempts later, we finally rode our bikes all the way from little Okubo to the massive Dutch windmill, some 2.5 hours each way alongside a small river. The ride was fairly tough but made easier by some good weather and lack of people making a nuisance of themselves along the track by the river. Our legs were sore at the beginning of the day as we both had busy weeks and while riding they were ok but as soon as we got off our bikes for a break, we were walking like little Japanese grandparents with bent backs from planting rice.
The windmill at the end of the ride was cool, it was big and circulating clockwise. Why would you want to know that? I don't know. The funny thing with Japan is that when Japanese people get interested in something, they get obsessed by it. And that is exactly what has happened here. I think the lady selling sweets was wearing wooden clogs. Also, we saw these guys with fishing boats, not row boats suiting the very narrow and shallow river, a high tech boat that people use in fishing competitions, the ones with a seat in the middle and the high tech fish finding radars. They sit on them, looking at the water intently, waiting for the bite... of nothing.
Up and back in about 6 hours including lunch. It was a great run. But at the end of the day, sure enough as the sun has set today, pain has set in as it hurts to walk, it hurts to use our muscles.