Sorachi de Cycling/spring active report
One morning before dawn, with the streetlights still on, I bicycled for Lake Miyajima-numa.
My purpose was to see the famous Greater White-fronted Geese taking off from the marsh.
When I arrived at the marsh, I saw a body of water with an island in the center.
But when my eyes finally adjusted to the dim light, I soon realized it was no island but birds, all of them Greater White-fronted Geese.
There were a lot more than I expected! When I saw the first morning light in the eastern sky, I heard a splash of birds and saw several of them flying upwards.
Then, I heard the earth shaking and saw all the birds, thousands of them, flying away at the same time.
It was quite a sight! I was really amazed.
Still excited, I started moving to the next point.
As I cycled, I saw the birds feeding on worms in the fields.
Oh! Greater White-Fronted Geese and Bean Geese! They need lots of food for their long journey ahead.
Watching the birds all the way, I biked through the downtown of Bibai, passing Tomei Park, a famous spot for cherry blossoms, which will soon be in bloom.
I headed to the Garo District, once a prosperous area for coal mining.
The remains of the mining facilities along the cycling road reminded me of the past glory of the area.
My next stop was Arte Piazza.
There, I enjoyed looking at many art works dotting the field before heading for the goal.
I could experience a wide range of things on this cycling course: various wild birds, the remains of a coal mine, and the works of a world famous artist.
What a luxurious time I had!