There are many ways to enjoy cycling, and one of the charms of cycling is that it can be enjoyed along with other activities.
I participated in the “Pedal and Paddle” tour to fully enjoy the outdoors, which was held at the “Ride on 310” cycling event organized by Mito Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

What is Pedal & Paddle?

“Pedal & Paddle” is a bimonthly cycling event organized by Mito Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It was created by Mr. Hirofumi Nemoto, a former employee of Ibaraki Prefecture and a key player in the promotion of cycling in Ibaraki.
The prefecture is rich in nature and has many places that are perfect for outdoor activities. So, it’s more enjoyable to not only cycle but also have some more activities! The plan contains cycling and paddling and the cycling course alone is about 63km long, so you can fully enjoy pedaling as well.

Starting at Lake Senba in Mito City

There were 15 participants on this day. We gathered at 7:00 a.m. at Senba park in Mito city.
Divided into two groups, we set off for our destination, Storm Field Guide in Noguchi, Hitachi-Omiya city.
The route took us north along the left bank of Naka River on the way and south along the right bank on the way back.

What is Naka River?

Naka River originates from the foot of Mt. Nasu in Tochigi Prefecture and flows into the Pacific Ocean at the border of Hitachinaka city and Oarai town in Ibaraki Prefecture.
It is visited by people who enjoy “ayu” (sweetfish) fishing, kayaking, and canoeing. This kayaking trip will take place on Naka River!

The road along the left bank of Naka River is uphill, and the feeling of running through the countryside is pleasant.
The clear sky felt wide open.

On the way, we came across Oba small post pffice. The cute sign caught my eye and I took a picture.

Kayaking Experience

We arrived at Storm Field Guide in Noguchi, Hitachi-Omiya city before 10:00 a.m.

This time, we experienced a half-day course (2 hours) for beginners.
We put down our bikes and luggage, changed into clothes that we didn’t mind getting wet, and got in the car to go upstream.

Kayaks were lined up on the riverbank, and we entered the water after listening to the guide’s instructions. When you get into a kayak, your knees will get wet as you enter the river and float the boat.

The kayak has an elongated hull and the paddles have blades on both sides. We were given a good lecture on how to paddle and change directions.

We followed our guide and followed the flow of the river. It was a strange feeling to be in the river, but we enjoyed the view from the river.
It was the season for sweetfish fishing, so we paddled along, being careful of the fishing line along the way.

Water did fly off the paddle, but we never got soaked.
Due to lack of exercise, the muscles in my arms and shoulders became very tight.

Lunch at MERCY’s COFFEE

After changing clothes, we left Storm Field Guide and cycled to “Michi-no-eki Katsura”(Roadside station) on the other side of the river.

Naka River flows right behind Michi-no-eki Katsura, and people come to enjoy camping and outdoor activities along the riverbank.
On this day, I had a takeout curry from MERCY’s COFFEE next to Michi-no-eki Katsura on the riverbank.

MERCY’s COFFEE has a bike stand and is usually visited by many cyclists.

The deck where you can relax and enjoy the view of Naka River is also recommended.

In 2019, Typhoon No.19 flooded Naka River and caused a lot of damage. MERCY’s COFFEE was also flooded, but reopened in June 2021. The coffee tasted while looking at the rich scenery of Naka River is excellent!

Along the Right Bank of Naka River to the Goal, Lake Senba

After 1:30 p.m.,we left Michi-no-eki Katsura and headed for our goal, Lake Senba .

The way back was downhill, so we could take it easy. On the way, we rode along  Naka River embankment where construction work has been going on since the damage.

There was a monument that read “Ruins of Suifu-ryu Swimming School”. This is a martial art that was developed in Mito, which overlooks Naka River, and Mito clan placed great importance on swimming training.

Course introduction

Storm Field Guide
https://storm.cx/

MERCY’s COFFEE
https://mercyscoffee.com/

Summary

The cycling distance was about 63km, and the kayaking experience lasted about two hours, so we enjoyed a lot of outdoor activities.

Kayaking has the fun of “paddling with our own arms” that we can’t experience with a bicycle, and I was able to feel the wind in different ways in one cycling trip.
It’s a great idea to combine cycling with other activities, to enjoy cycling more.