東武東上線の小川町駅から、東秩父村にある彩の国ふれあい牧場に向かいます。高低差は500m程度ですが、最後に一気に登る感じで、意外と大変な坂でした。さて、5月になるとこの辺りにはポピーが咲き誇ります。天空のポピーと呼ばれる名所です。残念ながら、2024年は生育があまりよくなく、いつもなら満開のはずが残念な結果に。それでも、自転車でヒルクライムをして、景色の良いところでアイスクリームを食べたので大満足となるのが自転車のいいところですね。その後皆野町方面に下り、荒川の右岸を走り、深谷のアウトレットによって、熊谷駅まで走りました。
距離は約65㎞で、6時間の所要時間でした。
From Ogawamachi Station on the Tobu Tojo Line, we headed to Sainokuni Fureai Farm in Higashichichibu Village. The difference in elevation was about 500m, but it felt like we were climbing all at once at the end, and it was a surprisingly difficult slope. Now, in May, poppies bloom around here. It is a famous spot called the Sky Poppy. Unfortunately, the growth was not very good in 2024, and the usual full bloom was disappointing. Still, the good thing about cycling is that we were very satisfied with the hill climb and ice cream we had in a scenic spot. After that, we went down towards Minano-machi, rode along the right bank of the Arakawa River, and rode to Kumagaya Station by the Fukaya outlet.
The distance was about 65 km and it took 6 hours.
小川町駅を出て東秩父村方面へ。東秩父村に入っても意外と坂がないので、このまま楽に行けるのかと思いきや、一気に山道に入る感じで、結構な急登で500mほど標高を上げる感じでした。彩の国ふれあい牧場は観光客も多く、景色もよく、天空のポピーの時期でなくてもまた来たい感じです。
彩の国ふれあい牧場から、天空のポピーは近いのですが、自転車置き場はかなり高度の低いところにあり、徒歩での登り返しがあります。
Leaving Ogawamachi Station, head towards Higashichichibu Village. Even after entering Higashichichibu Village, there are surprisingly few slopes, so I thought it would be easy to continue on, but then I suddenly entered a mountain path and there was a fairly steep climb, with the altitude increasing by about 500m. Sainokuni Fureai Farm is popular with tourists and has beautiful scenery, so I would like to come back even if it's not the season for Sky Poppies.
The Sky Poppies are close to Sainokuni Fureai Farm, but the bicycle parking area is at a fairly low altitude, so you will have to walk up a steep hill.
彩の国ふれあい牧場 Sainokuni Fureai Farm
天空のポピー Poppies in the Sky
下りは、道の駅みなの方面に降り、県道82号線（荒川右岸）を走りました。長瀞の石畳は少しだけ見る感じでした。途中深谷のアウトレットにより、熊谷駅から帰りました。
On the way down, I got off at the roadside station Mina and drove on Prefectural Route 82 (right bank of the Arakawa River). I only saw a little of the stone pavement of Nagatoro. On the way, I stopped at the outlet in Fukaya and returned from Kumagaya Station.
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