We will be incommunicado, in the mountains and/or oceans of Japan for about 10 days, so will not be posting again until May 7th or 8th.
Be sure to tune in for lots of photos and tales of adventure.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Clarifying the Sawagani as snack
One of my commenters mentioned that there couldn't be much meat on the sawagani (swamp crab). Well, there isn't much meat, that's true. But there is a lot of crunch - you see, we eat the crab, not just the meat. The whole little crab is what you pop into your mouth, making a crispy little snack that goes so well with a frosty cold glass of Kirin Lager Beer.
Bicycle-free Camping Trip
Well, this is it - the final countdown to our Golden Week camping trip.
Golden Week is the cluster of national holidays that fall together every year in late April/ early May, and most people take a few personal days and end up with a consecutive ten or eleven days off. Well, Brian and I are preparing to go camping for this year's eleven-day Golden Week holiday.
I know we haven't said anything before today, but the truth is, we were completely caught up in other activities; too caught up to talk about our upcoming camping trip. We have not, however, been too caught up to do all our camping preparations! We have been long getting ready for our first real camping extravaganza in over a year - I washed our camping blankets and cookware a few weeks ago, then last week I went shopping to stock-up on good camp food (like sausages and instant ramen) and other supplies (like chopsticks and charcoal). Brian has been sorting out the music we will be bringing - MP3s that he will transfer from his computer to a disc for playing on the MP3 car audio player (complete with excellent sub-woofer!). We even bought a new map book; many of the maps we have are for specific areas, and we occasionally find ourselves "off the map", so this time we bought one that covers all Japan.
We plan to head out hopefully tonight. If not, then surely before sunrise tomorrow. We have narrowed down the area where we would like to set up camp - taking weather and traffic conditions into consideration, we will head for Tottori or perhaps even Shimane prefecture. Brian will do the driving, and I will do the navigating. My map reading skills (and kanji skills, too) have improved over the last few years, so I am confident that I can get us to our destination without too much of a detour ...this time;-)
One thing that will be different about this camping trip is that we are leaving the bikes at home. Yes, we will, instead, be Japan Campers, not Riders, at least for this spring holiday. Leaving the bikes behind makes sense - it will make packing a lot easier, give us more space in the Pajero, and allow more flexibility in our travels.
In order to make our packing easier and less fallible, we have also put together this camping list, which is located at Japan Rider.com.
Golden Week is the cluster of national holidays that fall together every year in late April/ early May, and most people take a few personal days and end up with a consecutive ten or eleven days off. Well, Brian and I are preparing to go camping for this year's eleven-day Golden Week holiday.
I know we haven't said anything before today, but the truth is, we were completely caught up in other activities; too caught up to talk about our upcoming camping trip. We have not, however, been too caught up to do all our camping preparations! We have been long getting ready for our first real camping extravaganza in over a year - I washed our camping blankets and cookware a few weeks ago, then last week I went shopping to stock-up on good camp food (like sausages and instant ramen) and other supplies (like chopsticks and charcoal). Brian has been sorting out the music we will be bringing - MP3s that he will transfer from his computer to a disc for playing on the MP3 car audio player (complete with excellent sub-woofer!). We even bought a new map book; many of the maps we have are for specific areas, and we occasionally find ourselves "off the map", so this time we bought one that covers all Japan.
We plan to head out hopefully tonight. If not, then surely before sunrise tomorrow. We have narrowed down the area where we would like to set up camp - taking weather and traffic conditions into consideration, we will head for Tottori or perhaps even Shimane prefecture. Brian will do the driving, and I will do the navigating. My map reading skills (and kanji skills, too) have improved over the last few years, so I am confident that I can get us to our destination without too much of a detour ...this time;-)
One thing that will be different about this camping trip is that we are leaving the bikes at home. Yes, we will, instead, be Japan Campers, not Riders, at least for this spring holiday. Leaving the bikes behind makes sense - it will make packing a lot easier, give us more space in the Pajero, and allow more flexibility in our travels.
In order to make our packing easier and less fallible, we have also put together this camping list, which is located at Japan Rider.com.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Sawagani - "swamp crab"
This little sawagani - which can be translated as "swamp crab", poses menacingly in this close-up taken with the new Panasonic Lumix LZ2 on our most recent morning ride.
These crabs are very small, and while their name implies that they live in a swamp, they are actually more like "damp-land crabs". In the late spring and early summer, sawagani can be found every few feet on our trails and are in constant danger of perishing beneath our wheels (I have crashed a few times trying to spare their lives!).
They also make good eatin', and can be found, whole and packaged, in the local supermarket. If you don't feel like cooking them up yourself, you can order them at the local izakaya.
Monday, April 25, 2005
Dead digital camera :(
Tracy and I bought this, at the time cutting-edge and very expensive, Casio QV-R4 digicam 2 years ago, and have used it on every outing since then. Although we carried the English Language user's manual with us everywhere, hunted down spare batteries on the Japanese auction, and searched two continents for the perfect carrying case, it croaked Saturday morning without warning. It seems this model needed a 'firmware reflashing' to prevent sudden death, which we learned posthumously. Now it can only announce: LENS ERROR and shut itself down.
Beloved but departed Casio..
My antique Fuji digicam had to be called into service for the planned Sunday morning ride. A thorough dusting and recharging its 'AA's' found it in good health. This was my first digicam bought back in 2000.. a metal body, 1.3 Megapixels, but no zoom and terrible battery life.
Trusty old Fuji Fine Pix 1500
The ride was a test of the 28'er concept. That is, my CAAD4 Cannondale converted to Singlespeed, but with 700c road wheels and 700x35 schwalbe cyclocross tires. Not a true 29'er like my Rig, but a near approximation. Tracy snapped this pic with the old Fuji Fine Pix (with Mt. Fuji in the background to show the scale).
Brian (me) during the 700cx35 experimental ride
The ride was a hardpacked logging road climb through dense forest, with only this short paved bridge allowing a glimpse of the famous mountian. The trail down was in thick mud and rocks. I was completely surprised how well the bike did in this form, and the skinny smooth tires had much more traction than I'd supposed. I wouldn't keep a bike in this configuration, but it did make me appreciate the possibilities..
Beloved but departed Casio..
My antique Fuji digicam had to be called into service for the planned Sunday morning ride. A thorough dusting and recharging its 'AA's' found it in good health. This was my first digicam bought back in 2000.. a metal body, 1.3 Megapixels, but no zoom and terrible battery life.
Trusty old Fuji Fine Pix 1500
The ride was a test of the 28'er concept. That is, my CAAD4 Cannondale converted to Singlespeed, but with 700c road wheels and 700x35 schwalbe cyclocross tires. Not a true 29'er like my Rig, but a near approximation. Tracy snapped this pic with the old Fuji Fine Pix (with Mt. Fuji in the background to show the scale).
Brian (me) during the 700cx35 experimental ride
The ride was a hardpacked logging road climb through dense forest, with only this short paved bridge allowing a glimpse of the famous mountian. The trail down was in thick mud and rocks. I was completely surprised how well the bike did in this form, and the skinny smooth tires had much more traction than I'd supposed. I wouldn't keep a bike in this configuration, but it did make me appreciate the possibilities..
Sunday, April 24, 2005
Finally spring!
Spring has sprung and finally it actually feels good to be outside. This weekend featured two great blue-sky days, which we appreciated to the fullest. Tons of laundry, housekeeping projects and especially bike rides in the mountains here were accomplished with zeal.
After choosing and ultimately buying a replacement for our suddenly departed digi-cam (story to follow), we stopped here for a refreshment and some evening sun. Eager to play with the new camera, we used the built-in memory and the included batteries to take a few shots. This is the first pic with our new Lumix DMC-LZ2..
First pic with new Lumix LZ2!
After choosing and ultimately buying a replacement for our suddenly departed digi-cam (story to follow), we stopped here for a refreshment and some evening sun. Eager to play with the new camera, we used the built-in memory and the included batteries to take a few shots. This is the first pic with our new Lumix DMC-LZ2..
First pic with new Lumix LZ2!
Saturday, April 23, 2005
Larry's New GT Avalanche 2.0 Disc
The exitement of buying a new bike never fades, even when I am not the one buying the bike.
Our friend, neighbor and co-worker, Larry, bought a new bike last week. Larry is a big guy and needed a bike that could take his power. Brian always scans the Yahoo Japan auction (as popular here as E-Bay is in North America), and last week he saw the perfect bike for Larry - a 2004 GT avalanche 2.0 with disc brakes.
It is a great bike for entry-level riders (which Larry is), and the frame and all the componenets are tough and durable. The bike was being sold by a bike shop in Kyoto, and it looks like they were trying to sell all their old (2004) stock; because it was a shop that was doing the selling, the bike came, brand new, fully (and properly) assembled, straight out of the box. Best of all, the price was right - only 40, 000 yen for the whole thing, including delivery.
Larry hefts his new bike out of the box on delivery day.
Larry poses with his new GT Avalanche 2.0, which came out perfectly assembled straight out of the box.
Our friend, neighbor and co-worker, Larry, bought a new bike last week. Larry is a big guy and needed a bike that could take his power. Brian always scans the Yahoo Japan auction (as popular here as E-Bay is in North America), and last week he saw the perfect bike for Larry - a 2004 GT avalanche 2.0 with disc brakes.
It is a great bike for entry-level riders (which Larry is), and the frame and all the componenets are tough and durable. The bike was being sold by a bike shop in Kyoto, and it looks like they were trying to sell all their old (2004) stock; because it was a shop that was doing the selling, the bike came, brand new, fully (and properly) assembled, straight out of the box. Best of all, the price was right - only 40, 000 yen for the whole thing, including delivery.
Larry hefts his new bike out of the box on delivery day.
Larry poses with his new GT Avalanche 2.0, which came out perfectly assembled straight out of the box.
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Sticking with It
We have been sticking with our healthy lifestyle fairly well. It is not hard to eat well in Japan -the supermarkets offer a large variety of fresh fish and pre-sliced sashimi and sushi. While the vegetables are somewhat expensive, there is also a large variety of spinach, mushrooms, onions, etc... so making a good dinner is easy and pleasurable.
We have also been riding and working out more regularly - the sun rises at 5 a.m. now and doesn't set until 6 p.m. or so. It is easy to ride both before and after work (though I can't honestly say that I do ride before AND after work!).
Tomorrow morning we are getting together, hopefully, with a few friends for a pre-work ride. Meeting time: 6:00 a.m.
We have also been riding and working out more regularly - the sun rises at 5 a.m. now and doesn't set until 6 p.m. or so. It is easy to ride both before and after work (though I can't honestly say that I do ride before AND after work!).
Tomorrow morning we are getting together, hopefully, with a few friends for a pre-work ride. Meeting time: 6:00 a.m.
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
FAQ - What does that bike do?
Brian and I are, naturally, very proud of our stable of mountain bikes. Why do youhave so many bikes? What's the difference between each one? and What does that bike do? are some of the main questions we encounter from our non-riding friends.
When I step outside our little world of bikes and bikers, I do understand that lack of understandingness. It is how I feel watching, for example, a football game. Whenever I happen to see part of a game, seeing all those men wearing protective body gear and full-face helmets, I wonder, what are all those downhillers doing on a field, with no bikes? (downhill riders also use body armour and full-face helmets, albeit of a different type). So when our friends asks questions, we are flattered by his interest and happy to talk about the differences between our hard-tail cross-country-come single-speed bikes, our full-suspension cross-country bikes, and our downhill bikes.
Hardtail: hardtail refers to the non-suspension rear of the bike. All traditonal bikes are hardtails. That is, the bike does not have suspension in the rear; to see what I am talking about, look at the Bike Gallery post from yesterday, and compare the Cannondales and the Rig (which are all hardtails) to the Yeti and the Rockhopper (which are both full-suspension bikes). Most traditional bikes do not have suspension in the front, either; that is what we call a rigid bike. Road bikes are, by nature of their purpose, rigid. Road bikes are made to be super-light and fast. Mountain bikes, especially cross country ones, are made to be light-but-durable, and able to handle off-road rocks and bumps and dips and drops, without so much as inflicting a scratch on the frame. All in all, for anyone riding bumpy hills or technical trails, the full-suspension cross-country bike is the best.
Full-suspension cross country bike: Full-suspension means a bike with both front and rear suspension. Most mountain bikes have had front suspension for many years now, but about five ago, full-suspension started to make headlines (look at yesterday's post, and check out the Yeti and the Rockhopper for examples of full-suspension bikes). Brian and I once had only hardtails, of course, before our full-suspension bikes; after buying our full-suspension bikes (Brian is now on his third!), our hardtails began to seem obsolete. The full-suspension cross-country bike can do all the same things a hard-tail can, and more - especially recently, with all the new technology that is being introduced to the mountain biking industry. The full-suspension bike absorbs more of the shock, so you don't have to (that oughta be an advertisement!). Seriously - on a hardtail, you have to have more skill to tackle the technical tracks, and your body has to absorb more of the shocks. On a full-suspension bike, you can go faster and conquer more obstacles, because the bike is actually not jolting you around as much.
So, why do you bother to keep your hardtails? Well, what were we to do? Throw them away? Actually, a hardtail is still lighter than a full-suspension bike. And, if you are not a serious rider, a hardtail is great, and the price is right. But we very nearly retired our hard-tails (our Cannondales) after buying our full-suspension bikes. Then we discovered the fine art of single-speeding.
Single Speed: Single speed refers to the fact that a bike has only one gear; that is, you cannot change to an easier or more difficult gear. There is no derailer and there are no shifters on a single speed bicycle. Okay, then, why only one gear? All single-speeders have different reasons; for me, it is simplicity. I love the sheer un-complicatedness of it; the purity, perhaps. Brian loves the demands that singlespeeding makes on his strength and endurance. There are many more reasons for single-speeding, all mentioned here at the single speed FAQ.
Downhill: And the downhill bike? Well, that speaks for itself. Our downhill bikes are exclusively for downhill riding. Downhilling involves a steeper decent, more obstacles, and bigger drop-offs than a typical cross-country trail. In order to permit faster (and safer) riding (especially for racers) and the ability to overcome the obstacles, a downhill bike has more travel (the suspension in front and rear moves more) than on a cross-country bike, and all the parts are much more durable, as they generally have to take more of a beating. Therefore, they are much heavier. So, that means that a downhill bike is too heavy to be pedalled long-distances on a flat, let alone uphill. How do you get uphill in order to ride down, then? Good question. That is what downhill parks are for. Our favourite downhill park is Fujimi Panorama in Nagano Prefecture. Every year, we buy a season pass for about 50, 000 yen, and that allows us to ride the gondola (with our bikes) to the top of the mountain, as many times as we want for the entire season.
I hope I have helped some readers reach a state of understandingness.
And there ends our FAQ post for today. I do hope it was enlightening, informative and inspirational. If not, I still hope that you tune in for tomorrow's blog, which might actually contain something interesting.
When I step outside our little world of bikes and bikers, I do understand that lack of understandingness. It is how I feel watching, for example, a football game. Whenever I happen to see part of a game, seeing all those men wearing protective body gear and full-face helmets, I wonder, what are all those downhillers doing on a field, with no bikes? (downhill riders also use body armour and full-face helmets, albeit of a different type). So when our friends asks questions, we are flattered by his interest and happy to talk about the differences between our hard-tail cross-country-come single-speed bikes, our full-suspension cross-country bikes, and our downhill bikes.
Hardtail: hardtail refers to the non-suspension rear of the bike. All traditonal bikes are hardtails. That is, the bike does not have suspension in the rear; to see what I am talking about, look at the Bike Gallery post from yesterday, and compare the Cannondales and the Rig (which are all hardtails) to the Yeti and the Rockhopper (which are both full-suspension bikes). Most traditional bikes do not have suspension in the front, either; that is what we call a rigid bike. Road bikes are, by nature of their purpose, rigid. Road bikes are made to be super-light and fast. Mountain bikes, especially cross country ones, are made to be light-but-durable, and able to handle off-road rocks and bumps and dips and drops, without so much as inflicting a scratch on the frame. All in all, for anyone riding bumpy hills or technical trails, the full-suspension cross-country bike is the best.
Full-suspension cross country bike: Full-suspension means a bike with both front and rear suspension. Most mountain bikes have had front suspension for many years now, but about five ago, full-suspension started to make headlines (look at yesterday's post, and check out the Yeti and the Rockhopper for examples of full-suspension bikes). Brian and I once had only hardtails, of course, before our full-suspension bikes; after buying our full-suspension bikes (Brian is now on his third!), our hardtails began to seem obsolete. The full-suspension cross-country bike can do all the same things a hard-tail can, and more - especially recently, with all the new technology that is being introduced to the mountain biking industry. The full-suspension bike absorbs more of the shock, so you don't have to (that oughta be an advertisement!). Seriously - on a hardtail, you have to have more skill to tackle the technical tracks, and your body has to absorb more of the shocks. On a full-suspension bike, you can go faster and conquer more obstacles, because the bike is actually not jolting you around as much.
So, why do you bother to keep your hardtails? Well, what were we to do? Throw them away? Actually, a hardtail is still lighter than a full-suspension bike. And, if you are not a serious rider, a hardtail is great, and the price is right. But we very nearly retired our hard-tails (our Cannondales) after buying our full-suspension bikes. Then we discovered the fine art of single-speeding.
Single Speed: Single speed refers to the fact that a bike has only one gear; that is, you cannot change to an easier or more difficult gear. There is no derailer and there are no shifters on a single speed bicycle. Okay, then, why only one gear? All single-speeders have different reasons; for me, it is simplicity. I love the sheer un-complicatedness of it; the purity, perhaps. Brian loves the demands that singlespeeding makes on his strength and endurance. There are many more reasons for single-speeding, all mentioned here at the single speed FAQ.
Downhill: And the downhill bike? Well, that speaks for itself. Our downhill bikes are exclusively for downhill riding. Downhilling involves a steeper decent, more obstacles, and bigger drop-offs than a typical cross-country trail. In order to permit faster (and safer) riding (especially for racers) and the ability to overcome the obstacles, a downhill bike has more travel (the suspension in front and rear moves more) than on a cross-country bike, and all the parts are much more durable, as they generally have to take more of a beating. Therefore, they are much heavier. So, that means that a downhill bike is too heavy to be pedalled long-distances on a flat, let alone uphill. How do you get uphill in order to ride down, then? Good question. That is what downhill parks are for. Our favourite downhill park is Fujimi Panorama in Nagano Prefecture. Every year, we buy a season pass for about 50, 000 yen, and that allows us to ride the gondola (with our bikes) to the top of the mountain, as many times as we want for the entire season.
I hope I have helped some readers reach a state of understandingness.
And there ends our FAQ post for today. I do hope it was enlightening, informative and inspirational. If not, I still hope that you tune in for tomorrow's blog, which might actually contain something interesting.
Monday, April 18, 2005
The Bike Gallery
Over the last seven years or so, as our skill improved and our needs changed, Brian and I have been upgrading our mountain bikes - sometimes just the parts, other times the frame, and others by buying a whole new bike.
Today, I wanted to showcase our current bikes. I have unselfishly left out pictures and descriptions of the muliple frames accumulating on the back balcony and the boxes of parts in both our apartments.
Brian's 2005 Gary Fisher Rig - a dedicated single speed with 29" wheels, Brian is happiest with this bike, which came perfectly set up for him. He hasn't ridden anything else since it arrived in February.
Brian's Cannondale - Retired. This is the bike that Brian converted to a single speed last year, before buying the Rig.
Tracy's Cannondale - a cross-country single speed for everyday use. I converted this to a single speed when I started to get bored with all the gears, and just bored with the bike.
Brian's Yeti, "Handmade in America", full-suspension cross-country bike in extra-large; probably the first bike to fit Brian properly, and great for technical and/or steep trails.
Tracy's 2001 Specialized Rockhopper - a perfect fit for me, and rides like a dream. There is nothing it can't do with the Rock Shox Duke for the fork.
Brian's GT DHi Race - the downhill bike that made Brian a better rider; even huge drop-offs are no match for the DHi and Brian's technical skill.
Tracy's Santa Cruz Bullit - for downhill and freeride use. I am just waiting for the downhill mountain bike park to open again for the summer season, as I have not ridden the Sherman fork yet!
Today, I wanted to showcase our current bikes. I have unselfishly left out pictures and descriptions of the muliple frames accumulating on the back balcony and the boxes of parts in both our apartments.
Brian's 2005 Gary Fisher Rig - a dedicated single speed with 29" wheels, Brian is happiest with this bike, which came perfectly set up for him. He hasn't ridden anything else since it arrived in February.
Brian's Cannondale - Retired. This is the bike that Brian converted to a single speed last year, before buying the Rig.
Tracy's Cannondale - a cross-country single speed for everyday use. I converted this to a single speed when I started to get bored with all the gears, and just bored with the bike.
Brian's Yeti, "Handmade in America", full-suspension cross-country bike in extra-large; probably the first bike to fit Brian properly, and great for technical and/or steep trails.
Tracy's 2001 Specialized Rockhopper - a perfect fit for me, and rides like a dream. There is nothing it can't do with the Rock Shox Duke for the fork.
Brian's GT DHi Race - the downhill bike that made Brian a better rider; even huge drop-offs are no match for the DHi and Brian's technical skill.
Tracy's Santa Cruz Bullit - for downhill and freeride use. I am just waiting for the downhill mountain bike park to open again for the summer season, as I have not ridden the Sherman fork yet!
Saturday, April 16, 2005
Susono Chuo-Koen (Central Park)
Ahh...we didn't eat or drink too much last night at the all-you-can-eat-and-drink buffet dinner! But we did have a good time, and got lucky once again, as the sakura were still in bloom, the night air was warm, and the breeze was gentle.
The weather held for today, too. While we decided against riding, since it was pretty windy and our legs hadn't quite recovered from yesterday's workout, we decided to go for a walk around our local park - Susono Chuo-Koen. It is a lovely park, and we ended up walking for about two hours.
Here is a picture of the suspension bridge made for pedestrians to cross the river.
Here is Brian at Susono Central Park (notice the cute bridge in the background!)
Finally, here is me, Tracy, in front of the waterfall at Susono Central Park
It was, after all, a good day. It was also in keeping with our New and Improved HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.
The weather held for today, too. While we decided against riding, since it was pretty windy and our legs hadn't quite recovered from yesterday's workout, we decided to go for a walk around our local park - Susono Chuo-Koen. It is a lovely park, and we ended up walking for about two hours.
Here is a picture of the suspension bridge made for pedestrians to cross the river.
Here is Brian at Susono Central Park (notice the cute bridge in the background!)
Finally, here is me, Tracy, in front of the waterfall at Susono Central Park
It was, after all, a good day. It was also in keeping with our New and Improved HEALTHY LIFESTYLE.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Health Kick
Well - the inevitable is upon us. After a slighly sedentary winter (only a couple of rides a week), and a bout of greasy-food eating and beer drinking, we have both decided to eat more healthfully more regularly!
It will be an easy thing to do because we both want to do it and we both eat fresh, healthy food anyway. It is just a matter of reducing the amount of greasy, unhealthy food.
Oops - we will have to make Friday an exception, though, as we are going to a buffet dinner at the Gotemba Kogen beer hall with some co-workers; all you can eat and all you can drink!
Hmm...guess we'll get started on our health kick on Saturday!
It will be an easy thing to do because we both want to do it and we both eat fresh, healthy food anyway. It is just a matter of reducing the amount of greasy, unhealthy food.
Oops - we will have to make Friday an exception, though, as we are going to a buffet dinner at the Gotemba Kogen beer hall with some co-workers; all you can eat and all you can drink!
Hmm...guess we'll get started on our health kick on Saturday!
Monday, April 11, 2005
Morning at the Beer Garden
Yesterday we had a great ride. This was probably the best weekend, weatherwise, in a long time.
After enjoying the sakura in Hamamatsu Park on Saturday, we decided to take a bike ride up to one of the better cherry blossom viewing spots near our apartment on Sunday.
We set out at about 7:30 in the morning and enjoyed a slow ride winding through farmers' fields, slowing climbing uphill. Then we got to the Beer Hall, and went on past to continue our ride on a little trail that is behind the beer hall. All off-road climbing on the singlespeeds was exhausting, but exhilarating, too.
Our reward at the end of the ride including sitting in the beer garden, which is peppered with cherry trees, and drinking a cold beer on a warm spring morning.
Brian at rest after the hard ride
Cherry blossoms in full bloom
Getting Beer from the Stall at 10 a.m.!
After enjoying the sakura in Hamamatsu Park on Saturday, we decided to take a bike ride up to one of the better cherry blossom viewing spots near our apartment on Sunday.
We set out at about 7:30 in the morning and enjoyed a slow ride winding through farmers' fields, slowing climbing uphill. Then we got to the Beer Hall, and went on past to continue our ride on a little trail that is behind the beer hall. All off-road climbing on the singlespeeds was exhausting, but exhilarating, too.
Our reward at the end of the ride including sitting in the beer garden, which is peppered with cherry trees, and drinking a cold beer on a warm spring morning.
Brian at rest after the hard ride
Cherry blossoms in full bloom
Getting Beer from the Stall at 10 a.m.!
Sunday, April 10, 2005
Cherry Blossoms in Hamamatsu
Brian and I spent all day Saturday not riding but walking around Hamamatsu city. It is much bigger than our little Susono, and boasts a castle and its very large surrounding park.
We got to Hamamatsu too early for shopping, so decided to follow signs leading to the castle park, where we encountered a few other people, mostly dog walkers and photographers. Of course, there were also a few people sleeping on tarps under the cherry trees - hanami is in full force this weekend!
For those who are not aware, hanami means flower viewing and it refers to the popular pastime of having a pic-nic under the cherry trees and just enjoying the sight of the cherry blossoms. The cherry blossoms do not last long - they will be gone in just a few days - so for just the briefest period in April, families and friends head out to the best hanami spots they can find.
Brian and I were just lucky to have stumbled into such a lovely park, and so early in the morning as to be almost alone there. We took a picture (of course) of the castle, which, though not as large as the more famous castles in Japan, was still rather impressive. And the park itself was a perfect place to spend the early morning hours on the best hanami day of the year.
Hamamatsu Castle
A bridge crosses the pond in Hamamatsu Castle Park, with a large cherry tree in full bloom stretching over the water.
We got to Hamamatsu too early for shopping, so decided to follow signs leading to the castle park, where we encountered a few other people, mostly dog walkers and photographers. Of course, there were also a few people sleeping on tarps under the cherry trees - hanami is in full force this weekend!
For those who are not aware, hanami means flower viewing and it refers to the popular pastime of having a pic-nic under the cherry trees and just enjoying the sight of the cherry blossoms. The cherry blossoms do not last long - they will be gone in just a few days - so for just the briefest period in April, families and friends head out to the best hanami spots they can find.
Brian and I were just lucky to have stumbled into such a lovely park, and so early in the morning as to be almost alone there. We took a picture (of course) of the castle, which, though not as large as the more famous castles in Japan, was still rather impressive. And the park itself was a perfect place to spend the early morning hours on the best hanami day of the year.
Hamamatsu Castle
A bridge crosses the pond in Hamamatsu Castle Park, with a large cherry tree in full bloom stretching over the water.
Friday, April 08, 2005
Spring
It's quite warm and humid today -would be a great day for a ride. However, we both have to leave for work quite early today, so the ride will be postponed until tomorrow, when, according to the weather forecast, it will be warm and sunny. Great weather for a Saturday!
Spring is perhaps the best season in Shizuoka - the flowers are in bloom, the temperature is just right, and rainy season is still months away.
I foresee much fun this spring, especially as the Japanese spring holiday is just around the corner!
Spring is perhaps the best season in Shizuoka - the flowers are in bloom, the temperature is just right, and rainy season is still months away.
I foresee much fun this spring, especially as the Japanese spring holiday is just around the corner!
Thursday, April 07, 2005
Group Ride
The weather is just getting warmer and warmer - it's hard not to ride!
Instead of riding just the two of us this morning, we rode with our friend, Tony. He had all but stopped riding over a year ago after severely bruising some ribs in a crash, but has recently gotten re-motivated and started riding again.
Riding with someone "new" is refreshing and makes the "same old ride" seem new and exciting again. If Tony stays motivated and continues to ride regularly, I can see more group rides happening!
Tony and Brian posing with the Rig
Instead of riding just the two of us this morning, we rode with our friend, Tony. He had all but stopped riding over a year ago after severely bruising some ribs in a crash, but has recently gotten re-motivated and started riding again.
Riding with someone "new" is refreshing and makes the "same old ride" seem new and exciting again. If Tony stays motivated and continues to ride regularly, I can see more group rides happening!
Tony and Brian posing with the Rig
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Finding Time
I got in a ride this morning. I turned the alarm clock off at 5 a.m., then promptly fell back to sleep. When I woke, the clock read "6:30". I jumped out of bed - I had to get ready right away if I wanted to ride this morning! Brian wanted to ride, too, but he was still fast asleep - had to be tired to still be asleep at 6:30.
I got dressed and out into the chilly morning air, mildly surprised at the lack of traffic. Must be because it is spring holiday for most schools now.
I rode up into the hills, aiming for one of our favorite, yet short, morning routes. I kept at a slow but steady uphill pace of 11 km/ h. Then about halfway through my ride, I changed the function on my cycle computer from Speed to Time. The clock read "6:00". I then finally started to realize that, in my not-quite-awake state, I had misread my clock this morning and I had actually gained an hour!
I got dressed and out into the chilly morning air, mildly surprised at the lack of traffic. Must be because it is spring holiday for most schools now.
I rode up into the hills, aiming for one of our favorite, yet short, morning routes. I kept at a slow but steady uphill pace of 11 km/ h. Then about halfway through my ride, I changed the function on my cycle computer from Speed to Time. The clock read "6:00". I then finally started to realize that, in my not-quite-awake state, I had misread my clock this morning and I had actually gained an hour!
Sunday, April 03, 2005
Why We Ride
Brian: I ride because it's awesome. In fact, I don't understand why people don't ride. What I don't understand even more is people who used to ride, but don't anymore. I ride so I don't have to see unworthy people. I ride to stay in shape. I RIDE BECAUSE IT'S AWSOME!
Tracy: If you are someone who pursues a sport or an activity, you likely understand how that activity simply speaks to you. Whether you are competitive or not, your activity has chosen you and there is not a lot you can do about it now. Quitting, probably, is not an option. Biking, for us, is a form of addiction. And the pleasure comes from the high of being one with the bike. Of being outdoors, being active, taking the drop-off you didn't think you could take, startling and being startled by the deer on the trail, being stared down by wild monkeys in an orange grove, letting water run down you face in the humid summer heat...it is all these things.
I don't race, and I don't want to race. I don't compete, and I don't want to compete. If someone is riding better and faster than I am, I don't try to keep up; I don't want to keep up. I don't want to lose the purity of riding. I don't want to get caught up in trying to be first, to beat the other person's time, or even just trying to beat my own time. I don't need to be better than myself, I want only to be as good as myself, and riding for pleasure is the best way for a someone to see how good they can be.
That said, there are people who love their sport, and who benefit from competition, perhaps setting a series of goals for themselves. A marathon runner friend of mine has been training vigorously for the past year or so. His dedication, and the level of his addiction, are commendable. If you have been feeling unmotivated, or demotivated, read his blog to see how he has changed his life through marathon training.
Tracy: If you are someone who pursues a sport or an activity, you likely understand how that activity simply speaks to you. Whether you are competitive or not, your activity has chosen you and there is not a lot you can do about it now. Quitting, probably, is not an option. Biking, for us, is a form of addiction. And the pleasure comes from the high of being one with the bike. Of being outdoors, being active, taking the drop-off you didn't think you could take, startling and being startled by the deer on the trail, being stared down by wild monkeys in an orange grove, letting water run down you face in the humid summer heat...it is all these things.
I don't race, and I don't want to race. I don't compete, and I don't want to compete. If someone is riding better and faster than I am, I don't try to keep up; I don't want to keep up. I don't want to lose the purity of riding. I don't want to get caught up in trying to be first, to beat the other person's time, or even just trying to beat my own time. I don't need to be better than myself, I want only to be as good as myself, and riding for pleasure is the best way for a someone to see how good they can be.
That said, there are people who love their sport, and who benefit from competition, perhaps setting a series of goals for themselves. A marathon runner friend of mine has been training vigorously for the past year or so. His dedication, and the level of his addiction, are commendable. If you have been feeling unmotivated, or demotivated, read his blog to see how he has changed his life through marathon training.
Saturday, April 02, 2005
Eating in Tenryu
Being in a new city, I took the opportunity to explore the town and sample some of the local fare. While I didn't find anything too exotic, I did find a few very nice, friendly local diners and coffee shops.
ぽけコヒー (Poke Kohi) is a very small, unpretentious little diner/ coffee shop just outside of Nishikajima station. The place is run by a middle-aged Japanese woman who wears a kerchief and listens to enka while she cooks up your food. The walls are decorated with posters detailing local events, and pictures of enka singers. There are only a few tables, and the overall atmosphere is very welcoming and homey. I had breakfast here a couple of mornings, and there is not much better than fried eggs, toast and coffee cooked by a grandmotherly woman who smiles as she serves you!
Poke Kohi
Insite Poke Kohi
I also had lunch and dinner a couple of times at the Pumpkin restaurant, also just across the street from Nishikajima station. This is also a place that caters to the local residents and the people who work at the nearby factories. It is larger than the Poke Kohi, and more modern. The walls are lined with bookshelves holding more than a thousand manga, which are provided for the customers to read while they eat their meals. There is a large menu, offering everything from pepperoni pizza to traditional Japanese meals. The owners are casual and friendly people, the food is good, and the price is very reasonable (a meal usually costs under 1,000 yen).
The Pumpkin restaurant
And finally, saving the best for last, a fixture among foreign visitors to Tenryu is Custer's. This small, modern and cozy coffee shop is run by a very outgoing man who also speaks English. The owner used to be a pilot (or so the rumor is), and the interior of the shop is tastefully decorated with a variety of airplane photos, airplane propellors, and miniature airplanes. He also has some typically Western items decorating his shop, such as a set of bull horns (or some animal horns).
If you find yourself in Tenryu, you should make some time to have lunch at Custer's - a local favourite! (On Kasai street - just down the road from Pumpkin; closed Thursdays. Tel: 053-925-5655).
Custer's - a Tenryu Tradition
ぽけコヒー (Poke Kohi) is a very small, unpretentious little diner/ coffee shop just outside of Nishikajima station. The place is run by a middle-aged Japanese woman who wears a kerchief and listens to enka while she cooks up your food. The walls are decorated with posters detailing local events, and pictures of enka singers. There are only a few tables, and the overall atmosphere is very welcoming and homey. I had breakfast here a couple of mornings, and there is not much better than fried eggs, toast and coffee cooked by a grandmotherly woman who smiles as she serves you!
Poke Kohi
Insite Poke Kohi
I also had lunch and dinner a couple of times at the Pumpkin restaurant, also just across the street from Nishikajima station. This is also a place that caters to the local residents and the people who work at the nearby factories. It is larger than the Poke Kohi, and more modern. The walls are lined with bookshelves holding more than a thousand manga, which are provided for the customers to read while they eat their meals. There is a large menu, offering everything from pepperoni pizza to traditional Japanese meals. The owners are casual and friendly people, the food is good, and the price is very reasonable (a meal usually costs under 1,000 yen).
The Pumpkin restaurant
And finally, saving the best for last, a fixture among foreign visitors to Tenryu is Custer's. This small, modern and cozy coffee shop is run by a very outgoing man who also speaks English. The owner used to be a pilot (or so the rumor is), and the interior of the shop is tastefully decorated with a variety of airplane photos, airplane propellors, and miniature airplanes. He also has some typically Western items decorating his shop, such as a set of bull horns (or some animal horns).
If you find yourself in Tenryu, you should make some time to have lunch at Custer's - a local favourite! (On Kasai street - just down the road from Pumpkin; closed Thursdays. Tel: 053-925-5655).
Custer's - a Tenryu Tradition
Deep Fried Cheese Sticks ...ARE NOT FOOD
But they are certainly very, very tasty!
I am back from my business trip, and back from the Hamakita Plaza Hotel (very nice hotel between Hamamatsu city and Tenryu city). However, while I was away, I gained about one kilogram. That's a lot in one week - but, I ask you, what's a person to do when, getting back to the hotel, hungry after working late, and finding a nice izakaya in the basement of the hotel??
That's right - an izakaya called Tsubohachi operates in B1 (the basement level) of the Plaza Hotel. As a result, a few of my evening meals consisted of beer and deep fried food, such as the following:
French fries, salted and topped with a few slabs of butter, complemented with nama-chu (draft beer).
My favorite dish - deep-fried cheese sticks.
Now that I am back home, where Brian has been holding down the fort for the last week, I plan to eat plenty of salad and do lots of riding in the hills of Susono.
I am back from my business trip, and back from the Hamakita Plaza Hotel (very nice hotel between Hamamatsu city and Tenryu city). However, while I was away, I gained about one kilogram. That's a lot in one week - but, I ask you, what's a person to do when, getting back to the hotel, hungry after working late, and finding a nice izakaya in the basement of the hotel??
That's right - an izakaya called Tsubohachi operates in B1 (the basement level) of the Plaza Hotel. As a result, a few of my evening meals consisted of beer and deep fried food, such as the following:
French fries, salted and topped with a few slabs of butter, complemented with nama-chu (draft beer).
My favorite dish - deep-fried cheese sticks.
Now that I am back home, where Brian has been holding down the fort for the last week, I plan to eat plenty of salad and do lots of riding in the hills of Susono.
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