I road my bike somewhere.

6 hour, coolish-windy-warmish spring weather ride that made me physically tired but mentally happy. Yeah for cycling. It's really good for you. And fun.

I carried a map. A first. I found something.

My ideal landscape. Also found some trails into the forests in the background.

The trail not taken.

Cicada representation.

My bicycle representation. 

8:08am

From the shallow vault.

Zoo

We visited a zoo on Elissa's birthday. We chose it because it was a newer zoo very close to where we live. It was a good zoo. I thought. Most of the animals seemed fairly happy - as far as caged animals go.

We miss our dogs.

Not a zoo animal - they had some dogs along with goats and rabbits at a petting zoo type section. 

Irish wolf hound. Mostly pacing nervously around the tree in the picture. We miss our dogs. Especially the big black one who is as big as the wolf hound - minus the wolf and the hound.

Bubu dog.

Big animal from China. Forgot it's name. Stayed still so I could take a picture.

Japanese raccoon dog.

So close. Yet so different.

She will have a good day today........

   ............but hate this picture. Happy birthday.

From the vault.

A family and a burger.

A kid and a bunch of toys.

A kid and her peace signs. Double it.

A woman soon to be a year wiser. 

Bacon burger from the Kahala Burger in Northport Mall in Kohoku. More like a thick piece of ham in it rather than bacon. Wouldn't really say that I've missed burgers very much but I certainly enjoyed it. Twas yummy. Can go burger less for another 3 months. Which by the way is when we will be back in town.

9:26 and home.

The weather report promised us a sunny Sunday.

For the first time since moving to Japan, I went out for an early morning bike ride. Maybe it's a sign that I'm happier, that I have the energy to turn thoughts into action, but this time my intentions didn't turn to dust with the rising sun. Thanks Twilight.

No people no cars. Just me. 

I got up, got dressed, said bye to my awake kids and sleeping wife and took off into the more-quiet-than-usual streets of Japan. The sun was out, my bike felt good and I was on my way. All the way.

Somewhere.

I've adapted. I've struggled adapting. And unadapted. Blah blah blah.
I focus on getting sidetracked. I ignore signs that say dead end. I see for myself.
I don't carry a map. Not that I want to get lost. Or not find what I'm looking for.

I've curbed my enthusiasm. And I'm happier.

I could be staring down at my bike or letting my eyes wander along the horizon where the blue sky meets the earth. It's time passing me by. Constantly even and even promising.
I'm pedaling, sweating, wheezing, singing, dreaming, smiling, struggling, sniffling. Anyways.

Not that any of this means anything. Or significant. Or insignificant.
Boys will be boys, girls will be girls and seasons pass with or without acknowledgment.

For now, I do what I want to do. Without direction or intentions. The sun is still out.

6:50 am and going

From the vault

New tires, nostalgia and growing kids.

Low rolling resistance and good grip on corners - just the words an out of shape novice rider wants to hear.

Now that I know we'll be back for the summer, I've started procuring some new stuff for my Karate Monkey hibernating in Spokane. I'm hoping to spend as much time as I can on the trails and forests as I've done no such riding in Japan.  I miss how abundant and easy it was to ride the trails in Spokane. 

These tires came today. Also just ordered a new Cane Creek bouncy-cushy-comforty seat post to replace the one rusted on the bike. It'll be fun trying to pry it out. Maybe a little torch action would be in order. 

Also thinking of swapping handlebars, getting a shorter stem and losing 20 more pounds from my belly.

Where I'd like to be. Soon.

Here too.

And here.

Here.

Oh here too.

Also here.

Might as well go here too.

Miyo in action.  Soon  to be 1st grader.

Nanae is growing too.

Winter winter go away, come again another day.

Nanae makes a face.

I have no idea what she was doing here.  We were waiting to get a table at the sushi place.

This picture was taken on Miyo's birthday.  Like I said before, that was also the first and last day of sunshine we have had here.  I have resorted to washing laundry at home, then loading the three loads of wet things into my huge blue IKEA bag and going to use the dryer at the laundromat.  I have really enjoyed folding hot clothes.  Silly, right?  I have had about enough of this rain.  I do not know how people live somewhere like Portland or Seattle, where it is always like this.  We have still been going on little outings, but we are using the car more for those.  I did take a little trip by myself to go see Twilight, Breaking Dawn Pt.1.  I did the same thing as before where I went by bus and train to the theatre at a whopping ¥1800.  The adventure was great, the movie was disturbing, but that is a whole other can of worms.

We have a 6 year old now.

Happy Birthday, Miyo!

I guess it is feast or famine in our blog.  Right now, it would be a famine.  This is a picture of Miyo on her 6th birthday.  We took her to Tokyo Summerland Water Park.  It is an indoor and outdoor water park with amusement park rides.  The weather here is touch and go.  Snow on March 2, sunny and warm on March 3, raining and crappy on March 4...see what I mean?  We bought tickets to play indoors and we got there at opening which was 9am.  I though we would close the place down as well, but by 2pm we were all ready to go home and take a nap.  We drove home and then went grocery shopping instead.  Go figure.