Booked hotels for a 5-day hike with friends next September. We’ll walk part of The Reivers Way in Northumberland, England, in the footsteps of Border Reivers who terrorized communities from the 13th to the 17th century. We trust the sight of four old geezers won’t terrorize today’s populace.
Category: Move
Lines in Snow
Today we’re getting a decent snowfall: a good reason to go outside and walk.
Tomorrow it Snows
Wrapped up well for a bicycle ride and coffee with a friend.
Tokyo Hike
Took the train to Asakusa, Tokyo, walked back until I ran out of time. Along the way it was my kind of urban hike: huge temple; buildings not intended to last (that’s OK); the only Le Corbusier building in east Asia (went in); stark transit infrastructure (love it); and the gardens of the Imperial Palace.
Daisen-Oki National Park
I’m staying in Matsue on the northwest coast of Honshu. My project today was to hike trails on Mount Daisen in Daisen-Oki National Park. A train and a bus got me from Matsue to trailheads. Lots of steep climbs, magnificent fall colors, and occasional ancient temples and shrines.
Hotel Cycle
Checked into Hotel Cycle (yet again, third time), Onomichi, in a repurposed warehouse on a wharf. You can cycle right up to the front desk, then leave your bike on a rack outside your room. To mitigate bicycle separation anxiety, you can hang your bike on a wall rack in your room. I’ll rent tomorrow.
Hiker’s Lunch
Today’s picnic lunch, hiking an Olle Course.
Onigiri: rice, filled with pickled mustard greens, wrapped in nori (seaweed).
Egg sandwich, tuna sandwich.
Caramel custard.
Pocari Sweat.
Less than US$5 from one of Japan’s more than 50,000 wonderful konbini (convenience stores).
Far From Tokyo Crowds
Sendai, about 200 miles northeast of Tokyo, is my base for the next few days. From Sendai, rode a bullet train for 13 minutes, then rural trains to reach trails for some fall color hiking. The rural train line is in this photo.
In the Heights
Cycled to the highest point in Minneapolis, Deming Heights Park. At one point we dismounted and pushed.
Fireside Table
Stopped at Bordertown Coffee to warm up from a chilly cycle ride with a friend. In the colder months, there’s often a fire going, but apparently today wasn’t cold enough.