Microblog

Thunderstorms, flight canceled. App makes it easy to rebook. If the new flight is canceled, I’ll check in to a hotel.

Thursday morning #2: Bloody Mary, Chicago, O’Hare. It’s rather thundery out there.

This week (thanks to the date line) I get two Thursday mornings. Thursday morning #1: Bloody Mary, Tokyo Narita.

Posted Behind the Steel Door.

Dep. Fukuoka Thurs. 7:15aArr. Chicago Thurs. 8:25aANA: FUK-NRT-ORDUnited: ORD-MSP35K United FF miles, FUK-MSP.

Fukuoka from Aburayama. Plan: 4-hour hike. Actual: 7 hours. Reason: I had to backtrack. I climbed each peak twice!

Fukuoka from Aburayama.Plan: 4-hour hike.Actual: 7 hours.Reason: I had to backtrack.I climbed each peak twice!

My hike today, on the way to Mount Kaya, on the coast, west of Fukuoka.

Drippy day. Took train to Dazaifu, established 1,300 years ago, ruled Kyushu for about 500 years.

Fukuoka, my base for the next 4 nights. It’s a good center: I can catch trains going north, south, east, or west.

Beppu, northeastern Kyushu, giving thanks for the hot springs.

Posted World-class style in a small-town train station.

Hiked into the clouds to the top of Yufusan, northern Kyushu. A good day.

The rain was bouncing off the platform and I could hear thunder. I abandoned my hike and took the next train back.

Posted Animatronic Hell.

Dejima, Nagasaki: tulips, representing the strong Dutch connection with Nagasaki, brighten up a rainy day.