HEAD WIND, CLIMBS, BACKTRACKING, A ROUGH START

Maybe I didn't take the planning or training as serious as I should have. In any case, it has already begun so I have to think ahead. No point in thinking about the past. Before departing I had to unload some crap because it was too much weight and I didn't feel comfortable riding. Maybe by the time I finish the Kyushu trip I will be able to carry more weight...we'll see.

I departed to Fukuoka around 11am and arrived to Fukuoka around 7pm...so it took me 8 hours to go 55 miles...not really happy with the average but then again I did backtrack, there were rolling climbs all the way here, and the headwind wasn't helping either. I got lost after the route I was taking turned into an expressway for cars only. After finding the correct road again, I just kept cycling until my dumbass realized I was heading back to Kitakyushu! Then I thought about just retreating back to the comforts of my relative's house and kept riding back until I realized that I was closer to Fukuoka. Head games caught me off guard and maybe I panicked. In any case, I overcame and made it. I am rethinking my daily mileages now considering all of these factors I may have overlooked.

I had a pleasant stay at Fukuoka Khaosan Youth Hostel. It was nice and cozy, lots of foreigners...met a Swiss guy named Pascal traveling around the world. His blog is under the blogs I follow section on the right section of the home page. It must've been an act of faith to sleep on the same bunk bed as a guy who's had years of experience living on the bicycle. It really motivated me and lifted my spirits when they were low. After meeting Pascal, I realized that this trip isn't a race or a competition. It's a journey and if you aren't enjoying it, what's the point? My mind was too focused on hitting the marks as planned but now I'm starting to realize that I have to just play it day by day.

Tomorrow, I was planning to stop over in Karatsu, but I am skipping that part and heading straight into Saga to cut some mileage off my trip. My knees are a little stiff and my body feels tired so I am going to head into Saga early and relax. Forecast for Wednesday calls for some rain...ugh. I guess I'll have to play it by ear. It really is hard to plan ahead when you are cycling because everyday is a crap shoot.