RECAP OF MY TRIP SO FAR

Well, I have settled into a routine now and feel a lot more confident with what I am doing. I wanted to recap now that I have a good idea of what I need and don't need here in Japan. It's all about priorities...you can't have several priorities, only one. Mine is to finish the ride in two and a half months. Everything else takes a backseat to this.

I am learning that my initial mileage calculations on paper may not be realistic...50 miles is about all my butt and knees can take a day. Factor in the fact that some routes will have climbs or it will go through populated areas with lots of stop and go...it will slow you down. I need to re-think my route and see if they are doable.

Once again I brought too much stuff with me but I have thinned it down to a nice comfortable riding weight now. I ditched a lot of things: fishing poles and tackle, my shoe covers, tent, cooking stove, burner, solar panel charger, and some clothes. I will have to re-evaluate whether I really need this stuff...in Hokkaido, I may need a tent and cooking stuff because of its remoteness. Again I will need to research this. But in terms of outets and power, you can pirate it from anywhere.

I don't stress out anymore about route planning and where to stay...I used to obsess about this stuff, looking at Google Maps and trying to find the best places to stay or go days out in advance. Now I just play it day by day and that's all you can do. There are so many variables that you simply can't control: injuries or sickness, weather, sudden change of plans, etc. I picked up this philosophy from Pascal, the Swiss guy who's been on the road for years. I already paid a cancellation fee because I had to change my plans suddenly and couldn't make it to my planned hostel. You can stay more flexible if you just worry about things one day at a time. Things have a way of working out for the better so just embrace "winging it."

Japan really is crime-free...my paranoid self bought a brand new bike lock for the trip only to lose it in Fukuoka the very first day of my ride, what a dummy. Well, so far my bike has been sitting outside unprotected and it has not disappeared (knocking on wood). I also left my coin bag on top of a pay phone outside a conbini (that's what convenience stores are called in Japan like 7-11). Thirty minutes later when I realized what I did, I went back and it was still there. Now, I would rethink the bike lock part if you have a really expensive bike, but I am just stating that it is highly highly rare for bike thefts to happen in Japan because everyone has one and there are millions of bikes just left abonded all over the place.

Other than Hokkaido, you probably won't ever starve or die of thirst here in Japan. There are more vending machines I bet than people in this country. I have been in the most remote places in Japan only to see a brightly lit vending machine greeting me with a nice cold drink. Conbini's and restaurants are everywhere, so storing food and water is just unnecessary. That means less weight to carry. I have been addicted to Pocari Sweat, a Gatorade type drink found everywhere. I am eating and drinking as I go so far, it's easy and I don't need to be weighed down with stuff.

There are really no rules in Japan on cycling...just observe the locals. Actually, the road you're on dictates the rule...if there is no sidewalk or it is super narrow, then you ride on the road. If the sidewalks are wide enough for people and bikes, then go ahead and ride on it. Sidewalks have a tendency of stopping on one side all of a sudden so staying on the flow of traffic side isn't always the best option...you'll have to zigzag from one side to the other to stay on course most of the time. The only thing people seem to obey religiously here is the crosswalk signs...