Dream Fighter

Holiday mountain road cycling

I went down (up) to my parents' again to start this year's Golden Week.  The experience was similar to what I described in this post last year.

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Otsuki - Oizumi May 2010 - fumiakiy - Garmin Connect

Since I am looking to climb Norikura sometime in the future, I thought I would try another hill climbing course that is used in the tour of Yatsugatake.  The start gate of the route was 40km away from my parents' house and was too far to go there by bike to start the climb...  I rode to Matsubarako Lake where we enjoy ice fishing every year and turned around to go back.  I was lost around a hill and climbed another hill without a plan but I felt good I was able to beat it.

Fun ride around Yatsugatake May 2010 - fumiakiy - Garmin Connect

Took onsen bath after biking and took a nap. The best thing about visiting parents was that I didn't have to prepare meal after having fun outside. Mom FTW (happy mothers day!).

v.a.c.a.tion

I was vacation-less in 2009. I am not in 2010. In fact this is one of those streams of vacation for me in 2010, hopefully.

Okinawa is a southern island of Japan with its own history. WW2 was not a thing in the past in this island. But Okinawa also has a history of encouraging cyclists. Tour De Okinawa is one of the biggest cycle road races in Japan. The 200 km amateur race is the top goal of every amateur cyclists all over Japan.

The island announced in October 2009 that it would hold a century ride in 2010. Circling around half of the main island the longest course was set to have 100 miles or 160 km. Since I missed Honolulu Century Ride in the summer 2009, this had to be my vacation plan.

So, here I come. I rode 160 km successfully. I was able to follow one of the lead riders from the pro team Bridgestone Anchor (only on a flat roads and descents.... He climbed hills like a rocket). My bike, travelled par avion for the fist time, took me all the way without any trouble. Here is the GPS trackpoints recorded during the run.

Garmin Connect -Activity Details for Churashima Okinawa Century Run 2010

The rest of the six days vacation is ... taking rest. It is not high season for taking vacation in Okinawa which I prefer taking it. The hotel and restaurants do not have too many guests. The adjacent beach is empty in the morning and only a few families and couples appear in the afternoon. Onsen bath was also pretty much empty every time I had to take it just for the sake of sinking myself under water.

I don't have any plan besides the cycling event during this vacation, and it is good. I can wake up early in the morning, I can take a nap anytime I want to, and I can go anywhere by bike in the afternoon when I get a bit hungry. This is what every vacation should be like. I am traveling by myself and I have nobody to chat with when I am dining, and I am surprised how I actually like it.

Loner Tourism

I had decided I wouldn't do much work this weekend. I did a little on Sunday morning, but there was an excuse; 8 am was too early to eat brunch. I had a cafe in mind - The Plant Cafe Organic, which I found at the Pier 3 during my weekend run.

I was there at around 11:30, a little too late to secure outside seating. But as you can see (probably...) in my picture, the cafe inside was also very beautiful. I ordered the Plant Burger which is completely veggie (well, if I hadn't chosen to add goat cheese with it). It may look weird but it tasted really good. The couple next to me were talking about how a life in Japan would like and I was wondering how I could trade my life with one of them.

After the brunch I walked up to the Telegraph Hill where Coit Tower is standing. I walked along the seashore to Bay, to Stockton, to Lombard to the hill, and wondered if I could come by bike. The hill was steep but not as much as hell. I took a few pictures, took a walk to the other side where stairways took me down to a street. The neighborhood around the stairways is lovely where lots of flowers and greens are taken care of. I wished I could have been there with somebody at this point.

Back to Jackson, bought a few items at Safeway, back home and watched a movie "Sleepless in Seattle". Meg Ryan was cute.

Farmers Market at Ferry Building

"One of the most expensive farmers market is at the Ferry Building" was what I heard. But still, I am a tourist here. I visited there this Saturday, tried a bunch of fruit, and bought a few of those. Is it that expensive? I'll see when I visit some other market sometime later.