Bamboo Shoots

Watching TV while lazily enjoying a cup of tea in bed this morning, I saw a show?called, "Yasai Tsushin" (?????), or "Vegetable News". This morning's episode was about takenoko (???), which is baby bamboo, or bamboo shoots.

Around here, we have the pleasure of many bamboo forests, and some of our favourite rides are through the tall, green trees. Right now, the shoots are still just under the ground, but if we were to stop and dig just a little, we could pick some of the baby bamboo to take home, boil up and eat fresh. Well, actually, most of the forests are claimed by somebody, and there are hand-printed signs around that state, clearly, "Don't Pick My Bamboo!". So, of course, we don't. In a week or two, we should start to see the un-picked bamboo breaking through the surface of the ground.

This shot was taken by Brian a couple of seasons ago:

Fast Paced in Susono

We've been very busy recently, and have only been out running a couple of times, and no rides:-(

We're hoping to do a good run this weekend... oh, and I still have to find and reserve a minshuku in Yamanakako for the race weekend. Hm. Um yeah - that might take some luck and fancy phone-callin'!

Can U See Me?

Hi readers -

I think I've successfully transferred the Japanrider feed (rss), so followers should still be able to see me.

Also, I'm still checking/working out bugs after the transfer. Please let me know if you if you can't see this blog.

Or rather, please leave a comment if you got here okay!

Comments Now Working

As expected, I had overlooked something when moving the blog to this new domain- restricted comments.

If anyone has tried to leave a comment in the last day or so, my apologies. The issue has been fixed and anyone may comment. So - it is my sincere hope that you do!

If there anyone finds any other glitches, please let me know!

Moving the Blog

As you can see, we've moved/ are in the process of moving, the Japan Rider blog. We figured that, since we weren't actually updating or maintaining the main Japanrider.com domain, it would be better to host our blog here. Also, I'm really liking Wordpress!

At some point, I'll post how I moved everything over for a seamless transition, but for now, as I work the bugs out of our new setup, I'd like to hear any comments/input regarding the whole new system:-)

I'll be working on setting up an image gallery shortly, and also hope to great static pages with our most-often biked and enjoyed routes.

Our Blog is Moving

I'm transferring us over to self-hosted Wordpress blog!

If you are not automatically re-directed, click here to get to http://www.japanrider.com

Kunozan Toshogu Shrine

Even long weekends are too short - it's already Sunday! But we did make the most of the time off with a couple of long runs, some relaxing, and even a day trip to the Kunozan Toshogu shrine in Shizuoka city with a colleague and her visiting dad.

Kunozan Toshogu, though less famous than the Nikko Toshogu shrine, was built in 1617 (nearly two decades before the Nikko shrine) by Tokugawa Hidetada as per Tokugawa Ieyasu's wishes, and was the first burial place of the great shogun. Ieyasu's remains were later removed and transported to Nikko Toshogu, but the remains of his revered horse are still housed at Kunozan.

Like other Toshogu shrines, Kunozan is more colourful and elaborate than typical shrines of that period and combines styles of Budhist temples with shintoism. I would have loved to show awesome photos of an impressive place, but as often happens, the day did not lend itself to great shots, and other shots were just terrible. Others were not too bad:

About to walk up the 1159 steps:


Me, our colleague and her dad reading the ema wishes hung by other visitors to the shrine:


The koma-inu guarding the gate to the shrine

Kunozan Toshogu Shrine

Even long weekends are too short - it's already Sunday! But we did make the most of the time off with a couple of long rongs, some relaxing, and even a day trip to the Kunozan Toshogu shrine in Shizuoka city with a colleague and her visiting dad.

Kunozan Toshogu, though less famous than the Nikko Toshogu shrine, was built in 1617 (nearly two decades before the Nikko shrine) by Tokugawa Hidetada as per Tokugawa Ieyasu's wishes, and was the first burial place of the great shogun. Ieyasu's remains were later removed and transported to Nikko Toshogu, but the remains of his revered horse are still housed at Kunozan.

Like other Toshogu shrines, Kunozan is more colourful and elaborate than typical shrines of that period and combines styles of Budhist temples with shintoism. I would have loved to show awesome photos of an impressive place, but as often happens, the day did not lend itself to great shots, and other shots were just terrible. Others were not too bad:

About to walk up the 1159 steps:


Me, our colleague and her dad reading the ema wishes hung by other visitors to the shrine:


The koma-inu gaurding the gate to the shrine

Long Run

Today, Friday, March 20th, is a national holiday called "shunbun no hi" - vernal equinox day. I think the equinox is an important occasion for sure, and am delighted that the Japanese value it enough to make it a national holiday. Better yet, I'm thrilled that we get another long weekend out of it.

We woke up to wind and rain this morning, and I was happy to stay in bed for a while, especially after last night's party! But we finally decided to get up, and, I admit, I drove to our local Micky D's to bring home a couple of sausage egg McMuffins - perfect post-drinking-night food!

Finally, the rain slowed, then stopped, and we were able to pursue our original plan of a longish trail run in Gotemba.

We drove up to the 'trail head' and ran mostly uphill for thirty minutes, then turned back, and ran mostly downhill for twenty five minutes. Though this involved less than an hour of running, it was still more than Brian has ever run, and more than I typically do. And we feel GOOD. Our legs are a bit achy, but all in all, our spirits are high and our minds at rest.

Oh, and on the way home, we made a few pit-stops, and I got a few photos, but like this one best. Taken with the Nikon D90, Sigma 30mm lens:




Another photo taken with the same camera/lens combo. I'm just pleased with the sharpness and low noise. (Taken last night from the 'party apartment')

Long Run

Today, Friday, March 20th, is a national holiday called "shunbun no hi" - vernal equinox day. I think the equinox is an important occasion for sure, and am delighted that the Japanese value it enough to make it a national holiday. Better yet, I'm thrilled that we get another long weekend out of it.

We woke up to wind and rain this morning, and I was happy to stay in bed for a while, especially after last night's party! But we finally decided to get up, and, I admit, I drove to our local Micky D's to bring home a couple of sausage egg McMuffins - perfect post-drinking-night food!

Finally, the rain slowed, then stopped, and we were able to pursue our original plan of a longish trail run in Gotemba.

We drove up to the 'trail head' and ran mostly uphill for thirty minutes, then turned back, and ran mostly downhill for twenty five minutes. Though this involved less than an hour of running, it was still more than Brian has ever run, and more than I typically do. And we feel GOOD. Our legs are a bit achy, but all in all, our spirits are high and our minds at rest.

Oh, and on the way home, we made a few pit-stops, and I got a few photos, but like this one best. Taken with the Nikon D90, Sigma 30mm lens:




Another photo taken with the same camera/lens combo. I'm just pleased with the sharpness and low noise. (Taken last night from the 'party apartment')