The Aftermath

The issue of sending the bicycles home to Vancouver turned out to be more problematic than first anticipated. Our original plan was to get a bicycle shop disassemble, package and ship the bikes overseas to Canada. We visited numerous bike shops all around Tokyo... cycling from Tokyo station to Shinjuku to Shibuya to Gotanda to Ginza to Tsukiji... ended up doing more cycling than expected. We couldn't find any shop that would do it... they only do it within Japan. After hours of pondering what to do we decided the only way was to ship it ourselves... but neither of us have ever disassembled a bicycle before. I also had to enquire a lot at the Post Office as to what are the maximum dimensions and weight for the box... it wasn't so easy.

So today we spent a good 8 hours disassembling, packing and then lugging the boxes to the Post Office. Luckily a bike shop gave us free boxes and let us borrow a wrench. It wasn't actually all that hard to do the whole thing... a big relief! I really didn't want to have to abandon this bike... too many memories with it... and hopefully more to come!

Anyways, this really caps this adventure off... we are on foot now. No more peddling...

Pic 1: It was nice of the sun to come out today in Tokyo... disassembling the bikes wouldn't have been easy in the rain... but yeah our stuff pretty much was spread out all around this area outside a bike shop...

Pic 2: That would be me signing off outside the Post Office after sending the last package. I guess this will be my last post and the end of this blog. But before I end I would like to big up all those who actually read some of it... I sincerely appreciate it... seriously!

Pic 3: One last photo... I met this bum on the street who agreed to a picture with me... alright I kid I kid... yes finally after the whole trip is over and done with Trevor agrees to a photo to be put up on this blog! Crazy... I am a bit surprised... as he has always insisted no photos of him on the blog... but anyways, that tis him at the moment... once clean shaved at the beginning of the trip and now looking like your local street corner bum... good news ladies, he is single!!!

End of the Road

I guess this is the end... we finally made it to Tokyo after a few days of cold and rainy weather. Trevor absolutely hated it. He was super slow and had trouble seeing in the rain. In fact (and I know my mom is going to not like this and then send me an email saying 'Kevin, I do not like what I am reading...'), Trevor fell off his bike in the middle of the road in the dark. Yes, I didn't see it as I was far ahead but it could have been bad news had there been a vehicle close behind him. He tells me he ran over a bamboo stick in the dark and then just fell off and then was sprawled out in the middle of the road waiting to be run over. He got a few cuts but lived to see another day. Wasn't fun riding in the dark but last night we had no choice as we left the city of Kofu late afternoon thinking there would be accommodation in the next town some 30 km ahead. There wasn't... and the next town after that... nothing. As such we had to ride another 30 km to the next. Bottom line it wasn't fun. Rain and the cold are not fun while biking... especially in the dark.

It is kind of weird being done now. No more planning routes, cycling hours on end, worrying about where we are going to sleep, etc... right now the only thing left is to figure out how to send the bikes back home. I have decided not to do what I did in Paris, that is leaving my bike on the side of the street after cycling it from London. Nope, too much sentimental value here. And also that bike didn't cost much...

A lot of good times were had on this trip. Met lots of nice people along the way and ate like kings most of the way... once we hit South Korea and Japan we had to ease up on the grub big time...

Not sure if this will be my last bike touring trip... It is neat cycling through countries... you obviously see a whole lot more.

Anyways, I am tired... probably should sleep... need rest. But before I daze off, here are a few pictures...

Pic 1: To add to Trevor's unhappy times in Japan, he busted one of his brakes. Luckily we had a spare brake cable and luckily Trevor actually knew how to fix it! I was impressed and gave him a round of applause afterwards (really).

Pic 2: Me (yes that is me even though it is tough to see me) at the Tokyo Tower. I did the same thing hoisting my bike in front of the Eiffel Tower so I thought I would do that again... I am very creative I know.

Pic 3: After 76 days, well over 10,000 km logged, finally in Ginza... finally in Tokyo! Sorry I had to give off the stats there but I am proud! Proud I say!!!

Rain Rain Go Away...

Brrrrrrrrr... was it ever cold today. The first time on this trip I think I have experienced this cold feeling... I didn't like it. I really hate the heat but when it gets cold that is way worse. We cycled through the Alps and as one would guess it was quite tiring. The stupid weather had to be foggy and rainy. As such we couldn't really see much in the distance. It still was pretty nice though.



The forecast in the next few days is more rain... aiyah... but I think we have only a few days until we reach Tokyo so not all that bad. But if it doesn't clear up soon we may not be able to climb the Fuj after... not liking that... sucks already that I am not going to climb Elbrus this year so if I can't climb Mt. Fuji that will double suck.



Anyways, nearing the end!!!



Pic 1: The fog rolling in... we originally planned to cycle up to the highest road crossing in Japan at around 2700 m (according to what Trevor tells me... so I hope that is right because sometimes he gets his facts mixed up I think... and he wasn't all there today...). At this point though we were stopped and told we couldn't go higher. Oh cheh. But it would have been extremely cold coming down. We froze cycling down hills today... usually gunning down hills are good times but today that wasn't the case...

Pic 2: Freezing in the Japanese Alps. But I guess partially my fault because I will admit I am never good at dressing for occasions or being prepared with the proper attire. I am an idiot who still doesn't understand the higher one goes the more colder it gets. I should know this as I have been up much higher but I still never clue in.

Pic 3: Finally putting on the bat cape... took me awhile to figure out how to put it on properly but I got there in the end. I have carried my poncho around for the entire trip but never wore the thing. I put it on today though not because it rained but to trap my body heat. It worked okay but better yet I really looked like the cape crusader... well according to Trevor. He kept laughing at me while I flew down the hills on my batbike with my cape waving in the air... just like the old Batman...

Pic 4: Got a bit giddy around Kamikochi, a spectacular spot in the Alps surrounded by excellent mountain scenery... would have been nice though to see more mountain and less cloud. But yeah the river flowing next to me was pretty sweet.

Pic 5: Cycled past a lot of dams... this one way in the distance kind of reminded me of Verzasca Dam in Switzerland (represent). I would like to bungee jump that one day as would Trevor. Then I can be like Bond, James Bond.

Taking a Breather at Toyota

The past few days have been pretty slack I guess... but that will all change tomorrow as we enter the Japanese Alps! This will be the highest we've been on this trip for sure. I just hope the incline's are not going to be super crazy and keep going and going...

Since we were around Nagoya a few days ago we decided to quickly go off course again and check out the headquarters of one of the finest vehicle makers in the world... Toyota! Oddly enough when we got to the museum another cyclist cruised in as well. He was cycling from somewhere in the Osaka Prefecture and planning to go to Fuji-san and then climb it! Good stuff.

Anyways, the museum was alright... not as good as the one in Nagoya though... so much to learn about car making there. If I were to purchase a car (which I do not see happening in the near future...) I would probably go for the Prius. I like these Hybrids... more environment friendly.

In other news I am excited again. My new plan after Japan I am liking very much.

Pic 1: Checking out cars in the showroom. The guy to the far right is the cyclist going to Mt. Fuji... fyi... because you may be kaypoh like me. I proud kaypoher though.

Pic 2: Listened to the Toyota Robot play some Disney tunes. It was great... especially for a huge Disney fan like me.

Hmmm...

I am currently in a state of what to do, what to do??? As is Trevor. Basically we are now having to plan what we are going to do after this little bike excursion. Our original plan was to go to Russia... but after visiting the consulate in Osaka that doesn't seem to be happening anytime soon. Canada made some agreement that it requires a minimum 15 working days to process a visa. I hate visas... annoys me that it is difficult for me to go to certain parts in this world... call me queer but I often dream of a world, less borders... kind of like John Lennon sang about in his hit song 'Imagine'... something about imagining a world with no countries... and the world living as one in peace... Yes that was a good song... I remember singing that song in grade 7 for our graduation...

And getting a visa to Russia isn't oh so easy... so much hassle... need an invitation, hotel bookings, etc... costs a lot too... this sucks... I hate how some countries want your whole itinerary planned out with hotel bookings, tours, etc. before going thus making difficult for independent travellers like me. I was keen on doing the Siberian express and then climbing Elbrus... that isn't happening now... but then again not sure even if I got in Elbrus would be in the works due to the Russia/Georgia conflict that just escalated... I will however get there one day... just not this year... argh.

I am pissed and perturbed... I also planned after to go back to Europa and visit friends and stuff... but actually that still may be on... we shall see...

We biked out of our way from our planned route as well to get to Nagoya to see a travel agent I found online that deals with Russian travel. So I guess now all for not...

Anyways, from here we plan to head north and then enter the Alps... then head down to Tokyo. It probably is going to be killer. Not looking forward to climbing those mountains... but the views I am sure will be astounding! A few days ago we cycled on Shodo island which is between Shikoku and Honshu and climbed the steepest hills we have done thus far on this trip. It was tough. As such I wonder what lies ahead within those Alps...

Pic 1: Still loving the scenery here in Japan... this is on Shodo Island...

Pic 2: Saw a few monkey's while cycling on Shodo... I kept my distance though as I have had a track record of monkey's biting me and not being friendly to me... not sure why that is...

Pic 3: Me ringing out my sweat filled shirt... covered in sweat twas I... this hill never ended and the incline was super steep.

Pic 4: At the top of Shodo Island... yeah!!! The ride down was uberly fun.

Pic 5: At Himeji Castle... I went inside earlier this year and it is one pretty cool castle... one of the best I think in Japan.

Pic 6: Checking out the largest lake in Japan... Lake Biwa.

Pic 7: Outside the travel agent in Nagoya after confirming that Russia is going to be a no go... oh cheh...

Island Hopping

Wow. A super day. The morning was absolutely AWESOME. You may notice I have capitalized the word 'awesome' to emphasize it just wasn't awesome... but it was AWESOME. It was very cool crossing all 7 bridges and cycling through the Geiyo Islands to get to Shikoku. Leaving the busier, quicker roads and taking these longer more scenic routes is the way to do it here in Japan. We ended up cycling into the night again and set a new record day of 238 km! Pretty much cycled the entire northern coast of Shikoku today!

Pic 1: Having some soba for breakfast while taking in the view of the second bridge.

Pic 2: Me embracing the scenery. I tell Trevor to embrace the scenery a lot. He never does though. I am using that word 'embrace' a lot now ever since I heard some guy say it in Udaipur, India. It was hilarious how he said it though... so passionately and so into it. So now I am using it... hmmmm... I am sure that little piece of information there was of much interest and very useful to you all...

Pic 3: Cruising uphill to the final bridge into Shikoku...

Pic 4: Chilling on the bridge taking it all in... they make good bridges here in Japan. I think tomorrow we are going to see some more huge ones... can't wait!

Pic 5: That is a smile on my face... it was pretty much like that while island hopping this morning... good times!

Pic 6: This one is somewhere in Shikoku... twas nice gunning it down this hill and looking at the coast.

Pic 7: I enjoy going to high places and taking in views from higher up. So this was sweet as...

Trevor's Back With a Brand New Rap

I posted yesterday so not a whole lot to report on today... just utilizing the computer here at the manga kissa we are crashing at! Absolutely love these places.

For the past week Trevor has been cycling slower and slower. The last two days he was dying going up and down the hills. Today it got worse and he kept lagging behind big time. I had to wait and wait. I didn't mind though as it was nice kicking his ass for once... throughout this entire trip he has been going at my pace... weird too because I exercise way more than him and have stronger legs but it seems he can take me in long distance cycling. I am trying to get him to climb Mt. Fuji after with me so I can annihilate him in something... pretty confident I can beat him up the mountain! He is down for the climb... Anyways, he finally figured out that his seat had been lowering ever since the tune-up in Seoul. As such his legs were doing much more work than needed. He is now back at super fast speeds. I had my moment in the sun...

Pic 1: At the Manga Kissa (24 hour Internet Cafe) in Onomichi and loving it! They serve free drinks which include ice cream floats and slushies! Pretty nice having a computer in front of me while watching the Olympic highlights and sipping on my chocolate ice cream float. Only problem is I do not get much sleep at these joints... so much entertainment surrounding me I can never get to sleep...