Finished.

It's done. I got out for an easy road ride this morning to knock off the last 32 kilometers, ended up riding 44, so that's 1012km in 26 days of riding.

Here's the view I had when the 1000th kilometer ticked over:
Was a beautiful morning, I rode slowly, kinda didn't want it to end. Perhaps picking the hottest month of the year was the reason it was harder than I thought, but it was, and I had a real sense of achievement upon finishing.

This number pretty much blows me away too:
It's nothing for real roadies, but for me almost 3700km on the one computer is pretty amazing.

Above I said I was finished, but actually this feels more like the start. I can't begin to describe how good for me this month was, and I'm trying hard to find the next thing to do.

For now though a couple of days off the blog.

Catch y'all again soon.

cjm

The End is Nigh.

62 remaining. Fantastic ride today, out into the hills, initial climb hurt a bit, but after that it felt like I was turbo-charged all the way home. 61.4km.

Aug 27

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I actually made it to another prefecture - Gifu - which was a small goal for the 1000km of August. I think I did two kilometres in Gifu before returning to Aichi and Toyota, but at least I got that!
Just great roads, with few cars, great weather and light (and it wasn't too hot) and a great bike.

Life is good.

Morning Glory.

Aug 26

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Woke up at Pop-o'clock this morning, so decided to take advantage of the dawn coolness and ride where it's usually too hot in August. As usual further than planned, but nice ride, and nice to be home for coffee.

124 to go. Almost there!

Full Circle.

Today was a day of circles, and not only because I spent most of the afternoon on the two circles that are my bike wheels. In a way, well actually in two ways, I feel like I have come back full-circle to the Japan I came to almost ten years ago.

I finally got to ride with the Kato Cycle crew; I've been friends with them for a long time now and a customer even longer. Pretty much since the moment I came to Japan really. Yasushi is the guy at Kato Cycle that I'm now most friendly with, and he called and asked me to ride with them today. It's a call I've waited years for, and to be honest, was starting to think would never come. It tells me that in a way I've graduated to the next level. By the way, it was a short ride with lots of breaks, but still fun, some cool local trails and some spectacular riding by one of the dudes - I wish I'd been able to film him. Amazing.

Towards the end of the ride I had a 'moment' which was today's real 'full-circle' defining moment. We'd ridden some pretty cool trails, climbed a little hill and were taking a break in the shade and talking the talk. I asked Yasushi about another riding area I thought was near here, called Kaisho Forest as it was one my old friend Masaru took us to WAAYYYY back in 2001/2002. Yasushi caught me by surprise when he said "that's here - we're here now." Looking around I realized that was why I'd been having one of those deja vu moments - I HAD been here before! It'd been about eight or nine years, but many of the things I was looking right at were so familiar.

It's kinda weird now that I've decided to leave Japan I find myself not only living so close to where my Japan adventure started, but that one of the places that early on formed the strongest memories for me is right in my backyard. After everywhere I've been in Japan since that time, it was weird to stumble back onto one of the places where 'it all began.'

Very weird.

Oh yeah - 182 to go.

Full circle.

224

more ouch.

263

ouch

318.

rest day tomorrow.

By the way...

I've never enjoyed FB so much as when I worked out how to un-friend people.

I feel so empowered. I wish we could do this in real life too...someone says something stupid, you press a button, and BOOM! they disappear from your life forever.

Oh yes.

352.

yes.

405.

This is starting to hurt.

And get old. Or at least dipsh*t drivers are. Looking forward to getting back on the dirt and away from the cars.

440 to ride...

Aug 18

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Oh yeah,

487 to go.

Fallen a bit behind lately, but legs are feeling good so should be able to catch up this week.

News, continued.

Saturday - DH, been a while. For a hardtail, my bike performed wonderfully, even survived the 7km long mudbath that was the last run.

Sunday, bashed out 41 on the road bike. Studied a bit in the afternoon, but hard to settle back into it.

Monday, a quiet recovery day - too much busyness for an old man. Bit of shopping, a very easy but nice MTB ride, an early night.

And now it's today, and Uni catch-up time. oh, and shiny new tooth #2 day.

That's it.

news and all that stuff, part 1.

It was recently pointed out that I have missed a week of news. Last week was the 'official' Japanese Summer Vacation for those poor souls who don't get six weeks off like I do. Friends wanted to do things, and things were done...here are some highlights.

Tuesday - drinks at a principal from last year's house - lots of beer, not enough sleep.

Wednesday - dinner party at a friends house - lots of great food, my quiche was a hit.

Thursday/Friday - a short trip to an area of Japan I've never visited before. Known as the Kumanokodo (old road of Kumano), it's an old pilgrims' route, with fantastic scenery, temples, shrines, food and natural splendour. Photos:

This was a pretty cool rock formation. Nice coastline too.
Wonderful little shrine with a STEEP staircase to climb to reach the main part.
Boat ride on the Kumano River. Sadly this is right about where my camera battery went flat. sigh.
This area is so off the beaten track that it was just fantastic. Anyone that comes to Japan before I leave will get taken here. And I'll charge the camera next time...

657.8 and counting...(down)

Aug 9

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Easy day on the MTB today. Nice to get some dirt under the tyres.

First assignment

just submitted for Uni.

Wish me luck!

Early bird gets the worm.

Aug 8

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Saturday update.

253.9 ridden, 746.1 to go. Slightly ahead of schedule, planning a big'un tomorrow too. No riding will happen next Thurs/Fri so trying to sneak ahead a little bit more before those enforced rest days.

812.6

fun with bikes.

839.6...

to go.

Short ride today, lots happening - shiny new tooth thanks to Mr Dentist, mucho study, phone calls...it's busy being me.

Easy day.

Aug 3

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Thank goodness.

40.1 flat kilometers. 867.2 to go.

Day 2.

Aug 2

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13.7 + 79.0 = 92.7

1000 - 92.7 = 907.3km to go.

And so begins "The 1000km of August"

Okazaki

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Mountain bike ride - I'm already behind. 986.3km to go...