As the sun set I could hear all the local critters coming down out of the hills to check me out. I know, they were just curious but it is still a bit unnerving when you are all alone like that. I am almost certain that they were raccons because I counted at least four active dens before the sun set.

I got a good hot fire going... eventually, all the wood that was there was green and really resented being burned. I swear you could hear the wood screaming in agony as it burned. Of course, that was just the water and air in the wood that I heard, but it was enough to make me feel bad about what I was doing. All the wood had been cut down to clear out a new campground. It was really not a bad thing though -- like I said, it was so thick around there that you could not even go into the woods.
I went to bed about midnight after reading some of my book and studying some papers that I had brought along. I slept like a log!! I did wake up at 5:30 to take a leak -- thanks to all the beer -- but quickly went back to sleep until 8:30. I awoke to the sound of someone hitting a ball around, or so I thought. I jumped out of my sleeping bag and unzipped the tent to find two crows batting around my bag of charcoal that I had wrapped up in two plastic bags. Of course, they fled at my emergence.
After thinking over my options I decided to head home -- a day early -- and I even felt happy about it. I love my kids very much and don't want to miss a minute with them. In a year they will be there with me... and loving every minute of it!
I packed everything up except the tent and put it all inside. Then, I rode my bike home and got the car to come back and get my stuff -- I know, I really wussed out -- and check out of the campground. I had the best time and I WILL do it again, hopefully, with my kids and wife and you will get three times the story!!!
 

Yesterday I rode to Kannonzaki again. It was a fast ride there because I got a late start. I wanted to take some pictures. I really just needed pictures of the signs -- they are all in kanji -- my wife is going to help me translate them. I ended up spending a lot more time there than I had planned and took a lot more pictures than I had planned to. I really couldn't help it, the way the sun was shining made it so beautiful! I will post some pictures on here soon... Ride On!
 

Hello to all you readers out there (and writers)! I am back from my camping trip -- shorter than planned, of course -- and had a superb time. If I could pick one thing to do on a vacation it would, with-out a doubt, be bicycle camping. The thrill of planning a trip, preparing you're gear, packing the gear, and loading the bike is second only to pedaling to the destination, where you simply know great things await you.
My trip was at Ikego West Valley Campgrounds. It is close to my house -- 6.60 miles -- and it is a completely secluded-feeling place. By secluded-feeling I mean you are completely immersed in nature but you're still close enough to ride to the store if you forgot something; the surroundings haven't been touched for many, many years -- except the little lots that have been cleared off -- and each lot is seperated by small mountain ridges. It is a primitive campground (no toilets, showers, or electric) but each site does have a firepit and a bar-b-q grill.
For this ride I only needed one set of panniers, since I installed my new fork and it does not have braze-ons, deciding which set to bring was a no-brainer. I threw the rear panniers on the back rack, filled 'em up, strapped down the tent, and sleeping bag and away I went. It was amazingly heavy for such a small load!
I now know that no matter how you load a bike, evenly front-to-back, side-to-side, or off-balance ie., all the weight on the back, it takes a while to get used to. The bike feels unstable, wobbly, shakey, loose, or however you choose to describe it; it's just not the same as a naked cycle. My ride was short enough that I was just really getting used to the ride when I got there. It only took about 25 or 30 minutes, but I wasn't rushing either.
The two climbs that I sort-of dreaded were surprisingly quick and easy. On the second hill (the bigger of the two) I cruised right up without any laborious breathing at all. About 3/4ers of the way up I realized that I was spinning. SPINNING!! Yup, me the hands-down pedal masher... spinning. I've tried to do this on many occasions -- it's far more efficient -- but didn't have much luck. To say that I am nimble-footed would be like calling the average construcion worker a ballerina. Nonetheless, here I was rolling my cranks like a baton twirler gracefully whirling her ungrateful little rod! I felt really good about myself... I'm growing, haha!
After I got to my campsite I unpacked my bike and got ready to pitch my tent; it was early and I wasn't in a hurry. I decided on the best place and threw it up in no time at all. Then, I had to construct a shelter for my better-half -- my bike (there was a chance for rain). I used a tarp and found some bamboo poles in the woods. I constructed a lean-to that would make Mr. Boone jealous, checked the fit... perfect.
I went to the campground office to let them know I was there and found out the firewood was pretty far away from my site. No problem. I went to a store and got some food and extra water. Then I took a break and had drink before removing my panniers from my rack. I then rode off towards the wood with a couple of bungee cords, of course. It took me about four trips but I got enough wood to last me the night. I used my backpack for smaller stuff and had atleast two big logs on the rack. I just had to take it easy on the ride back -- it was on gravel and I really didn't want to break my rack, or wheel, or frame, or... well, anything.
The rest of the day was pretty ordinary. I started to cook, what should have been an early dinner but my culinary skills took a little longer to catch up to the heat of the fire... if you know what I mean. I ate, took a good look around and got ready for sunset (again, a little late).
The vegetation in that area is remarkably thick. I wanted to wander around the hills a little but it was too thick. I don't know if it has always been like that but it was really jungle-esque!
More in my next entry... Ride On!
 

I will go camping on Tuesday, Wed. and Thurs. of next week. The primary reason I am going camping is to forget all normal time restraints and explore 'till I drop! I am really reaching the end of my vacation and I have a lot more that I want to see and do and write.
I know that after I go back to work I will be very busy trying to reestablish myself at a new command so exploring and writing will be on hold. Never fear I do have some that I am still working on but are nearly ready to be posted and in two full days I will be able to do a lot more. I won't leave anyone hanging.
All these writings and entries just might end up in a travel guidebook about the Miura Peninsula someday real soon. Who knows, maybe I will make a special offer to all members of Writing.com! Well... maybe... The book, I mean, it is a work in progress.
Until next time... Ride On!!
 

Today is Saturday, 7 May. It is raining again! This coming week will be a busy one for me. Except for Monday and maybe Tuesday I am planning on exploring all week. My vacation is winding down to a close so I better get busy. I will, of course, continue to venture out regularly after my vacation but not so frequently.
I found an exact route to some of the things that I couldn't find before and I will check them out along with a plethora of temples and shrines in the area. Until then... Ride On!
 

I left the base at 11:25 enroute to Mt. Take and Mt. Miura Fuji. There is a diking course that goes over the peaks of both and that is what I was looking for. It was a warm, humid, and overcast day.
It is a Japanese holiday so I expected it to be crowded on the streets and... well, everywhere. Traffic on route 26 was really bad. Cars were just creeping along. I passed them on the far left, (like motorcycles and scooters do) on the right, and jumped on the sidewalk to get by. The 26/27 JCT. was particularly bad. The traffic barely moved and I almost got hit a couple of times. At least one time was my fault for not really paying attention to the cars.
After the 26/27 jct. the traffic slowed down considerably and it became a lot more enjoyable to ride. At 3.09 miles I came to the first tunnel. It was a wide, one-way tunnel with a good shoulder to ride on. At 3.7 miles I passed a COOP grocery store on the left, great for buying lunch fruits. Just a little past that is another tunnel that looks the same as the first one. At this point the road starts to get a lot more hilly and traffic decreased further.
At 4.5 miles I passed a large motorcycle shop on the left called, SAKE MOTORS and an AVE just behind that. Just a little past that is 214, turn left there. The map shows the hiking course starting from near there. I turned left on a semi-large road that looked like the right thing. After going up hill for a while I saw some signs in kanji so I really thought that is. I did take some pictures of the signs so my wife could help me figure out what the said. I went up this mountain until the road stopped and then climbed some long stairs. Then it dead ended. At this point I am pretty close to the peak of what I believe is Mt. Take, the one I am looking for. I went back down the hill. I looked and looked for this course but never did find it. I have to get a better map.
I decided to go to Mt. Ogusu and see if I could find the hiking course there. After getting to 134, I found a road that would surely lead me to the course. I followed it for a while. It went in a valley of several mountain peaks and dead ended.
I know that I am pretty close on both of these. I will get a better map and try again another day. I will just go back home the same way that I came. I don't normally like to do that but I am not feeling too adventurous now.
Even on my way home at 2:30 the 26/27 jct. was very congested with traffic. I would just recommend staying clear of that area. My computer at home read 22.11 miles. It is about one mile from my house to the gate on base.
 

This is from the April 12, 2005 post.

I did order the Trekking handlebar for my bike. I got it a couple of days ago in the mail. I tried several different mounting positions before I finally decided how to mount it. I bolted it on, put the brake levers and shifters on, and then wrapped it with bar tape. This is the first time that I have ever tried to use bar tape and I think I did a pretty good job at wrapping it, if I do say so myself. My ride the other day showed me that the bars are GREAT! I love them. I can ride upright and cruise through town or I can get down and areo if I want to. I can move my hands through numerous combinations, it is great. With the new fork my bike rides and handles perfect now. I don't think I am going to order the new tires because it is just so good right now.
I had the fork set up real stiff but found it is much better if I keep it soft. If I am really pounding the pedals I just use the lock-out. When it is set-up soft, I don't really feel a lot of the bumps in the road and I don't need to worry about pinch flatting so much. I even went through some fairly rough trail, slowly but I did go, and never even came close to bottoming it out.
My bike is just right for me now. A lot of people look at my bike and ask "what the..." but it works for me and that is all that really matters. Ride On!
 

I did some of the planned ride today. I started looking for Fudo Falls but never did find it.
I began on the 22nd. I packed a lunch: 2 peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwiches, 2 bananas, an amino vital gel and 2 bottles of water. I also filled the bladder of my camelback with water and a small bottle with endurox powder and water. I put all that in a plastic bag in the refridgerator. I planned on leaving early so I packed my handlebar bag and back pack with everything I would need. I had: extra batteries for my camera, solar power battery charger, notebook, 2 pens, map, highlighter, small compass (hey, you never know), camera, and sunglasses. I also got my clothes out: khaki shorts (with big pockets), long sleeve workout shirt, sleevless workout shirt, and socks and bike shorts (I decided to give them another try).
I planned to wake up at 4:00 A.M. and leave at 4:30 and be back home a little after lunch. Of course, my plans got changed and I left at 10:15 but then had to adjust my fork (I let all the air out, oops) then, my handlebar bag was slipping so I had to adjust it... 10:45, I finally left the base.
First I hit 26 (Yokosuka Chuo road) and rode until 27. To get onto 27 I went underground through a tunnel (pretty cool). After .9 mile 27 turns left at a four-way intersection, stay on 27. Three miles later I stopped at a Family Mart for a toilet break and to slurp down my Amino Vital gel. I kept going on 27 looking for the Yoko-Yoko toll road -- that was my clue that the small road was near -- I finally reached 217 at 4.10 miles from 27/26 jct. I overshot my road by a long shot. I looked like I could still get there by some small roads off of 217 so I went that way. I didn't find any small roads off of 217 but I did find a really big hill! You will know you are near the top when you smell something really bad. There is a Hayama Beef Farm near the top. The climb is steep and long but the scenery is good except for the constant stream of cars going up and down. The sidewalks and wide and smooth and I did not see any pedestrian traffic, which is good because you can hit the sidewalk and grind up the hill or blast up as fast as you can. You will actually be at　top of the hill after you pass through a tunnel. After the tunnel you will see a hill-side on your left that is absolutely briming with flowers. I bet there were at least a billion flowers over there. Brillian yellow, purple, green and orange colors illuminated the hill-side and the hills surrounding it!!
I found a little scenic area near Shonan Village and ate my lunch there. A fake creek with rocks set in a concrete bed. There wasn't any water so I sat on one of the big rocks and enjoyed my lunch in the bright, warm sun.

I went back the same way -- still looking for Fudo Falls -- I came. I never did find Fudo Falls and was really disappointed with this ride. The traffic on these two roads, 26 and 27, was very heavy. 217 was alright but that road doesn't actually go very far. It is kind of a crossover road. I rode home at almost a full sprint. I did make a pit stop at Homes (a Wal-Mart type store) then at seven eleven. Today was really not a good ride. It wasn't a bad ride by any means. Good weather, bike, and freedom to roam -- could it really be bad? I will try to go to the other side of this mountain next time and follow the hiking trails and see where that leads me. Like i said this is one of the biggest mountains on the Miura Peninsula and I want to see what it is all about. Bike On!
 

I am planning on riding to Mt. Ogusu tomorrow. The weather is supposed to be good and warm. There are several things I want to check out there: Fudo Falls, Abekura Hot Spring, and Ogusuyama hiking course. This looks like one of the largest mountains on the Miura Peninsula. I will let you know how it turns out. Ride On!
 

Today was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, it was warm, and even the wind controlled itself. My son and I took my daughter to school then ran some errands on the bike. We stopped by a park where my son (1 yr. old) chased all the pigeons. Ran a couple more errands; bought some sandwhiches and a couple of bottles of water and found another park for a picnic. Then, we picked my daughter up from school (1:00 P.M.). By the time we got home my son was drained.