Entries this day: AM_before_leaving Chat_with_Fred Da_plan Riding_writings

AM before leaving

7:13am JST Friday 21 April 2006 (day 13176)

Okay; I have just finished two chapters of The Fellowship of The Ring, and all but the last two chapters of Fellowship. And I notice to the voice of my words has come a change.

(perhaps short lived though it may be)

Breakfast time now, then packing, then lunch and/or leaving.

I recognize that I have not filled in the blanks of my intended journey to Kyoto, but basically I plan from here in Shima-shi, to take 6xx north to 23 northwest to 1 west, across downtown Kyoto, to 9 west and northwest, to 7xx south and be there. Just like that.

9:25am JST Friday 21 April 2006

Chowed two eggs, rice, and a slice of cheese and read another chapter of the book, one more to go.

Have basically packed. The plan is to pack, hit the library to confirm date and directions to the center, finish the book, eat lunch and go go go!

But first, though it's an incomplete record, here are some of the things I've bought with my 20,000 yen:

1. April 3rd, from AOI bookstore in Takadanobaba:

   • Touring Mapple 5: 1 @ 1600

   total inc tax 1680 yen

2. April 6th, from Aoki foods:

   • Knusper Crunch: 1 @ 522

   Total inc tax 522 yen

3. April 7th, at some bike shop:

   • fixed my leaky back tire: 1 @ 1200 yen

   total inc tax: 1200 yen

4. April 7th, from Shizutetsu Store:

   • Pocari Sweat mix: 1 @ 113

   • Fresh Granola: 1 @ 408

   total inc tax 521 yen

5. April 8th, from hallo! foods:

   • Pocari Sweat mix: 2 @ 125 yen

   • Fresh Granola: 2 @ 478

   total inc tax: 1,266 yen

I started with 20,000 (and some loose change floating around in my bags, where it remains), and right now I have in my wallet 12,369 yen.

That means I've spent 7,631 yen (62.3% of that on food). Total above = 5,189 yen, so 2,442 yen unaccounted, but that is easily explained in that I didn't keep all of my receipts; I know I ate a McD's several times.

But I plan to keep them from now on, just for fun.

For the 6 days' travel time, I spent 4,751 yen on food: about 792 yen per day. Big savings thanks to Carl's generous donation of Powerbars. :-)

Chat with Fred

11:33am JST Friday 21 April 2006 (day 13176)

Nice to chat with Fred, however briefly. He gave me the link to the grand champ yoyoist, and I surprised him saying I had met him. Well, the 2003 version. We agreed they were phat and kicked some fokin' ass.

Da plan

11:34am JST Friday 21 April 2006 (day 13176)

The plan from here has changed a bit, I'm going to go to Kobe to see Richard, and hopefully have no worries staying at his friend's flat. I think I can get there by tomorrow, if I get out of here pretty promptly after lunch. I had expected Masako back by now, actually.

I've got a choice between a short curvy (hilly) road or a longer maybe flatter road. I'm going to go for the short one, and hope the hills don't kills me.

Riding writings

1:50pm JST Friday 21 April 2006 (day 13176)

(transcribed 12:20pm JST Monday 15 May 2006)

Roll out from Koji's after a long stay. Headed to Kobe to see Richard.

17:08 （金） 21 April 2006 McD's

Holy shit a girl here recognizes me from 2 WEEKS ago on highway 32!!! She (まみるん) and her friends are buying me a drink (orange) at McD. Her friends are ねーさん and まゆぽん.

She called her English teacher to translate this 一期一会（いちごい ちえ）, which I got to mean something like "take care of the importance to meet once in our lives." (wtf?) and they told the whole story including what they bought for me (2 cheeseburgers, 1 chicken filet, orange juice (no ice)) I talked to him a bit and he explained a bit about the class and the Canadian ALT who comes weekly. It's a cool high school, from the sound of it.

Ha! ねーさん got picked up in a BIG truck. So unexpected!

7:45pm JST Friday 21 April 2006

Shockingly tired and stopped on23 near where I had lunch on 9 April, but without consciously trying. Just going to sit for a bit.

23:38 JST Friday 21 April 2006

Page 37 Mapple 5 at Big Purple and 165 (J4). Rest a bit and munch a bit and try to get to 163 tonight.