Entries this day: Dream Fuji

Dream

2:43pm JST Saturday 18 September 2010 (day 14787)

We headed down toward the lake and there was another barking rabbit! and another! I was afraid they might bite our rabbit, but they just barked at the same common enemy, unseen to me. We got to the lake and the barking rabbits jumped in, and I felt one bite me, but it was actually just holding my thumb really tightly. We realized it was 4 o'clock, so needed to go back inside because dinner would be served soon. On the way in, I realized that in the hotel, I would have the chance to sleep with Julia Roberts because she'd have her own hotel room, and we had done that before when both in the same city. On the way to the top of the hotel, I realized another reason that the World Trade Center couldn't have been destroyed just because of airplanes. Because the designers claimed that it would be able to survive many simultaneous airplane strikes, forgetting about jet fuel constitutes criminal negligence, so they would be sued for being architectural idiots, but that didn't happen. I ran back down the ramp with my hands in the air at 45 degree angles and shouted my joy to Mike, who was walking up the ramp. He gave me high five, and "that's right!" and we headed up the ramp together as a whole slew of costumed performers coming down the ramp, many of whom had their hands in the air, thought we were just copying them. Carrying chocolate in one hand, I was asked if I had more chocolate by a guy who also commented on my wearing yellow and black swim trunks and a vest, saying "1970's" and I got to the top of the ramp and the line for snacks was pretty long, so I considered paying them each a piece of chocolate so I could go ahead in line. I realized that might not be a big enough bribe, so I should just stand in line, but then I couldn't find the chocolate anyway, so I was walking back down and I saw this girl with amazing hair that sparkled copper, silver, and gold, and I had seen her before, and was going to tell her I loved her hair, and I imagined she would say, "well if you love it so much, why don't you get the same color in your hair?" and I was all prepared to say, "because I don't want to attract attention to myself," but I woke up.

Fuji

10:27pm JST Saturday 18 September 2010 (day 14787)

Lin and I have just arrived at 5th Station on Subashiri guchi of Mt Fuji. I'm leaving my computer in the car though.

5:30am JST Monday 20 September 2010 (day 14789)

Back at home. So tired. So happy.

9:05am JST Monday 20 September 2010 (day 14789)

Now I'm at work, and will try to capture some of the climb.

3:30am woke up on Sunday at 5th station lodge and started out at around 4am. Got to the top at 2:30pm, stayed for an hour 20 minutes, then headed down at 3:40pm, reaching the flat pavement of 5th station at 7:30pm.

The daylight weather was bright and sunny, and pretty hot all the way up to the top. It started to get cold and we put on all our warm clothes, but didn't really need them past 9th station or so.

Like the first time I climbed, the route down seemed to take longer than it should have. "Is this some kinda joke????" I kept thinking. We were jokingly saying もうううう, and まだぁぁ？やっだぁぁ！

I enjoyed the gravel covered route down, jump-skipping at high speed toward our destination. Lin couldn't go down quite as quickly, so I waited for her "at that red sign down there," and then "at that white sign, or maybe it's a person." By then, though, it had gotten a bit too dark to skip down the hill, so we went down at Lin's マイペース. I helped her step down some of the steeper root clogged routes, and we just silently trekked down after it became apparent we would never reach the end.

On the way up, we met a couple at 7th station (?) and saw them again at 8th station, and at the top. We got some pictures together.

On the way to 8th station, I had some genki energy and "ran" ahead of Lin. I fell asleep waiting for her (only 30 minutes behind me), and they pointed me out to her, which was good cause she might have thought I went on ahead! eep! I had hung U-Cow over a bench near where I was seated so she'd see him, but he didn't moo or anything useful to attract her attention.

Written with my iPhone:

Food on the way here included quesadillas to go, but I may have been optimistic about my hunger.

Rain reminded me I didn't bring rain coat, so got twin plastic tops and bottoms, just in case.

Chatted and chewed until midnight then slept till 3:30, but I woke up at 3:15 with no alarm.

I have had a bit of a sinus headache since we got to fifth station. It's not too cold outside now.

7:34am Saturday 7th Station subashiri trail, mt Fuji

I was just talking to Marie on my bananaphone, telling her the latest news on peeps we knew in Thailand.

Weather is immaculate. If only we didn't have all this heavy winter gear, it would be perfect. Hahaha

Not sure if we'll finish the whole climb and descent before it gets cold again, but I hope we need the warmth.

janette's quilt, Soness's Mt Fuji staff and Johnny and U-Cow are with us.

Right now there are 15 people at 7th station, including a family with a 8 or 9 year old boy.

Some high school or college kids have an aerosol can apparently full of oxygen, but after they put its nozzle over their mouth and nose, depress the lever, they're like "I don't know if it's doing anything...." ぜんぜんわからないでしょう‼

9:00am

We've reached 8th station, I think, but it might be 7.5th station.

トイレにきゅうけ