22 Apr 2022, 18:51

1508 Day 23 - Met Daisuke and Hiroe at Restaurant Goo Goo

‘2021-05-08T08:32:53+09:00’

title: 'optimization of steps'
location: 'geo:37.65001,138.93668;u=3.7900924682617188'

Just for the record, I am choosing not to walk about 60 m the wrong direction including across a busy Street so I can head toward my destination tonight and stop at a convenience store about 31 minutes away according to Google maps which will be about an hour at my pace.

That is to say, there’s a convenience store about 60 m wrong direction from which way I want to go so I’m not going to go there. I will instead walk 2.4 km the correct direction so as to not waste steps.

‘2021-05-08T08:39:19+09:00’

title: 'François on Yahiko Line'
location: 'geo:37.65101,138.93734;u=3.7900924682617188'

François on tracks with only one line. Yahiko Line

2021 may 07 dsc 0622

‘2021-05-08T08:54:51+09:00’

title: 'numbers on deicing label things'
location: 'geo:37.65398,138.93914;u=9.363497734069824'

I still haven’t figured out what these labels represent pointing to the deicing number things. The numbers seem to be within the set 65, 85, 100, now 110.

2021 may 07 three labels pointing to deicers

‘2021-05-08T09:08:38+09:00’

title: 'long greenhouse windows'
location: 'geo:37.65771,138.94439;u=4.0750885009765625'

Wow. They’ve got this crank that will unroll and looks like simultaneously come down the pole to close the plastic window along a 50 m length of greenhouse.

2021 may 07 long plastic is long

‘2021-05-08T09:16:45+09:00’

title: 'junk near farm'
location: 'geo:37.65752,138.94545;u=32.76599884033203'

Found some junk right next to a farm

2021 may 07 looking across farm at junk 2021 may 07 line between junk and farm 2021 may 07 cool bicycle frame 2021 may 07 lots of tires 2021 may 07 more across the street 2021 may 07 there is a spider web between the truck and the stuff

‘2021-05-08T09:23:57+09:00’

title: 'crossing Nakanokuchi River'
location: 'geo:37.65769,138.94521;u=142.5'

Crossing Nakanokuchi River

2021 may 07 screenshot of map crossing river 2021 may 07 looking east 2021 may 07 looking west toward the shinkansen line

‘2021-05-08T09:42:56+09:00’

title: 'a few pics before breakfast'
location: 'geo:37.66242,138.94711;u=59.58700180053711'

There’s something familiar about this picture

2021 may 07 train line keeps on going

Neat to see this new number (50)

2021 may 07 deicer label 50

And right next to it a new manhole cover with three birds flying

2021 may 07 manhole cover with three birds

And a little bit ago I noticed that each of these tiles were tied with wire down onto something, I assume bamboo.

2021 may 07 curved tiles wired to top of wall

‘2021-05-08T10:17:12+09:00’

title: 'confusing guy wires'
location: 'geo:37.66971,138.95139;u=110'

Confusing guy wires… why do they have two wires on the bottom one of which is unused?

2021 may 07 two on the bottom on the outer 2021 may 07 two on the bottom on the inner 2021 may 07 two on the bottom on both 2021 may 07 only one each on the top on both

‘2021-05-08T10:36:02+09:00’

title: 'skeleton of a skate ramp'
location: 'geo:37.67539,138.95309;u=3.7900924682617188'

Skate ramp frame

2021 may 07 skate ramp frame left 2021 may 07 skate ramp frame right

‘2021-05-08T10:42:07+09:00’

title: 'I may have found Jurassic Park'
location: 'geo:37.67549,138.95337;u=19.427000045776367'

Welcome to Jurassic Park

2021 may 07 moss looks like jurassic park

‘2021-05-08T11:14:22+09:00’

title: 'François and a big dam screw'
location: 'geo:37.68077,138.95997;u=32.0989990234375'

François found a big dam screw

2021 may 07 François with a big dam screw

‘2021-05-08T15:38:47+09:00’

title: 'interesting pool thing'
location: 'geo:37.75385,139.00787;u=4.323200225830078'

What is this?

2021 may 07 looks like a pool 2021 may 07 looks like trough covers 2021 may 07 overview of pool and covers

From the side

2021 may 07 pool from the side

‘2021-05-08T18:49:13+09:00’

title: 'Great time with Daisuke and Hiroe at Googoo'
location: 'geo:37.76135,139.0144;u=20.100000381469727'

Googoo is the sound of an empty stomach and of deep sleep. So what better name to use for a restaurant and guest house?

Located just two minutes apart by foot, Googoo Restaurant and Googoo Guest House are a delicious and clean combo for Italian food and place to sleep off the meal and ample drinks.

Daisuke and Hiroe are also backpackers, heading for months long adventures in different places around the world. We have some overlap in South America and Rapa Nui.

While writing this entry, I got another full glass of umeshu. And they have ice cream… Yikes stripes! Will I wake up in time tomorrow?

2021 may 08 guest house googoo entrance

2021 may 08 restaurant googoo

2021 may 08 François with umeshu

2021 may 08 daisuke working at googoo

20:20

Oh my goodness, they picked up my tab at the restaurant. So generous!

Daisuke had said 遊び来てね! and that 遊び is what made me think it would be worth it to take my tired butt over there. So worth it indeed! We had great conversations about travel and he asked world-traveler type questions, including “what prompted you to stay in Japan?”

Really super best of alll the places I have stayed. Apa was 3700 cheap and impersonal. Googoo was just 5000 yen and included dinner and hours of great friendly conversation!

22 Apr 2022, 18:48

1507 Day 22 - Walked Straight for Fourteen Kilometers

‘2021-05-07T10:39:28+09:00’

title: 'go straight 14 km'
location: 'geo:37.53583,138.88872;u=4.217646598815918'

Next destination is essentially straight for 14 km.

2021 may 06 walk straight along the tracks

‘2021-05-07T10:49:07+09:00’

title: 'SUPER CENTER PLANT 5'
location: 'geo:37.53891,138.89069;u=87.5999984741211'

Okay it’s decided then, we will call it SUPER CENTER PLANT 5. Everyone in agreement?

2021 may 06 super center plant 5

‘2021-05-07T11:22:34+09:00’

title: 'junk behind a shed'
location: 'geo:37.55319,138.89529;u=116.0999984741211'

Stereo equipment and other discarded junk

2021 may 06 junked equipment

‘2021-05-07T11:27:28+09:00’

title: leverage
location: 'geo:37.55405,138.89585;u=128.8990020751953'

These doors would have to be paper light for these door stoppers to have a chance of actually stopping them if they really opened.

2021 may 06 two huge doors vs two little stoppers

‘2021-05-07T11:37:24+09:00’

title: 'little house on the river'
location: 'geo:37.55655,138.89773;u=7.986046314239502'

Is this a way out outhouse?

2021 may 06 looks like an outhouse out in the middle of fields

In any case, it’s right above the water.

2021 may 06 if so it dumps right into the river

(The door was locked 🔒)

2021-05-07T18:59:08+09:00

title: "Finished Day 22 around 6pm"

I did a couple of livestreams on Instagram yesterday. (I downloaded and copied them to Youtube so you don’t have to log in to view them.)

Water pouring into rice fields

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ltEFRpkT9U

Great talking to Eddie a bit on his way to get his kids.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DIq1T_-HNc

APA Hotel Tsubamesanjo Ekimae is really the best I have used this walk in terms of price per ameneties.

Private bath, bed, TV with free VOD including adult content, plus a larger than micro sized toothpaste, and a nice toothbrush with soft bristles. Just 3700 yen. Nice.

Day 22 was

Walk 14km from Mitsuke English Garden to APA Hotel Tsubamesanjo Ekimae

22 Apr 2022, 18:46

1506 Day 21 - Ugh so tired and saw a rat snake

2021-05-06T12:23:51+09:00

title: "Saw Missy's Green Japanese Ratsnake"

2021 may 06 François playing dead near ratsnake

Saw a rather large ratsnake I encountered before crossing Kariyata River (map). He was quite chill.

16:30 Monday 17 May 2021 JST

Rambling transcript of story:

Walking around the bend of a highway where the road was terribly rough. And I was wearing sandals because it was so rough. Just about to cross, I couldn’t even see the path where I was headed. And is I was like, I need to, I see the berm of a river. And I need to go over that hill. But I come in around this corner, I can’t see if there is actually a path there to go from this level around the left up to the bridge that’s crossing the river.

So I might have to go away back or I might have to I’m not going to go way back. Let me tell you that. But I might have to like drag or pick up my bag and carry it up this hill. And so just approaching and approaching and finally at the last minute, it’s like okay, there’s a path cool. And getting legs stepping up the path toward the toward the bridge that was there. over the river. Walking, walking, walking, just looking at my feet and my Oh, so tired. Hello. Hello snake. You’re beautiful.

Wow. It’s like Oh, hi snake. beautiful green rat snake. I didn’t know as a rat snake until after I posted a picture up on Reddit. But the answer quick and answer quickly came back. No, that’s a Japanese rat snake is a beautiful species but a beautiful specimen. I was able the rat snake was she was so chill. I was able to put François down in front of him take a picture. Pick François up start a video and then the snake was like I guess I guess we’re done here snake sorta snake and on by.

And I like I wanted to pick it up. And thought it would be more polite to just let it go on its way. And someone said on Reddit and to say just say pardon me when you pick it up. And I kind of sort of think that that’s right. I mean, if it’s an actual in my heart to excuse me, I would like to pick you up. I wonder if it’s okay, but I just had this, you know, kind of reverence for this animal.

And projecting today that it saw me as a giant animal. It was a big snake but I’m a lot bigger than that. And on Reddit, the guy was guessing is two meters long. I guessed it was 130 centimeters long. But yeah, it’s big snake looks pretty cool. In decent size.

So yeah, they’re just there was a cool snake and oh, and then my friend Missy texted me right after that. She’s like, Oh, I just had an amazing experience. And she was telling me about her experience. And so we decided that the snake was a messenger letting me know to contact her because she had just had a had an amazing experience. So that was neat. I put him on YouTube. I called it Missy’s green snake.

2021-05-06T15:23:51+09:00

title: "Pictures from Day Twenty One"

Leaving the hotel this morning around 7am

2021 may 06 miauchi station

Two manhole covers with same design at different sizes. I may have posted a large size version somewhere.

2021 may 06 medium sized cover 2021 may 06 small cover same design

Bicycle wheel themed bicycle parking

2021 may 06 bicycle wheel themed bicycle parking

Went through a tunnel that apparently gets flooded at times.

2021 may 06 water flood depth indicators

Saw a turtle in a river

2021 may 06 red eared slider

turtle without zoom

2021 may 06 red eared slider way down there

Also saw an orange in a river

2021 may 06 orange you floating by

Curious loops on wires a I guess to keep birds off them

2021 may 06 no birds on these wires

Wow I was back there a few days ago..

2021 may 06 mountains still back there

Curious that these huge heavy plates are being held down by a backhoe

2021 may 06 make sure these dont blow away

Brand name

2021 may 06 corona logo on building

2021-05-06T17:46:42+09:00

title: "Finished Day 21 in record time"

Before I started walking, Jason H described a simple 4 steps to adapting to any stressful situation. I think I am in the last stage now; I have just come to realize walking is my life. Nothing can be done to change it. Just walk walk walk.

I felt quite hot and tired by the end of today. Not a drop of rain in sight, and plenty of sun, so I am glad I put on sunscreen before I started out at 7am. I arrived at the hotel about 2:30pm, so 7.5 hours walking 17.5 kilometers (according to Google Maps)

2021 may 06 day 21 walk map

Walk 15km from 旅館 竹花屋 to Mitsuke English Garden

22 Apr 2022, 18:29

1505 Day 20 - Saw very cool Myokan Weir. Also feeling sad.

2021-05-05T20:53:51+09:00

title: "Finished Walking Day 20"

It’s (according to my computer). To my feet and legs, it’s early on Walkday. My brain knows it is now Day 21, but this entry is about Day 20:

I did not take many pictures on Day 20, compared to other days. Photographs seem to happen more in the morning, but as I get tireder and tireder from walking, the pictures taper off as I’m like bah, who cares about seeing more flowers that are not really differentiatable from other pics I have taken.

Day 20 things:

  • saw a two car train and tried to take a video but realized later I apparently did not hit record until after the train went by.
  • saw species of little yellow flowers that I had not seen before
  • talked to Brian in Corpus for about an hour while sharing stories of mapping. Very fun talking with him as we have similar senses of humor.
    1. “everything was going fine until I talked to those guys in Corpus”
    1. “here’s your diploma!” after walking through flowerbed on campus
  • almost recorded Joetsu Line shinkansen, albiet far away
  • Surprised to see Doge is up to 77 yen, and has gone up 11000% just in 2021.
  • Installed Folding@Home and signed up for the Doge team https://www.dogecoinfah.com/doc/gettingstarted.html#getstarted on my laptop and on my Vultr server (pinning its CPU to 100% (up from 4% over the past years))
  • Nearly weaned myself off aidungeon.io, helped by the response “The AI doesn’t know what to say. Alter, undo, or try again.”
  • Walked across Shinano River with water pouring through Myokan Weir, a word I did not know the meaning.

Day 20 was:

  • Day Twenty (Wednesday May 5th *) 1 part:
    Walk 13km, From Ojiya Park Hotel To 旅館 竹花屋 (310km walked so far)

Walk 13km from Ojiya Park Hotel to 旅館 竹花屋

2021-05-05T08:16:58+09:00

title: 'feeling sad this morning'
location: 'geo:37.30778,138.79659;u=19.309999465942383'

I’m feeling quite sad this morning, possibly because the walk is coming to an end, combined with that I haven’t done a lot of the things that I thought I would do, for example interviews with locals using my audio recorder, or make updates on all the different platforms that I had planned to update, including the crowdfunding campaign site.

Oh, and I haven’t finished all the letters that I told people I would write.

And and there have been some contributions on the crowdfunding site where people have asked for letters or postcards but I can’t figure out how to download them to get those addresses so I’m not sure what to do there.

I was able to figure it out before but my tired brain just couldn’t do it this morning and then I forgot about it before I packed up my computer.

Also sad that my computer seems to have rejected the battery starting over a week ago. Well the computer reports the battery is at 100% it immediately shuts off immediately when I unplug the power adapter.

Fortunately, the computer itself has been working fine when it’s plugged in and I’ve used it to great success in keeping my website pretty much up to date.

The walk today is 15 km so significantly shorter than yesterday, though I’m starting 2 hours later than I did yesterday.

I have a call with my friend in Texas in 45 minutes and then session with a client tonight. It’s wonderful to be able to work while I’m traveling.

2021-05-05T12:31:17+09:00

title: 'Amazing water flow at Myokan Weir'

Placid Shinanogawa

2021 may 05 upstream from myokan weir

2021 may 05 placid gate of myokan weir

Something happening

2021 may 05 turbulent gate of myokan weir

Whoah

2021 may 05 wow gate of myokan weir

Vids from Myokan Weir

https://youtu.be/4iMnI-2Ko_Y both sides of bridge

https://youtu.be/AQEsQno2yU4 both sides of thingie

https://youtu.be/t-U0HaStvyU slow motion angle

https://youtu.be/4Pj7W8lbBYU slow motion straight down

https://youtu.be/z2SaTjwXY4Y

https://youtu.be/tunVfQyXJeQ

Deets

2021 may 05 myokan weir gate 5 info

Pics

2021 may 05 myokan weir info

Fish stairs

2021 may 05 myokan weir fish stairs

2021-05-05T14:11:17+09:00

title: 'favorite pudding at a dairy shop'
location: 'geo:37.39601,138.83878;u=87.5999984741211'

I was attracted by the restroom sign icon and then realized the shop sells my favorite pudding, so I am Chilling at a dairy shop with 3km left to walk today..

2021 may 04 map of dairy shop location

22 Apr 2022, 18:21

1504 Day 19 - lovely rivers and Canak's Pizza

title: “1504 Let Go and eat pizza”

2021-05-04T05:36:34+09:00

title: 'Arrived in Sudaya just before dark last night'

The walk yesterday was reasonably good with just a little bit of rain. Lots of walking along railroad tracks including scene a interesting train construction thing that I hadn’t seen before. I was a little bit late by the time I saw that I didn’t take the time to upload the picture but I have a couple to upload.

I stopped for a bit in Urasa Station, which was largely closed except for restrooms and two shops on the second floor: some kind of gift shop and a convenience store.

There was an up going escalator up to the second level which was high so actually about the three floors worth of steps. So I left my bag downstairs while going upstairs to pee and such.

I went to the convenience store and got a bunch of stuff but then realized my wallet was downstairs in my bag because it won’t fit in my pockets when I’m wearing my rain gear.

Fortunately, this is Japan, and unfortunately, the train station was nearly desolate, due to covid I guess, so my bag was completely untouched and fine when I went downstairs to get my wallet. Anyway the point is just that I had to tell the cashier apologies and then run down the stairs and escalator back up with my wallet to pay.

I was barefoot the entire day except for about 2 km walking north of that station, where the roads just didn’t have any sidewalk but did have lots of gravel and such. That was around the area that has two different snow sheds in a row on the highway next to the Joetsu Line.

It was nice walking along the Uono River; it was pretty large and flowing pretty quickly with bluish looking clear snow melt water.

I am in a small city called Koide now, and planning to pack and go pretty soon.

I have not updated my website to put the day by day things at the top of the page so I have to dig down a little bit to find that entry and figure out where I’m going next.

2021-05-04T05:53:00+09:00

title: 'Good morning Day 19'

Well it looks like someone didn’t do their job… The text written in the screenshots says I’ll be staying somewhere near a park… Which was apparently written before I had found a hotel near that location, and was probably written before I decided to stay at hotels for most nights.

2021 may 03 day 19 not updated on day by day plans

Fortunately, I do have access to this information on my phone via the magic of Google Sheets…

According to the sheet I’ll be staying at Ojiya Park Hotel in 小千谷 (おじや) .

https://goo.gl/maps/qon2wdyNcaJyGeRg6

2021-05-04T09:24:58+09:00

title: 'clay dam I think'
location: 'geo:37.2608,138.88872;u=256.5799865722656'

Clay

2021 may 03 dsc 0488

2021-05-04T10:55:27+09:00

title: 'halfway finished Day 19'
location: 'geo:37.26075,138.86893;u=13.253000259399414'

I’ve made it halfway and my feet have slight injuries like skin worn through and starting to bleed on my left foot. I should probably put on my sandals.

2021 may 03 halfway finished day 19

Here are some pics I took from inside a tunnel

2021 may 03 heading into a tunnel 2021 may 03 i helped clean the sos sign 2021 may 03 big plaque in middle of tunnel 2021 may 03 small plaque in middle of tunnel 2021 may 03 lights not very bright 2021 may 03 lights covered in dirt 2021 may 03 narrow sidewalk in tunnel

2021-05-04T11:50:16+09:00

title: 'blue sheet caught my eye'
location: 'geo:37.26102,138.86831;u=4.881699562072754'

2021 may 03 blue sheet covers a pit 2021 may 03 back hoes ready to dig 2021 may 03 clay pyramid base

2021-05-04T13:33:20+09:00

title: 'walking next to train tracks'
location: 'geo:37.28301,138.83276;u=2900'

Looking back on a nice view as I’m more than halfway done walking today.

I said hello to a guy in Japanese and he replied that he doesn’t speak English. I guess I’m not in Tokyo anymore.

2021 may 03 nice view

2021-05-04T16:56:59+09:00

title: "and that'
location: 'geo:37.31158,138.79624;u=14.218999862670898'

Canak’s Pizza
https://www.facebook.com/PIZZACANAK/

2021 may 04 canuks hand made pizza

On my way to the hotel for tonight I walked right by a pizza place but it turned out to be closed.

I searched the area for other pizza places and found one that was kind of near my hotel but the wrong side of the street by like half a kilometer so I was like nah. I ain’t walking way over there just for pizza.

So I bought some of my staple food for this journey and a convenience store and put it into my jacket pockets for consumption at the hotel.

Walking across 信濃川 (Shinano-gawa), I spent some time talking to a sweet old man who spent time telling me about the area and answering questions I had about the landscaping of the river and some of the local shrines.

He gave me two cards from the local shrine, offering one of the two and then offering both after I told him about my anti-suicide campaign of this walk.

2021 may 04 two cards front 2021 may 04 two cards back

After he left, I followed my map to the hotel but couldn’t find it. I walked around to where it seemed to be on the map and suddenly there was a pizza place.

Wow! Why wasn’t this shown on the map before?

I looked down and somehow had fat fingered the map to get myself to the pizza place from before instead of to my hotel.

Bought a large pizza of which I’ll eat half and save the rest for tomorrow.

いただきます!

Boom ate the whole thing. I was hungry!!

Day 19 was

  • Day Nineteen (Tuesday May 4th *) 1 part:
    Walk 19km, From Sudaya Inn To Ojiya Park Hotel (297km walked so far) nearly 75% complete!

Walk 19km from Sudaya Inn to Shinanogawa Kasen Park

2021 may 04 two cards front 2021 may 04 two cards back 2021 may 04 canuks hand made pizza

🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕🍕

2021 may 04 François and pizza

22 Apr 2022, 18:19

1503 Day 18 - met Kousei Mountains

2021-05-03T10:00:41+09:00

title: 'thank you Muikamacchi Hutte'
location: 'geo:37.07204,138.869;u=30.222999572753906'

Muiamacchi Hutte was a great place to stay last night and get in out of the rain. Nice clean rooms and great hot onsen.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/1YtZtkDxyAzihFXS9

2021-05-03T10:18:10+09:00

title: 'found a nice little shrine'
location: 'geo:37.07655,138.87211;u=10.861404418945312'

Found a nice little shrine

2021 may 02 small shrine with big yard 2021 may 02 something about the hand washing station 2021 may 02 hand washing thing is off

2021-05-03T10:26:34+09:00

title: 'flowers in Muikamachi'
location: 'geo:37.07783,138.87211;u=23.215999603271484'

2021 may 02 shy flower 2021 may 02 other flowers 2021 may 02 lillies maybe 2021 may 02 purple flowers

2021-05-03T10:29:21+09:00

title: 'though it''s day 18 I will walk to Day Ten City.'
location: 'geo:37.07862,138.87208;u=30.513999938964844'

Shall I walk to the mountains or to Day Ten City

2021 may 02 mountains or day ten city

2021-05-03T10:58:40+09:00

title: 'pylon with no bridge to carry'
location: 'geo:37.08489,138.87476;u=6.220832347869873'

Ready for a new highway

2021 may 02 pylon with no bridge to carry

2021-05-03T11:16:42+09:00

title: 'I just received two cans of coffee'
location: 'geo:37.08882,138.87638;u=116.0999984741211'

A couple in a small black van pass me and then stopped reversed and greeted me when I approached.

They gave me two cans of coffee from the back of their van and apologize for offering so little. I couldn’t express enough how much it meant to me; they are actually the first people to stop and offer something along the way.

Super gratitude for their gift.

2021-05-03T11:22:06+09:00

title: 'mountains seen from the side of highway 17'
location: 'geo:37.08829,138.87705;u=142.5'

Fortunately we didn’t really encounter any snow while walking through the mountains.

2021 may 02 snow covered mountains

2021-05-03T11:40:26+09:00

title: 'hello red car driver from NASPA'
location: 'geo:37.0929,138.8735;u=1200'

Before I even had time to go down the hill from where I was able to take pictures of the Japanese Alps, I saw a red car approaching so jumped out of the way but then the driver stopped and was a hey it’s me from NASPA, and I’m like oh my God hi it’s so good to see you!

She asked about Jason and I explained that he went on ahead, needing to finish the walk by the 7th of May. So from here on we are both walking separately.

She wished me good luck and went on her way.

So interesting to have so many connections happening here on this stretch of highway!

By the way, the coordinates of this entry look much more likely to be correct than on the previous two or three entries.. at least this time they’re showing me next to a highway instead of in the middle of small roads through small fields.

2021-05-03T11:43:51+09:00

title: 'Day Six City tunnel number 9'
location: 'geo:37.09335,138.87323;u=2500'

I guess I’m still in Day Six City

2021 may 02 day 6 city tunnel number 9 with mountains behind 2021 may 02 day 6 city tunnel number 9

2021-05-03T12:11:23+09:00

title: 'a peek inside a sprayer'
location: 'geo:37.10143,138.8877;u=104.0999984741211'

Cool. I found a sprayer that is a little bit ripped up so I was able to look inside..

2021 may 02 peek inside a sprayer

The coordinates of this entry look to be off again because I’m actually right next to the highway..

2021-05-03T14:03:14+09:00

title: 'cool framing of the mountains'
location: 'geo:37.13632,138.91056;u=62.98899841308594'

Walking next to a bullet train line which is the top of this picture of the mountains in the background..

2021 may 02 nice framing of the mountains

2021-05-03T14:08:28+09:00

title: 'trees both protected and trapped'
location: 'geo:37.1362,138.91034;u=54.94599914550781'

These trees seem to be protected and trapped by a fence underneath the bullet train line.

2021 may 02 protected and trapped trees 2021 may 02 protected and trapped trees close 2021 may 02 protected and trapped trees far

2021-05-03T22:15:30+09:00

title: 'add this to summary of yesterday day 18'

Just before walking under one of the snowsheds it started to hail a little bit as part of the precipitation. The hailstones were only a few millimeters across, but definitely not sleet because it wasn’t that cold.
I ate one of the hailstones and it was great. :-)

For several long barefoot segments, I was walking in the street which was much nicer than the adjacent sidewalk. I could see way down the street and move out of the way when cars came, which they rarely did because it was so rural.

image credit: IG @kousei_mountains

Just before Urasa Station, I interacted with two groups of people: two teenage Japanese boys who took pictures with me including @kousei_mountains on Instagram, and three people speaking English, but who didn’t seem interested in talking when I said hello and such. I felt a little sad because I haven’t gotten to speak much English (in person) during this trip.

Day 18 was

  • Day Eighteen (Monday May 3rd *) 1 part:
    Walk 20km, From Muikamacchi Hutte

To 須田屋旅館 Sudaya Inn (278km walked so far)

https://goo.gl/maps/GYWkWbniJ3hazKEB9

22 Apr 2022, 17:44

1502 Day 17 - Looking at Water Infrastructure

2021-05-02T09:15:52+09:00

title: 'two water pipes just north of Yuzawa'
location: 'geo:36.94433,138.801;u=50.707000732421875'

Two giant water pipes begging for me to climb them..

2021 may 01 water pipes going up the mountain

2021-05-02T09:19:32+09:00

title: 'not much building left'
location: 'geo:36.94071,138.80313;u=77.5999984741211'

Very little remains of this building but I can see stairs

2021 may 01 not much building remains

2021-05-02T10:32:58+09:00

title: 'River branching off from train tracks'
location: 'geo:36.96734,138.80151;u=149.60000610351562'

Found a nice back alley path between the highway and railroad tracks and then looking out I see the river branching out from railroad tracks which looks pretty neat..

2021 may 01 train tracks and river in the foreground 2021 may 01 mountains and clouds in the background

2021-05-02T10:53:31+09:00

title: 'swing set and manhole cover'
location: 'geo:36.97393,138.80286;u=5.0701398849487305'

2021 may 01 swing set made of scaffolding material 2021 may 01 long way around the manhole cover

2021-05-02T11:18:25+09:00

title: 'Welcome to お'
location: 'geo:36.98341,138.80441;u=4.998470783233643'

Welcome to お

2021 may 01 manhole cover o

2021-05-02T15:10:41+09:00

title: 'great Italian restaurant'
location: 'geo:37.02329,138.8359;u=16.59000015258789'

I was really happy to talk to the owner here at this restaurant because he was friendly with great smile.

2021 may 01 great italian restaurant

Day 17 was

To Muikamacchi Hutte

https://goo.gl/maps/1VKdCF6QGi7d29WD6

22 Apr 2022, 17:42

1501 Day 16 - Short Windy Day by NASPA Camp Garden

2021-05-01T12:51:34+09:00

title: 'tents at Garden Log Center'
location: 'geo:36.92678,138.81002;u=87.6500015258789'

Lots of wind buffetting these tents and inflatable tent covers

2021 apr 30 tents and covers 2021 apr 30 tent and cover

This was at NASPA Camp Garden

https://g.page/naspa-camp-garden?share

2021-05-01T14:15:13+09:00

title: 'Finished Day 16'

Day Sixteen was relatively short, and our last short walking day. This was the day I wore my SOGO shirt and ran across the side of a dam in a damn beautiful area.

The onsen at Hirokawa is large warm, and covered in cool tiles of varying sizes. Very nicely done!

Walk 07km from Kagura White Horse Inn to echigo yuzawa Hirokawa

20 Apr 2022, 13:16

Barefoot play in grass by the sea in Rinko Park, Yokohama

rinko park

Refresh your spirit. Touch the earth. Touch the sea. Connect with yourself and nature.

Barefoot walking, breathing, enjoying fresh sea breeze.

Where

Saturday 21 May 2022, 13:00

Circular space in Rinko Park in Yokohama, next to Rinko Park Arch Bridge.

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Details

Enjoy Nature

Rinko Park features large grassy open spaces surrounded by trees, plus concrete steps, walkways, and a bridge, great for experiencing many surfaces barefoot.

Enjoy Connection

Enjoy connection to yourself and our community. Share new experiences with like-minded others.

Enjoy the present moment by settling into your the motions of your body, one breath and one step at a time.

What to Expect:

  • I will talk about how to safely walk barefoot.
  • We will feel grass, concrete, and sea breeze.
  • Let’s enjoy discovering the park together!
  • If the weather is nice, bring lunch to enjoy in the park!

To receive the latest updates, join our LINE group!

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Donation:

500 yen

What to bring

Lunch if you’d like to join us for lunch!

Anything else you need to take care of yourself.

No need for a shoe bag; we’ll be walking in sight of our belongings.

Self care is important, so wear shoes whenever you need to!

Covid Considerations

You know the situation. I know you have thought about it and I trust you to make a good decision for yourself. If you want a group with masks, I recommend https://www.meetup.com/tokyospontaneous

19 Apr 2022, 12:17

Full Moon Barefoot Walk on Moonday near BLUE Cafe

barefoot walking under full moon promo me and mamiko

Enjoy the night air. Enjoy moonlight. Touch the earth. Connect with nature. Connect with friends.

Enjoy chatting and barefoot walking on the full moon night. Share beautiful experiences with like-minded friends!

We’ll also share some quiet time in prayer under the full moon.

When

Monday 16 May 2022, gather at 19:45; walk toward Tama River at 20:00

Where

Meeting Spot #1 by the benches near Izumi-Tamagawa station https://goo.gl/maps/4yh8TLgADixQYnzU8

2021 aug 16 izumi tamagawa meeting spot

Meeting Spot #2 by baseball fields by Tama River below Odakyu rail line https://goo.gl/maps/2Ysk1D4EWmc41q3k7 (on the Tokyo side of the river)

2021 aug 16 tama river odakyu line setagaya

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Details

Enjoy moonlight

Weather permitting, we’ll be bathed in moonlight while enjoying the grassy field with bare feet!

Enjoy Grass

We’ll relax in a lovely grass baseball field next to Tama River.

Enjoy Breathing

Get away from it all by settling into your being and noticing the motions of your body, one breath and one step at a time.

19:45 Meet at Izumi-Tamagawa Station near benches https://goo.gl/maps/4yh8TLgADixQYnzU8

19:55: Walk toward Tama River

The grass is nice for walking and relaxing. Enjoy the light of the full moon.

To receive the latest updates, join our LINE group!

line qr code

Donation:

500 yen

What to bring

Whatever you need to take care of yourself. Probably should bring a jacket because the weather is getting cooler. Bring lightweight shoes for the short (~5 minute) walk to the river. Watch for little rocks!

Self care is important, so wear shoes whenever you need to!

Covid Considerations

You know the situation. I know you have thought about it and I trust you to make a good decision for yourself. If you want a group with masks, I recommend https://www.meetup.com/tokyospontaneous