Bamboo Samurai ~developing craftsmanship culture and coexisting with bamboo forests~

6/3 Great news here!

2011-06-03T00:44:00.000-07:00

Hi, everyone.
Great news here!
http://www.amazon.co.jp/%E4%B8%AD%E5%AD%A6%E5%8F%97%E9%A8%93%E7%AE%97%E6%95%B0%E3%83%BB%E6%9D%B1%E5%A4%A7%E5%8D%92%E3%83%97%E3%83%AD%E5%AE%B6%E5%BA%AD%E6%95%99%E5%B8%AB%E3%81%8C%E3%82%84%E3%81%95%E3%81%97%E3%81%8F%E6%95%99%E3%81%88%E3%82%8B%E3%80%8C%E5%89%B2%E5%90%88%E3%80%8D%E3%82%AD%E3%82%BD%E3%81%AE%E3%82%AD%E3%82%BD%EF%BC%88%E4%BB%AE%EF%BC%89-YELL-books-%E5%B0%8F%E6%9D%89%E6%8B%93%E4%B9%9F/dp/4753930475/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1307086598&sr=1-1
One of my friends has just published his own book for the first time! The happiest day for me. Please join us in wishing his great success and extending your support to help him succeed in his life! Does the book made form bamboo? Oh I don't know...But wish! Tyo Cool!

Regards, Takashi 2011/June 3 in Japan time, Yokohama.

3/12 Earthquake

2011-03-11T22:57:00.000-08:00

3/12 Fine day, 0miles, Komae, Tokyo

The number of vistims, Earthquake and Tsunami is gradually increased. 200 over now..Also the scene of damaged place by Tsunami is so terrible. And many aftershocks still continue.
Bamboo Samurai donated US $10 to fund-raising project to help them on Facebook, Help Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami Victims", http://www.causes.com/campaigns/154523
Takashi 2011/3/12 @Komae, Tokyo

3/11 Earthquake

2011-03-11T08:17:00.000-08:00

3/11 Fine day, 0mile, Keio University

There was an earthquake in Japan around 3p.m. magnitude 8.8. At that time I studied in a classroom of University. When I rushed/ escaped out from university, the bridge trembled and almost was destroyed. All trains around Tokyo did not work, so I walked toward home, took about 4 hours. I was tired. I just called my family, friends, they are all fine. But terrible situation there are in Japan, particularly north east of Japan, Miyagi, Iwate, Fukushima.
Takashi 2011/3/11

3/11 Cafe Restaurant HACHIKUYA ~カフェレストラン淡竹屋~

2011-03-10T20:27:00.000-08:00

3/11 Fine day, 0mile, Keio University, Kanagawa

I introduce an unique restaurant in Shizuoka, Japan today.
The name is "Cafe Restaurant HACHIKUYA ", have already new-opened on January 21,2011!

In this restaurant there are many bamboo products; bamboo charcoal, bamboo chair, bamboo floor, bamboo powder..etc. You can see, touch, feel those bamboo!
And there are some bamboo foods; bamboo sausage, bamboo cookie, etc. Also you can eat some vegetables and foods brought up by bamboo powders as a fertilizer, as a feed. You can eat, taste those bamboo!
You must be relaxed in this cafe restaurant with tyo many bamboo!
,feel good with bamboo atmosphere!

If you have time, you can check "Cafe Restaurant HACHIKUYA" information by these websites as follows,
http://www2.bbweb-arena.com/hachiku3/NEWhachikuya/
http://hachikuya.hamazo.tv/

P.S. Bamboo Samurai visited HACHIKUYA last summer, 2010 with bamboo bike. I and bamboo bike stayed one night there. We were helped so much by them. Thanks.

Takashi 2011/3/11@Keio University, Kanagawa

Airing on TV (Cycloimage, CycloChannel)

2011-03-10T18:24:00.000-08:00

3/11 Fine day, 0mile, Keio University, Kanagawa

Update Bamboo Samurai's video on CycloChannel website!

Part1
https://www.cycloch.net/main.html#/movie/view/5502

Part2
https://www.cycloch.net/main.html#/movie/view/5503

Takashi 2011/3/11@Hiyoshi, Keio University

2/27 late but fun!

2011-02-26T22:31:00.000-08:00

2/27, Fine day, @Komae, 0miles

It is fine day today at Tokyo. Today TV in house is wrong, so my aunt and I and Chibi(dog) can not watch TV both on Today and tomorrow....
I have spent writing thesis of business school all day. I am late that other students, but I enjoy writing thesis with remembering journey in Japan, United States, have already written 677 pages of thesis..., with listening music of Leona Lewis! British singer, one of my favorite pop singers, with eating Bentoh! (photo) If it is possible, I want this thesis, or diary of journey with bamboo bike to be a book.

Takashi 2011/2/27 @Komae

2/17 join in a conference ~Bamboo Cafe in Kyoto~

2011-02-18T00:05:00.000-08:00

2/17 Rain, 0mile, Imadegawa, Kyoto

Bamboo bike stayed at my aunt's house in Tokyo, I visited Doshisya University of Imadegawa, Kyoto on 17 Feb, today to join a conference related to bamboo, "Bamboo Cafe in Kyoto". It was rainy day, a little cold. I arrived at Kyoto after 6 month abstinence. Bamboo Cafe was founded 3 years ago, is a platform to discuss about overpopulated bamboo forests in Japan with some organizations, experts. Today's conference was held between 3p.m. and 9p.m.

I talked about my journey with bamboo bike in a conference. This experience was good for me and bamboo bike. And there was an important suggestion about safety problem of durability about bamboo bike.

In that conference I drank hot tea, ate curry. That tea smelled very sweet, like an apple.

In a latter half of conference there was a lecture about traditional Japanese design related in life style using bamboo. I understood that design was complicated work related to old art works, life style, Japanese old poem, craftsmanship, finance. Professor said that design was called in Italy as a work by King or God. Cool. And furthermore I heard 2 interesting stories. One was related to situation, another was image. In Japanese traditional design works every creatures head to left from right, means move towards left side. And head light of Toyota Lexus was inspired by eyes of Japanese old Buddhist statue, "Niou-san". Niou-san is powerful statue and very known in Japan. I have known those things for the first time. Cool. Takashi 2011/2/17 @Imadegawa, Kyoto

2/11 Mahogany bike

2011-02-12T04:04:00.000-08:00

2/11 Snow day, 0mile, Shin-Kiba, Tokyo

Today it snowed in Tokyo, it was beautiful to see snow on the roof of houses, cars. It was very cold and saw my breath occurred white from my mouth. Because I caught a cold today, a little more I felt colder, maybe.. Also today is a holiday, National Foundation Day".
Today I was invited by my friend, Fred to meet Sano who made mahogany bikes, his company "Sanomagic".
In Japan trip with bamboo bike last August I got kind e-mail from him, he was the first bamboosero's bamboo bike rider in Japan. I am the second, also I met a gentleman in Hiroshima who was the third bamboo bike rider in Japan. Strange bamboo band~~! Isn't it?~~

I saw 3 mahogany bikes, awesome beautiful! This mahogany bike was displayed at Euro bike.
Sano makes these bikes by his own hands, originally he makes wooden boats. And Fred brought his own bamboo bike, which was made from bamboo in Kyoto, Japan, so he put his bamboo bike side by mahogany bikes. 4 natural material bikes there were, cool~.

He was so kind that I got a chance to ride on a mahogany bike, weighed very light, felt as if I were flying while riding, easy to pedal.
Sano told us about the spirits of craftsmanship, his passion to make products, competitiveness of Japan, his theory to make mahogany bike. I felt strong emotion to listen his story.
I got great experiences today, Thank you Sano san, Fred!

Takashi 2011/2/11 @Shin-Kiba

2/10 busy in re-writing thesis

2011-02-10T11:18:00.000-08:00

2/10, Fine day, 0mile, Komae-city

In Tokyo, fine days has been continued these days, I also have spent busy days in re-writing thesis. I completed summary of thesis, and now writing contents of thesis. The theme of my thesis is "Public relations and Analysis of business model of Bamboo Samurai, a social enterprise solves neglected bamboo forests. - carrying out and analysis of extreme event, cross Japan and United States with bamboo bike- "

I sleep in a room of my school, I may have to bring a sleeping bag into this room~-~..

Next week I will visit Doshisha University in Kyoto and will do presentation about my journey in United States with bamboo bike there. Takashi 2010/2/10 @Komae-city

1/26 A front-page of newspaper

2011-01-26T08:41:00.000-08:00

1/26 Fine day, 0mile, Komae-city

("Japanese bicyclist arrives in Brooklyn", Mountain Democrat Newspaper, Dec 31, 2010)

Tyo happy! I reaceived a newspaper from Placerville, California tonight. I and bamboo bike appeared on a front-page of that newspaper with New Year celebration 2011! At Placerville I home-stayed at a house of "cool lady" 's with Ben and bamboo bikes. At that wonderful night she played "Orinoco Flow" with piano for us. Also we drank some beers,"Coors light" together and took great rest with talking and spent one of the happiest time.

("Japanese bicyclist arrives in Brooklyn", Mountain Democrat Newspaper, Dec 31, 2010)

An additional story about us there is now. On January 24, 2011, when I appeared on Japanese radio, "Flowers", I asked the director of that radio program to play "Orinoco Flow"as a good memory in United States. He was so kind and excited that he played "Orinoco Flow" on that radio program. Cool. thanks.

("Japanese bicyclist arrives in Brooklyn", a front-page of Mountain Democrat Newspaper, Dec 31 , 2010)

("Japanese bicyclist arrives in Brooklyn", A-14 of Mountain Democrat Newspaper, Dec 31, 2010)

Takashi 2011/1/26 @Komae-city

1/24 appear on Japanese radio, "Flowers"

2011-01-24T01:11:00.000-08:00

1/24 Fine day, 0mile, Hanzoumon

("Tokyo FM building", Japan FM networks, Flowers)

There has been no rained these days in Tokyo..
On January 24, I appeared on Japanese radio program, "Flowers", via Japan FM networks, which locates near Hanzoumon sta., Tokyo. I talked to Eiko Matsumoto, D.J., a famous singer, about my activity with bamboo bike. Her voice is tyo clear, transparent, pretty, beautiful, if you have time, please listen her songs, one of her beautiful songs, "Squall", tyo good!. On that radio, we talked about, "what is bamboo bike?", "how was homestay in United States?", "What is donation project?"..etc. I was tyo happy to talk these things, because of promotion of bamboo bike, bamboo, kind people, friends met in United States, donation project. Also thank you so much, Eiko Matsumoto-san, staffs of "Flowers".
My donation project, is "Bamboo Samurai for Glide Church", plans to donate 4 bamboo plants and 20-25 bamboo dining bowls and plates to church in San Francisco, please join us, also please donate, thanks, keep going. Takashi 2011/1/24 @Hanzoumon

1/22 special meeting with Ashoka Japan, a request from another Japanese radio program

2011-01-22T00:37:00.000-08:00

1/22 Fine day, 10miles, Komae-city

("JR Ebisu station, Tokyo")

On January 17, I was invited to the debuts press interview of Ashoka Japan, there I handed out presentation data of Bamboo Samurai's activity to the staff of Ashoka Japan. Ashoka is a fund which invests to individuals who contribute to solve social problem in the world. Cool. This special meeting also wonderful experience were tyo happy and very proudful for me and bamboo bike, hoping from their contacts in the future, Bamboo Samurai will keep going, keep going. Thank you so much for everyone who have been supporting me and bamboo bike, keep going with friends.

("Bill Drayton, debuts press interview of Ashoka Japan")

After that meeting I met Ben strong at Ebisu, Japan, Ebisu is a famous place for beer brewing in Japan, "Ebisu beer" is one of the most famous beer in Japan. Ben, who is a staff of VIA, traveled with bamboo bike together in California, so kind that he taught me English, how to cook, how to camp in the beginning of our journey, also sent me his bamboo bike after accident(my first bamboo bike was broken at that accident). I enjoyed eating Vietnam foods with him and his friends in Ebisu. Thank you Ben.
Yesterday, 1/21 I got an application of Ph.D of mechanical engineering of Doshisha University, have to prepare for the entrance exam held on Feb 18, to make bamboo bike by myself.

("Chibi")

Yesterday I also received a request to live appearance of Japanese radio program, wow! The program is "Flowers", via Japanese FM networks, by DJ Eiko Matsumoto, a famous singer. On that radio I will talk about some stories that I and bamboo bike were helped, supported by many people whom we met in the journey of United States. "Flowers" will set to some radio stations in Japan from Monday to Thursday 13:30-16:45, each frequency you can check via this site, Bamboo Samurai will set to air on 1/24 15:20-15:40, if you have time, please listen, stay tune, thanks. Takashi 2011/1/22 @Komae-city, Tokyo

1/16 from a classroom of University KEIO

2011-01-15T21:35:00.000-08:00

1/16 Fine day, 0miles, @Keio University, Hiyoshi

("Chochin" Bamboo in Japan, Nancy Moore Bess)

Now I stay in a classroom of Keio University, my school. Yesterday, I finished doing presentation of University, that presentation reported about bamboo products, bamboo in Japan and journey with bamboo bike. In that happy presentation there were some laughter, serious suggestions. After presentation my professor said to me, "exciting presentation". Now I feel a sense of relief. And Bamboo Samurai was aired to Japanese radio, INTERFM 76.1, "Concerned Generation" yesterday, listened with my aunt at home, I felt tyo happy. The next airing will set to next Saturday 16:30-17:00 via INTERFM 76.1, "Concerned Generation. Tomorrow a prayer-for-debuts press interview of "Ashoka Japan" will be held, Bamboo Samurai is very glad to be invited to that event, may get chance to talk Bill Drayton, CEO of Ashoka, so now I prepare another presentation to them in a classroom of Keio University. These 2 photos "tyo-chin" and "new species of insect found in Papua New Guinea", I used in my presentation of University yesterday.

("New species from New Guinea", cosmiclog on msnbc.com)

Bamboo Samurai next Airing to radio, 2011/1/22 16:30-17:00 via INTERFM 76.1
(!st airing will repeat on 1/19 23:00-23:30 via INTERFM76.1)
Takashi 2011/1/16 @KEIO University

1/13 prepare for presentation of thesis

2011-01-12T09:51:00.000-08:00

1/13 Fine day, 10miles @Komae city

(Airing on Japanese TV", Cycloimage, Cyclochannel)

There are 2 latest information of Bamboo Samurai, as follows.

1."Airing on radio", on January 15, 16:30-17:00, via "Concerned Generation" of INTERFM 76.1 in Japan,
Bamboo Samurai will appear on the radio next time, if you have time, get interested in this activity, please listen, thanks.

2."Bamboo Samurai for Glide Memorial Church", on facebook causes,
17members have already joined into this projetct, also $50 has been already donated, thanks.

Bamboo Samurai continues fund-raising via this project on facebook and plans to donate some bamboo product to Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco, if you get interested in this project, please join us, donate to this project, help me to promote this project.
This project is to raise awareness of Eco friendly living. Bamboo Samurai plans to donate some bamboo plants and bamboo dining bowls and plates. Bamboo plants will be planted inside that Glide church and bamboo dining bowls and plates will be used in the kitchen of that Glide church.

("Hanukkah party")

For these days I spend busy days to prepare for presentation of thesis held in Keio University on January 15. In spite of that days, I enjoyed riding on bamboo bike2 around Komae-city, enjoyed reading some books, novels/poems of Edgar Poe, novels of Seityo Matsumoto, Koji Suzuki. The time with bamboo bike2, also reading those novels/poems provide me concentration and peace time, have finished these novels/poems as follows these days.

・A Descent into the Maelstrom by Edgar Poe
・William Wilson by Edgar Poe
・The Gold Bag by Edgar Poe
・The Fall of the House of Usher, some poems by Edgar Poe
・Point and Line by Seityo Matsumoto
・Howl of Steel by Koji Suzuki
Takashi 2011/1/13 @Komae city, Tokyo

1/11 watched my documentary aired on TV in Japan

2011-01-10T08:30:00.000-08:00

1/11 Fine day, 10miles, Komae-city

("Airing on Japanese TV", Cycloimage, Cyclochannel)

I watched documentary film aired on BS-TBS, "Ginrin no Kaze" on January 10, 23:30-24:00 with my aunt. That film was tyo cool, in that film there were many scenery in Japan, United States, Golconda, New York, also in Kentucky. I felt nostalgia for United States, Golconda, many many cities which I visited with bamboo bike again. I felt gratitude for everyone whom we met in United States, also in Japan again. Thank you so much, my friends! And I got power from this film. Also I should say thank you so much for Hiro who produced this film. Hiro was so earnest that did such this tyo great work. Hiro is a good cameraman, editor,also journalist, I think. Thank you so much, Hiro! After talking to Hiro, and his company, I will/want to post this film on this blog.

Next airing, On radio in Japan, INTERFM 76.1, "Concerned Generation"

1st: 1/15 16:30-17:00 (repeat 1/19 23:00-23:30)
2nd: 1/22 16:30-17:00 (repeat 1/26 23:00-23:30)

If you have time, interested in, please listen with me and bamboo bike!

("A beautiful painting painted by Wang Mancheng")

Takashi 2011/1/11 @Komae-city

1/10 Airing on TV in Japan

2011-01-09T20:01:00.000-08:00

My documentary will set to air today, January 10, via Japanese TV, if you have time, or interested in this activity, please watch this program as follows!

2011 January 10, BS-TBS, 23:30-24:00, "Ginrin no Kaze"

P.S. After airing I will try to post that video up this blog
Takashi 2011/1/10 @Komae

1/8 hand out thesis, took part in radio

2011-01-07T23:39:00.000-08:00

1/8 Cloudy day, 0miles, @Komae city

I already moved to Komae city, Tokyo 3 days ago. Also bamboo bike arrived at Tokyo 2 days ago. I handed out thesis for University on January 6, but there are some parts to correct in that thesis, so I have been spending busy days to write thesis, read reference books for this January, February, March. It is cold but does not snow in Tokyo. 2 days ago, on January 6, I took part in a radio program as a guest, "Concerned Generation", on INTER FM 76.1MHz. I talked about my journey with bamboo bike in United States, also about neglected bamboo forests in Japan on that radio program. It was the first experience to visit radio station for me, so it was fun to me. That "talk show" on that radio, will set on air divided into 2 parts, the first will set to air on 1/15 4:30p.m. - 5:00p.m., the second will set to air on 1/22 4:30p.m. to 5:00 p.m., both on INTER FM 76.1MHz. If you have time, please listen!

("In InterFM studio")

("Angel teddy pan", Rira kuma, Mr. doughnut)

On this week also, I have to prepare for presentation of thesis on January 15 in Keio University.

My documentary will set to air, please watch, please listen!
On TV: 1/10 23:30 - 24:00, BS- TBS, "Ginrin no Kaze"
On radio: 1/15 16:30 - 17:00, FM76.1MHz, "Concerned Generation"
   (repeated on 1/19 23:00-23:30, FM76.1MHz, "Concerned Generation")
   1/22 16:30 - 17:00, FM76.1MHz, "Concerned Generation")
   (repeated on 1/26 23:00-23:30, FM76.1MHz, "Concerned Generation"

Takashi, 2011/1/8 @Komae, Tokyo

2011.1.1. Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T15:56:00.000-08:00

2011.1.1 Fine day, Osaka, 0miles

Hello,My friends, Happy New Year! (Akemashite Omedeto Gozaimasu! in Japanese)

I spent this happy time, New year with my family, drink "Sake" at morning, afternoon, also night, ate traditional foods, "Osechi". This year is "rabbit year" in Japan. I took some photos of rabbit in a zoo. Pretty. Takashi 2011.1.1 @Osaka

12/29 the Winter solstice

2010-12-28T20:25:00.000-08:00

12/29, Fine day, Kumatori-town, Osaka, 10miles

I start fund-raising on “facebook causes” to raise awareness Eco friendly life more by providing some bamboo products. I want to donate some bamboo gardens and bamboo bowls and plates to the Glide Memorial Church, a nonprofit organization in San Francisco, visited this March under ESI program which VIA provided, gave me an inspiration to start my journey cross country United States with bamboo bike.

Bamboo garden: I want to purchase 4 bamboo gardens from Bamboo Giant, located in Santa Cruz, visited on Sep 8 2010 with bamboo bike, a partner on this donation project, they will give 25% discount on any and all bamboo gardens which I purchase from them. These bamboo gardens will go on display in “the creative space” of Glide Memorial Church which is a very pleasant small gallery used for glide's members and guest art exhibits. The room has high ceiling (12-15 feet high), and uses lots of recycled and renewable materials, including bamboo flooring.

Bamboo bowls and plates: I want to purchase 20-25 bamboo bowls and plates from any company. These bamboo bowls and plates will be used to provide cooking classes to neighbors in the community about improving diets through cooking healthier meals using local ingredients in "the new demonstration kitchen" of Glide Memorial Church.

On Dec 22, this day is called “Touji” in Japan, the winter solstice, on this day night time is longest in a year (also day time is shortest in a year). And there are some traditions on that day in Japan, some people put some Citrus junos into a bath, and take such bath, also eat pumpkin. I took a bath with 3 Citrus junos, also ate pumpkin. Now in Osaka, my hometown, it is getting colder, it had already snowed a little twice, not covered the ground. I spend wonderful time with my family. Takashi 2010/12/29 @Kumatori, Osaka

12/22 Thesis hour, prepare for back to Hometown

2010-12-21T11:17:00.000-08:00

12/22 Rain day, Komae city, 10miles

After back to Japan, busy days have been continued in school, reading documents, also writing thesis. This week I passed delayed midterm examination of thesis. Because of bamboo bike-journey for 3 month in United States, I was delayed compared to other classmates as concerns writing thesis. Though I was permitted to postpone to hand out thesis for midterm exam by school, this week I passed midterm exam 2 month later than the other classmates. But I feel good to pass midterm exam this week, also I got many e-mails from my friends whom I met in journey in United States, also who are readers of this blog! Tyo happy, thank you so much, my frineds!
We business students in Keio University, must pass 3 steps of examination, first step is "proposal exam", second step is "midterm exam", and the last step is "accomplish, announcement". My next step is the "last step", due date will be January 6 to accomplish writing (the first) thesis (after January 6, I will be able to add writing till the end of March), and hand out. Furthermore, due date will be January 15 to announce, do presentation to the other classmates and students.
My theme is "Considering of a business model of bamboo bike and verify an effectiveness of bamboo bike for bamboo business in Japan as a marketing tower". I will write good thesis using many experiences and interviews which many people gave/ inspired me, also many experiences I have had traveled with bamboo bike.

Every early morning since back to Japan, I have gone outside with bamboo bike, enjoyed biking. Recently, I enjoyed climbing a short-uphill three time a day which located in Seijo, Tokyo. This uphill locates near my house, very short(about 170feet long) but it let me remind a uphill in Missouri. So I climb this uphill with enormous power three times in a row. Good feeling, as if I saw the colorful trees in Missouri.

Also recently I like to listen songs of John Mayer. Particularly, I like to listen, "Heartbreak Warfare", "Half of My Heart", and "War of My Life". His voice is in an undertone, keep in low key, so there are little rising and falling of tones, but his voice contains a sense of peace, a sense of grief, a sense of nostalgia, his voice let me feel so. Cool. My recent favorite.

My friend whom I met in Bryce Canyon sent me some photos and e-mail this week, I felt tyo happy because that day when I and he biked together around Bryce Canyon, was one of the most impressive, happiest day of journey, also he taught me how to ride bike. I show some photos, which were taken in Utah, wide-scaled beautiful scenery, great Utah, and I got tanned much...

I bought one book about bamboo to study how bamboo has been introduced to international, the title is "bamboo in japan". There are many photograph in this book, also many bamboo products are introduced attached with photos. Bamboo products which I have not yet known are also introduced, for example, bamboo dolls and chochin(lantern). I felt strong emotion to see photos of beautiful bamboo crafts, bamboo basketry, bamboo garden, bamboo architecture, bamboo umbrella, bamboo lantern, bamboo kite, bamboo doll, bamboo fence, bamboo fishing pole, many many. This book let me remind that I am Japanese, let me feel beauty of bamboo, let me feel Japanese life long long ago(nostalgia), let me feel beauty of Japan, this book inspires me much. (bamboo bike is not yet introduced in this book...will be on the next edition?!)

(bamboo in Japan, Nancy Moore Bess)

About my "Bamboo Donation project", I already contacted some partners to support me.
Also I am constructing "causes" on Facebook, to fund-raise. I plant to donate to Glide Church some bamboo plants inside the church, and 20-25 bamboo diningwares in the kitchen of the chuch which provides cooking classes to neighbors in the community about improving diets through cooking healthier meals using local ingredients.
"Bamboo Doanation project", After accomplishing journey, I am proceeding a project now, I plan to donate some bamboo plants and some bamboo dinningwares to Glide Church in San Francisco in March to raise awareness Eco-friendly life more after fundraising term (Christmas to end of February).

(bamboo in Japan, Nancy Moore Bess)

Tonight I will go back to hometown, Osaka by bus. Bamboo bike2 already shipped to Osaka yesterday. We will stay in Osaka with my parents both during year-end and new year, looking forward to seeing, also we will enjoy biking around in Osaka area. Have a wonderful Christmas, my friends! It rains heavy in Tokyo, this early morning.

P.S. BS-TBS「銀輪の風」2011/1/10 23:30-24:00において、私と竹自転車のドキュメンタリーが放送されます。ぜひ、ご覧下さい

2010/12/22 @Tokyo

12/16 Jet lag, also recent circumstances with bamboo bike

2010-12-17T11:59:00.000-08:00

12/16 Fine day, around Komae city 10miles

Jet lag has been suffered me, suddenly I felt sleepiness, sometimes I felt sleepiness during the day, sometimes I felt strong sleepiness after lunch andd dinner, also sometimes still woke up early morning, 1:30a.m.,2:30a.m.,3:30a.m. Oops... I stayed as if I was still in United States.

Since back to Japan I have cooked own breakfast. I cooked "My aunt morning special" every morning.
the recipe; 1/2 tomato, 1 egg, 3 sausages, 1/2 avocado, a bunch of onion, a bunch of cheese, on the bagel. I ate 4 bagels every morning. My aunt taught me this recipe the next day of arrival at her home in Tokyo. I enjoyed myself cooking breakfast much, also it tasted tyo delicious. Will I challenge to cook lunch? dinner? hmm..of course!

Since arriving back at Japan,I and bamboo bike2 continue to run together around Komae city in Tokyo, for a few hours every early morning. We have often run along a river, the Nogawa River, there I can see some water birds, see steam rising from the face of the river, also beautiful sunrise, and Mt.Fuji. I enjoyed biking with bamboo bike2 also in Tokyo. Tokyo was not so cold yet compared to in Illinois, Kentucky, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York.
Yesterday I met Hiro, who works at Japanese media company and has been taking video of my journey with bamboo bike. I met him and cameraman in Shinjuku, one of the biggest district in Tokyo, I was interviewed and taken video there by him. After that we ate dinner. Hiro is working a documentary about "Bamboo bike and me" since this August. Today's shooting and interview were the last ones. He will accomplish that documentary soon, also that video produced by him will be set on air on January 10,2011, at 23:30-24:00, BS-TBS, in Japan. Also that video will be his first work of his career. I am feeling happy to appear on his first screen. Of course, I and bamboo bike are looking forward to seeing that video.

Video
2011/Junuary 10, 23:30-24:00, BS-TBS, "Ginrin no Kaze"
http://www.bs-tbs.co.jp/app/program_details/index/SPT0601900

coming soon, set on air,

Also I am constructing fundraising system via "causes" on facebook for my Bamboo donation.
I want to donate bamboo plants and bamboo dinningwares to church in San Francisco with my gratitude. Also I am writing thesis of University for graduation, and must study for an admission examination. Also in Japan there is a traditional ceremony in December, "Bonen Kai", this is a party, to eat nice foods, drink beer, Sake, talk about the happening which ocurred in this year 2010, and to welcome New Year. Depend on individuals, Japanese people usually participate in "Bonen Kai" 2 or 3 times in December, some people more times. I also must participate this party this year.

With Samsoon pig, this pig is tyo pretty, which appeared in Korean TV drama, "My lovely Samsoon", one of my favorite drama. Whenever I see this pig, that let me feel peace, let me forget busy time.

Takashi 2010/12/16 @Komae-city

12/9 @Komae City ~face for next phase~

2010-12-13T18:27:00.000-08:00

Fine day, Komae City

I stayed at my home in Tokyo today, enjoyed talking to my aunt, and playing with "Chibi", "Nisuke". Early morning I woke up and I put belongings in order partly. At 5:30a.m. I and my aunt gathered in a dinning room and talked about my journey, latest Japanese news. I saw Mt.Fuji, the highest mountain, on the top of mountain there was snow, beautiful mountain.
I felt peace, calm, the beauty with seeing Mt.Fuji. Because I have not climb Mt.Fuji, so I want to climb Mt.Fuji during staying in Tokyo. (climb with bamboo bike? yeah, of course, I am considering.)

Because my hair has been long (for 3 month, hair has grown), I went to a beauty salon near home in Komae city. After lunch, I felt sleepiness suddenly, so took nap. Evening, bamboo bike2 was delivered to home from airport. Bamboo bike2 stayed in a room adjacent my room with a wardrobe, stored foods, cleaners, umbrellas. Bamboo bike2 was injured at some points, pedal, wire of rear durailleur right side front carrier and hundlebar. Pedal, toe clip of right leg was broken, so I could not hold right leg, Wire was cut off, could not change gear of rear durailleur, screw was broken in half, could not put bag on, handlebar bent.
"Good work, bamboo bike2" I said. Bamboo bike seemed to be very tired to me. "OK, please take rest, and sleep well, and I will take you to bike shop soon this weekend, I am sorry, bamboo bike2"

After meeting with bamboo bike2, I prepared for tomorrow's class of University. I must write thesis facing for graduation in March. Though I am late compared with other classmates, many experiences, interviews in this trip will support me. And I will take admission examination of Ph.D of mechanical engineering of Doshisha University in February, to make bamboo bike by my hands, by myself. I and bamboo bike2 put our first foot and pedal to the second phase since today. Suddenly, I felt sleepiness again... Oops...maybe...jet lag...Good sle...e...p... Takashi 2010/12/9 @Komae City

12/7 Flight

2010-12-10T18:03:00.000-08:00

12/7 from JFK airport, New York, to Narita airport, Tokyo by airplane

I woke up 5:00a.m. and changed clothes, prepared for departure quickly. I ate New York style breakfast, bagel with swiss cheese and some coffee, with Helena, Mansheng, Chloe, Despite of early morning, Helena, Mansheng and Chloe got up and ate breakfast with, for me, thank you so much. Helena showed me some bamboo related issues and social enterprise related issues for me.
Aroud car service came in front of house, I must go. At the last day of this trip, I was tyo happy and glad to stay here in Dobbs Ferry with Helena, Mansheng, and Chloe who had high green conscious, and kindness. With them, I had precious time, also I used some bamboo products, saw bamboo products, and felt artistic atmosphere. Thank you so much.
I said bye-bye to Helena, Mansheng, Chloe.

Car servise drove good, though there were many cars on the road, traffic jam did not occur. I saw the stadium of New York Mets, the office of New York Times, and the high buildings on the right side. I arrived at JFK airport at 8:20a.m. Finishing taking steps to departure's process at Korean Air, I spend time calling Ben Strong, and Ben Walker. Though my charge remained only $4.40, I could talk to them. (After call, the remaining charge was only 0.20$! Thank you my mobile phone, I was helped by mobile phone many times.)
Departure time: 12:45 from JFK, arrived at Narita, Tokyo at 20:45. In the airplane I spent time to read some magazines, a book "God and the businessman", and wrote diary. I ate in-flight meal, three times, the first was "Bibimpa", the second was fish, the third was chicken. Bibimpa was good.

I arrived at Narita, Tokyo, it was already dark, there were little people in airport. Japan, for the first time in 3 months. I called my parents, aunt and fiance. I left bamboo bike2 and some belongings in delivery service and took bus. Bus carried me to Shinjuku, busy town, saw many people in streets. I took train and arrived at home in Tokyo at 11:30p.m.

My aunt, "Chibi" and "Nisuke" waited for me and aunt cooked some hot delicious foods for me.
Chibi jumped toward me, I felt happy. " Hey, Chibi, you remember me, thank you!" I and aunt talked about a story of journey till 2:00a.m...the continuation of a story will be talked for some time, for some days, in dinning room.

I want to reply some questions partly from media on this blog as follows,

1."How is the feeling now?"

Tyo good, I feel happy each time when I remember each time, each place, each people in journey.
I think bamboo bike2 also feel so.

2."How do you think the riding in New York?"

Heavy traffic in downtown gave me some stress, but there were some wonderful places and bike trails, these gave me good feeling, I felt fun.
Particularly the time passing on the G.W.Bridge with bamboo bike2 has been precious for me, and also a treasure of mine in the future. And the north area, Yonkers, Dobbs Ferry were good place for biking, little cars, some good hills.

3."What have you learned in this trip?"

Many things... about bike, touring (what is important in bike touring?), how to bike fix, camping, equipments, how to cook, scenery, Christianity, language, local language, local food, Venison, Deer hunt, Halloween night, Thanksgiving day, of course local beer. Many many... I can pull out one after another. The most impressive thing I have learned...is the hospitality of American people, that is wonderful, I felt strong emotion, never forget their kindness.

4."What supproted you in this trip?"

Parents, fiance, aunt, bamboo bike, Ben Strong, Ben Kyler, Ben Walker, Lew Legacy, Dorothy, Cathy, David Cuzy, Kristen, Brian, Michael, Alek, Deno, Patrick, Ellen, Helen...many many many....also car drivers on the road...many many many...
And also "the God of bamboo" or "the God of United States" or "the God", I am feeling so now. I want to study about Christianity and Buddhism more.

5. "How will you run your business?"

Samurai Spirit, Aspiration, Passion, Braveness, Just do it. Never give up, Poweufulness, Business skill, and with bamboo bike, with Japanese bamboo, with world's bamboo, with people who support us, I will learn about bike, bamboo bike and bamboo, hospitality, how to contribute to society in both my following journey of 7 continents with bamboo bike and in lifelong study.

The last question, from me, to myself, I questioned to myself, it was the last question of this journey,

"What is the attractiveness of bamboo bike? How is the feeling?"

Lovely.
Without bamboo bike, I am not here. Bamboo bike gave me numerous chanses to meet wonderful people to have precious time, to see numerous stars, and taught me about bike, touring bike, how to bike fix, how to pack. Bamboo bike will give me precious chances in the future, too. I love bamboo bike. The difference between bamboo bike and the other bike made from other materials? Sorry, I just only know about bamboo bike, it is special.

("bamboo", Mountain Democrat)

"To dearest all people who helped us, supported us";
Hello, we are fine!
Thank you so much! I was always given energy and power by you on the road, off the road. I never forget your hospitality and kindness.
I and bambo bike2 miss you, I and bamboo bike2 miss Unites States, but
I will be always with bamboo bike on the road, because bamboo bike is my sword.
See you again, our friends!

("bamboo bike with gun at Golconda, IL" , Bamboosero, Golconda)

Takashi 2010/12/7 @Tokyo

12/6 Bamboobikestudio

2010-12-10T05:17:00.000-08:00

12/6 Snow day, from Dobbs Ferry to Bamboobikestudio, 14.2miles

The 91th day of this trip was held in snow, the last day of this trip aim to Bamboobikestudio, our final destination, I felt unexplained feeling of satisfaction. I ate bagel with swiss cheese with some cup of coffee, New York Style breakfast, Helena cooked me, tyo good. In snow falling, we started 8:00a.m. passed on the North Broadway. Sometimes snow touched with my eyebrow. I felt chilly of my face, I felt warm of my body.
Though this morning I contacted with media, BK NEXENT Inc. to meet at Bamboobikestudio at 10:00a.m., I arrived at the 178th street around 9:00a.m. already. When I stopped at the corner of 177th street, one kind gentleman helped me and advised me, " Go to 176th street, use subway A line and transfer F line." So we rode on A line subway, from 176th street. In the train, one guy talked to bamboo bike2, "Wow, gorgeous! Bamboo bike! I have heard about that." and talked to me "How long have you used?". I replied "3 month". He had known about bamboo bike and we talked about manufacturing of bamboo bike in Africa. We transfered the line from A to F, and arrived at the Carrol station, Brooklyn.

We arrived at Brooklyn, snow was dancing in a gray air with no sound. There were many cars, it was heavy traffic in Brooklyn. Relying on a compass and a memo about the location of Bamboobikestudio, asked to 3 gentlemen about the direction, suddenly we found the "Richards street" where Bamboobikestudio located. Generally "the goal" came out in front of us suddenly.
We saw 2 guys standing in the distance, media, BK NEXENT Inc. While feeling sorry for late arrival, I felt a sense of relief. I talked to bamboo bike2,"Hey, we had arrived." Bamboo bike did not replied. I thought about the each time in passed States, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Virginia, Washington D.C., Merry Land, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York. We passed on the bumpy road made from bricks of stone slowly, each memory passed on the busy own map made from my brain of head swiftly. In last 0.2miles though it was short distance, I felt as if I traveled so long miles. I felt the temperature of the body of bamboo bike2 under my body. I and bamboo bike2 arrived at the final destination, Bamboobikestudio at 11:00a.m. Snow fallen, in Brooklyn, New York.

I was interviewed by Japanese media,

Interviewed,

"How is the feeling now?"

"How do you think the riding in New York?"

"What have you learned in this trip?"

"What supproted you in this trip?

"How will you run your business?" ...

2 hours had passed, we were interviewed in the Brooklyn Bridge Park, and downtown in New York.

Bamboo bike cross country U.S.A. Trip 2010;

Date: 2010/9/10 ～2010/12/6

Distance: 4,368.9miles (7,281.5km)

Bamboo bike1 record (before accident): 2,979.3miles, 2010/9/10-10/28

Bamboo bike2 record (after accident): 1,389.6miles, 2010/11/11-12/6

Start/Goal: from Bamboosero in Santa Cruz,CA to Bamboobikestudio in Brooklyn,NYC

Passed States: California,Nevada,Utah,Colorado,Kansas,Missouri,Illinois,Kentucky,Virginia, Washington D.C. Merry Land, Pennsylvania,New Jersey, and New York

After interview I met Chris in downtown of New York, asked him to look after some items which I lent from Ben Strong. We talked for a while at the cafe. After I said to bye-bye to Chris, I walked to the Grand Central Station with bamboo bike2. We came back to Helena and Mansheng's home by train. Mansheng cooked dinner delicious tofu foods and chicken foods. Before dinner, in celebration of the achievement of this bamboo bike trip, Helena, Mansheng and Chloe uncorked new white wine bottle for me and bamboo bike and congratulate for us.

"Cheers!"

Mansheng's dinner were the greatest, also white wine tasted the finest at this night. I thought the numerous stars which I saw in Escalante, Utah also must celebrate us. Basking in the aftermath, I talked to Mansheng about bamboo, he showed me a bamboo chopping board, glued laminated bamboo product, and talked about design, Nature.

I packed my belongings, preparing departure of tomorrow, Mansheng helped me to pack bamboo bike2. Helena arranged "car service to airport" for me. Finishing packing, in the room, I looked outside through a glass of window, I saw the small light in dark in the distance. As time went by, a feeling of joy at achievement this trip bubbled up inside me more. I was helped many many people in this trip. Thank you so much. Though I organized this journey partly from the emotion for my gratitude for kind American people whom I met this March in San Francisco Bay Area, I already had been given more kindness, hospitality by people in this trip. I want to repay for this kindness and hospitality, through my Bamboo Samurai's business, through my activity in society. There is a big candle light in my heart, it is my gratitude for you, the people who helped me, supported me. Samurai never forget kindness from others. Good night. We will leave from United States tomorrow.

Takashi 2010/12/6 @Bamboobikestudio

The last Bamboo fish appeared

2010-12-09T12:40:00.000-08:00

The last "Bamboo fish" appeared in the pond, because we have biked, 4,354,7miles(7,257.8km) since Sep 10. We passed the last transit point, 7,000km. The pond was filled all green fish, bamboo fish. I felt unexplained happiness. Such like this pond I will contribute to diffuse bamboo resources, raise awareness of Eco friendly life, of neglected bamboo forests in the future. At the end of this trip I will change the stage of this pond, from United States to all continents. So it means, in the pond, one Bamboo fish will be swimming, this one Bamboo fish is the symbol of "Cross North America with bamboo bike", the pond is the symbol of 7 continents, Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, North America, South America, Europe. Now in my plan next trip will be "Cross China" with bamboo bike, because there are many knowledge and experiences about bamboo in China,
I want to research about the Chinese bamboo, interview with Chinese people about bamboo bike, and build connection with many Chinese people, with bamboo bike. And in next trip, I will travel with bamboo bike which I design/ build by my hands, by myself. This is my latest aspiration for the next trip. Please keep in touch, support me and bamboo bike!

"To learn all we can and teach all we can" , this is the goal of "Hindman settlement school" the best school in the mountains, established in 1902 by May Stone and Katherine Pettit in Knott County, Kentucky. I visited in Hindman, Kentucky with bamboo bike. Good sentence, I love this sentence. I felt. When I saw the photos of 2 noble ladies, I felt their strong aspiration, would to contribute to society. I want to / I will contribute to society such like ladies.
"To bike all I can and design/ manufacture all I can with bamboo"

("A bamboo bike goes to Brooklyn", Mountain Democrat)

Takashi 2010/12/5 @Dobbs Ferry
P.S. "Map system down" I am sorry that Map is blank on my blog. Now I check this problem, and contacted with TripAdvisor, system will be fixed next week.

12/5 @Dobbs Ferry ~cross G.W.Bridge~

2010-12-08T17:41:00.000-08:00

12/5 Fine day, from Edison to Dobbs Ferry, 56.7miles

I woke up 2:30a.m. and fixed flat tire. Maybe, and I hope, this flat tire will be the last flat tire in this trip. I have learned many things about bike, one is this, how to fix flat tire. Before this trip, I could not know even how to fix flat tire, but now I can fix it fast.　While fixing flat tire, I found the other 2 problems, one was that my right toe clip was broken, the another was that rear durailleur's wire was cut off.　Though I thought not to change rear gear would let the remaining trip be much tough for us, I did not feel any negative image, I felt "unexplained confidence" that I could pedal tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, I did not why. So I decided not to go bike shop, keep going at this condition.

"I was sorry for bamboo bike, I have no time to fix you, but you could endure, and overcome this situation, we already have passed 4,000miles together in a rain day, windy day, uphill, gravel road, windy day, at night, at early morning, you could do it" I said to bamboo bike2.　Bamboo bike2 seemed to nod slowly for me.　

I cooked big breakfast, 9 packs of Oat meals, and some cups of coffee. This was the last cooking in this trip.　Thank you Oatmeal, thank you farmer who made these oat.　I made this morning, the last morning to New York, kept to be an usual morning, so I packed in an usual way, I pasted moisture cream on my face in an usual way,　I wore perfume GIO as usual. But in natural, I was getting excited, "unexplained joy" occurred in my heart. Before the start, we took a photo on this memorial day, "OK, let's go, bamboo bike2!".

We started 6:40a.m. it was dark around, but it was no problem, we have already experienced such this darkness of morning. We passed Elizabeth, Newark, Hackensack, and Fort Lee. Today was Sunday, so at early morning and morning traffic around Elizabeth and Newark was not so heavy, I felt my lucky. Around Hackensack I saw the montain on my right side, not Rocky, not Appalachians, the New York mountain, made from buildings, not trees, not red rocks. When I saw the New York mountain, I felt strong unexplained emotions, I stopped for a while, enjoyed many flash backs of this trip. Good feeling! New York was there!

Around Fort Lee I lost way once but asked a policeman about the direction and found the right way. And in this area, some hills there were, also we could not change the gear, so I poured my all energy into the pedals of bamboo bike2. Bamboo bike2 gradually climbed hills at very slow speed. "Hey, good work!" we talked each other while climbing some hills. Over the hills....I saw the bridge, big bridge, beautiful bridge, George Washington Bridge. On the road there were already lots of cars. Though I could not find the entrance to G.W.Bridge, 2 kind pedestrian showed me the direction.

Crossing the bridge, seeing the New York mountain on the right side, I stopped many times. I struck a victory pose　many times on the bridge. Unexpected two drops of tears came out of my eyes. But Samurai does not cry for a long time. "We did it" Unexplained Joy I felt. I felt gratitude to people whom I met, who supported us. The shape of this unexplained emotion was big, like a big air balloon covered over the whole sky of United States. I took many photos on the bridge.

After crossing the G.W.Bridge, I headed to north aim to Dobbs Ferry, today's destination. Because there were some hills from South Broadway to Dobbs Ferry, it was tough for my legs, sometimes stopped and took rest, sometimes stopped and ate remaining energy bar, I poured my remaining energy into pedals. We arrived at Helena and Mansheng's home at 1:30p.m. In thier garden we saw bamboo plant, and "Susuki", I felt happy to feel Japan. Mansheng cooked Chinese noodle for us. On the dining table there were many bamboo products, bamboo dining paper, bamboo chopsticks, bamboo tea pots, cups. I was surprised, and felt happy to meet many bamboo products here in New York. And in their home, I heard that they made efforts not to use air conditioner, fighting against global warming. When I heard that I was inspired so much, In Philadelphia, I remembered that Warren also fought against global warming in his own way, he said to me that he wanted to buy hybrid car, first 40miles use bio fuel, after that use gasoline. I was inspired so much by the people with such high green conscious like Warren, Helena, Mansheng and also I think it is great thing that individuals fight against any social problems in their own ways, They have their own good story. One of the most impressive things I have learned in this trip is that "It is very precious to build "own story!" ".

After eating noodle, we went to Hanukkah dinner party, today was 5th celebrated day. I met many people there and talked. One of them was Jazz musician, I have known for the first time Jazz market in Japan was huge and Japanese Jazz lovers were very passionate. Well, I met new bottle in tonight dinner, name was "Xingu" ,from Brazil, Though I expected the sense of Samba with this beer, I could not get such sense.

"Beer blog"
Xingu: Labeled as a "Black Beer" from Brazil. I felt "light taste", but contained a littke bit more bitter than Coors, Bud. So I prefer this beer to Coors, or Bud. The taste does not change both drinking and after drinking, So it was not bad. But this beer does not contain some enthusiastic sense such like "Brazil Samba" has I expected.

After coming back to home, Mansheng showed me his works in his gallary, he is a painter. he paints landscape, Chinese poem, Buddha, Scripture, Calligraphy. I love his works, I was inspired by his works much. I originally love poems, western poems, Japanese poems, and of course also loves Chinese poems, because Chinese poems let me feel grandeur, nostalgia, stream of long long history like the Yangtze. When I saw his works, the poetic emotion occurred in my heart in natural one after another. If Edgar Poe, Baudelaire, Ryunosuke Akutagawa lived now in the present age and saw Mansheng's works, thy will sure to write some poems. His works have subtle sense, such like "Japanese morning glory" will bloom only when it respond to subtle morning sunlight, these are not powerful, but are filled with something static, peaceful, silent, such like the silence when a deer come close to the creek and take water with no sound, such like the morning haze shined by sunlight through the branches of trees in the Appalachians, the breath of Nature.
Hello, everyone. You may check his works, you will sure to feel a kind of strong impression from his works. This is my recommendation. And also he uses natural resources for paintings, he uses rice paper, bamboo paper as canvas, walnuts ink, bamboo brushes. He gave me much inspirations, also his thought for Nature, Sustainability. Very inspired person, works.

Wang Mansheng: painter
http://manshengwang.com/
The exhibition will be held at Queens college from next February to May

At night I checked e-mail, replied some response. On the bookshelf of my room at their house an Chinese doll stood. I looked outside window and came close to window, across the window the coldness passed into inside a little, "The beauty of shape"... I thought about the "Beauty", artistic night, I I thought also about the design of bamboo bike's frame with looking outside...Good night.

Takashi 2010/12/5 @Dobbs Ferry

12/4 @Edison

2010-12-08T09:13:00.000-08:00

12/4 Fine day, from Philly to Edison, 70miles

"Ohayo-Gozaimasu" (Good morning in English) Ellen and I said each other this morning. I cooked breakfast and ate, 4 scrambled eggs, rice, tomatoes, bread with cheese, and some vegetables. Before starting Warren and Ellen arranged today's route for us. They were so kind. While talking about route, "Blueberry" flew some times in the room, "Blueberry" was a beautiful, colorful bird, with blue head and green wings. Ellen gave me some fancy candles for the Hanukkah dinner party of tomorrow which will be held in Dobbs Ferry, and also gave a letter with a piece of wing of "Blueberry". That was very beautiful. That one piece of wing will help us to go to New York as if "Blueberry" flew over. The time to go has come, though I missed them but we must go, we said bye-bye to Warren, Ellen and Suki. At that time Ellen also kindly sent, advised one message to a business student standing nearby a bamboo bike, "Don't miss the Market". She had master of business degree and also professional of finance. It was impressive word for me and want to keep in mind in the future running my bamboo business. Thank you so much, in their house I always felt relax and happiness, I was glad to spend time with you in this trip.

I passed a bike pass, called "Topath", and passed Trenton, Princeton. In a bike pass, I saw some beautiful birds floating on the creek. While biking along the streaming creek on bike path, I felt static, comfortable, peace and breath of Nature. In Princeton, I saw the statue of Einstein, some students made a circle and singing a Christmas song on the main street. And I dropped by a bike shop in Princeton, " KOPP'S CYCLE". I talked about bamboo bike and our trip for a while, and was given the direction from Princeton to Edison.

At the end of today, the point of remaining distance was about 4miles, we hit glass and rear tire became flat. So I walked to the place to stay tonight with bamboo bike. It was already dark, around 5:30p.m. We arrived at Edison, 6:00p.m. When I arrived at today's destination, I felt relief and a little tired. After arriving at the motel in Edison, I cooked a big dinner, I used remaining foods staff. This cooking time tonight would be the last time for cooking dinner in this trip... I cooked 1 Ramen, 1 cheese broccorri rice, 1 pasta, 2 packs of oatmeal, and soup...it was good foods. I have learned about cooking outside, before this trip I could not only make boiled water, but now I can cook many kinds of foods. I said thank you for my small stove and cooking set with a small voice.
I remembered the first night of cooking outside with Ben Strong at Strawberry lodge campground, felt happy, felt nostalgia, almost 3 month passed since that time. After eating dinner, I lay on the bed with feeling some tired, and thought various things,about trip, bamboo bike, business, bamboo bike market, difference of response to bamboo bike between Japanese people and American people, my family, my fiance, my friends...many, many,,,

Tomorrow we will go aim to New York finally, I will fix flat tire early morning tomorrow. The remaining days are just 2days, to New York, and to Bamboobikestudio. Wow, just 2 day, it was 2/90 = 2.2% of this trip. 98% was done...though I saw bamboo bike2, bamboo bike2 was still.
Good night, bamboo bike2. Takashi 2010/12/4 @Edison

12/3 @Philadelphia

2010-12-07T02:56:00.000-08:00

12/3 Fine day, @Philadelphia

Todya was off day, also special day to me!
Today I organized the route, schedule, and changed the destination of tomorrow, from New York to Edison, NJ. Because I decided it would be danger biking in the dark, heavy traffic in New York.
I visited the bike shop in Carpenter Ln, "Electric Bicycles", and talked to the owner about the route. He gave me advice, and his friend showed me the place on the website where some bike maps posted up.
This afternoon I went downtown in Philly and visited some historical places, City Hall, Liberty Bell, Constitution center, Independence Hall. I felt good atmosphere, fusion between new and old, latest and historic, while walking down town, listening Jazz music, seeing some wall paintings, some coach.
Suddenly one song came to mind, "Streets of Philadelphia". It was getting colder, sometimes I dropped by the shops and warm body.

I came back to house at 4:00p.m. and spent time to check e-mail and route. Warren cooked hot soup for me. Warren and I went out to Japanese restaurant. On the way we dropped by restaurant and bought beer, "Stella Altois". Though I wondered why he bought beers at that time, Ellen taught me about the story, "BYOB", Bring Your Own Bottles, in the restaurant.
And on the way we met Ellen in front of her office and we went to "Sagami", precious Japanese restaurant.

Entering Sagami, Oh, Japanese! The staff talked in Japanese, menu was written in Japanese, "ASARINO SAKAMUSHI", "SUKIYAKI", "SASHIMI", "TSUKEMONO","SAKE",,,many many. And in the restaurant there were many people enjoying Japanese foods, I felt Japanese foods were fashionable around here. Tasted tyo nice, these foods were really Japanese taste, the scenery of restaurant and "Izakaya" (means Pubs in English) in Japan. For some time, I forgot time in United States, I traveled time-slip-journey in Japan as if I was flying using bamboo broom...meditation...
Was this caused by the effect of Sake? I did not know...　I had great time with Warren and Ellen, felt happy, thank you so much.　After coming back to home, Suki watched TV sitting in front of TV.

"Beer Blog"
Stella Altois: Belgium beer. Very tasty, not creamy. A little bit sweet, and also contained bitter flavor as after taste. It is good beer, I like.

I looked at the mirror, my face had turned red a little. Good feeling,,,Wonderful night,,,thank you so much, Warren and Ellen. Good night... Takashi 2010/12/3 @Philadelphia

12/2 Philadelphia

2010-12-06T03:52:00.000-08:00

12/2, Fine day, from Clay to Philadelphia, 74miles

I woke at 5:15a.m. Marvin already woke up and read newspaper. We went to restaurant near his house, we both ordered "Dutch egg and sausage with coffee, it was big breakfast, maybe 5 or 6 eggs was used in this breakfast and with some sausages. Tasted good. While eating he gave me an interesting story about his bike trip. One of them, I show you.

"How many do you carry spare tire" said Marvin,
I replied, "no, I do not carry tire".
"OK, so if the tire was cut off, or torn, how do you continue your trip?", Marvin.
Me, "ummm,,, I will shout, please help me!"
Marvin replied, "you need not do that, there are no problem. You will be able to continue your trip by using only some bills."
Me, "huh?"
Marvin continued, "you can put bills on the place which is torn, it works well, no problem"
Me, "Wow! George Washington helps cyclists even now."

Marvin is always great cyclist, had 24,000miles traveled in United States, he has many experiences, knowledge. We said bye-bye to Marvin, I looked around and waved hands to Marvin twice times, Marvin stood there, thank you so much, Marvin! Sayo-nara,Mata-Aimasyo! (Don't say good bye, see you again!)

We started biking 8:00a.m. from Clay. We saw beautiful morning, we stopped for a while and felt the breath of Nature in PA. We passed Valley Forge, Conshohocken, schuylkill river bike trail, today was fun-ride to us, except chilly.. At Valley Forge, I dropped a restaurant, ate sandwich, talked to the owner of the shop, some people about bamboo bike. The owner said with laughing, "Are you crazy? Shorts! I feel cold when I looked at you." Me, replied, "Oh, I am sorry."

Passing Schylkill river bike trail, it was good trail to us, with seeing beautiful river on the right side.
Despite good trail I lost way...Oops... maybe because of my poor sense of direction. Relying on compass we moved and I found a gentleman who was jogging and asked the direction, he was so kind that he showed me direction. and he used to accomplish cross country in United States from Philly to Seattle. Wow! Furthermore he got interested in bamboo bike. We felt happy to meet him, I gazed at sky and murmured "lucky, thank you bamboo." At that time bamboo bike2 said to me, "you should also say thank you to me.", Oops.."Oh, yeah, I am sorry". replied to bamboo bike2. And it was miracle, because we were very close to the destination of today at that time.
"Should I make bamboo compass to express respects for the God of bamboo? " I murmured again. Bamboo bike2 replied, "Of course!"

We arrived at Ellen,Warren and Suki's home in Philly at 4:00p.m. Suki is a pretty dog, named after "Sukiyaki". Suki means "like","feel familiar with", and "love" in English. I suki "Suki", we Japanese also suki "Sukiyaki".
They were tyo kind and knows well about Japan and different culture. After arriving, I and Warren went to coffee shop with Suki, drinking Chai tea, we talked. He runs own business, loves Japanese culture, good joke. Very pretty and smart person. I suki Warren.
In talking, his smart question sticked to my brain, "Why bamboo? Is there any other reason,..except ecological sound? Though I have been searching for the answer through this trip, I could not yet find the answer to his question now. I will make efforts, I will find the answer with bamboo bike, my dream, my entrepreneurship, my spirit of Bamboo Samurai.

Dinner was tyo special.
Before dinner we celebrated 3rd day of Hanukkah, Jewish festival of lights. I lighted on the candles with singing Jewish song. This was an wonderful experiences to me. Dinner was Japanese food, cooked by Ellen. Tukemono (Pickles), Rice, Sho-yu(Soy-souce), and Udon(Oh, I was happy!) Tyo Good. I forgot I stayed in United States for a while, I felt as if I was in Japan. Thank you so much,
Thank you so much, Ellen. A few days later, I left United States, I will be in Japan... now I miss both Japan and America. Bamboo bike may feel so. Tomorrow I will visit some historical places and downtown in Philly.

"Beer blog"
Heineken: I drank tonight. Tasted like Japanese beer, Kirin, Asahi, Sapporo. Maybe similar to Kirin, I felt. This beer is good for Japanese dinner eating in United States, I felt so.

Wonderful night in Philly. Good sleep.

Takahsi 2010/12/2 @Philadelphia

12/1 Clay

2010-12-03T15:57:00.000-08:00

12/1 Rain day, from Baltimore to Clay, 90miles

Today was one of the toughest day in this trip for us. Heavy rain, strong wind, wet and so chilly, continuous up-down hills, some big hills, but at the last time of the day, the happiest time welcomed us. The biking experiences which I got in this trip supported both pedals of bamboo bike2 and my legs. We pedaled while feeling supports form everyone whom I met in this trip..thank you so much. Well, I write today's dairy divided into 3 parts, morning, afternoon, and night.

1.Morning, "Wet Rat"
I woke up 3:30a.m. prepared for journey, I love to act early morning. Max also woke up early, prepared for his study of medical, he was a medical student. We talked about bike and life each other, after that he cooked special oatmeal for me, oatmeal with peanuts butter! it was creamy, very nice, and interesting. I said bye-bye to Max, thank you so much, Max, Joanna.
When we started biking around 8:00a.m. it already rained and strong wind blew. I gazed into the sky, sky was covered with thick and dark clouds. The rain was getting heavier and heavier gradually, wind blew still strong. When we passed Lutherville and Loch Raven Resevoir MD, the road was filled with rain, some of rain near shoulder was streaming like small creek. We saw the rain was falling horizontal. "Wet Rat" ... sometimes I murmured so, ...sometimes I imagined a guy standing under the "Rashomon", a famous Japanese novel, by Ryunosuke Akutagawa, ...sometimes I recited one of the part of poem "It rains in my heart" by Paul Verlaine

"It rains in my heart
as on town and on mart,
pours down longings that start
to reign in my heart!"

...and sometimes wiped rain by gloves. ...while raining in the rain, while wet... I ate fewer energy bar with wet. I saw beautiful Resevoir in the rain, white smoke occurred on the face of the resevoir here and there. My breath was also white. Car passed by me slowly whose drivers had surprised look. In the heavy rain... though I also love fishing, in such heavy rain, it will be difficult to catch any fish. My imagination continued...also rain continued. The rain were getting heavier and heavier.

2.Afternoon, "Cooled off frog"
Passing Sweet Air, the town, the rain was getting lighter and changed into shower. And arrived at Jarrettsville, rain stopped, I dropped by 7elaven, and drank coffee and ate chilly corn dog and pizza to warm body. I felt chilly. I talked to the owner of 7eleven, he got interested in bamboo bike and he asked me the differences between 7eleven United States and 7eleven Japan. I answered, " almost same, but free topping service of 7eleven United States was very unique." He nodded and a little smiled. We passed Pykesville, Whiteford and entered Pennsylvania for the first time.
"How about Pennsylvania riding?" I expected and pedaled. ...continuous large rolling hills, many many... My mentality came depleted gradually.. I was feeling my body cooled off.. sometimes I changed the place to grip... Around York Furnace, we faced a few big hills..short but curvy and steep, like route 56 on the Appalachians. Very tired, and I tried to remain calm...I could stay calm. New Bridgeville,Wrightsville...passed the Susquehanna River... I was such like a cooled off frog which was late to hibernation.

3. Night, "Spring came for Heterothermy"

Suddenly I received call, that call was from kind gentleman, Marvin, great cyclist. I was hosted by him. After waiting for him for 30minutes in hamburger shop, we met. He picked up us and took us to his home at Clay. I felt much of happiness. In his car I felt warm, maybe both of my body and heart. Thank you so much, Marvin.
We ate dinner at Mt.Joy. of course I enjoyed. I ate Oyster pie. Great. When we passed Manheim, we saw many lights which formed Christmas tree, it was beautiful. I think Christmas decorations in United States is great, beautiful. Arriving at Marvin's home, I took warm shower and enjoyed talking about bike touring to Marvin. Around 10:00p.m. I felt sleepy,,,maybe so tired. lying on the bed, I rethought about journey of today...I thought that there were many things today.. rain, wind, chilly, hills, and precious meeting, and now.. I felt relief and happy. The bed was very soft. Thank you so much, Marvin. Tired..Good sleep. Takashi 2010/12/1@Clay

11/30 Baltimore

2010-12-01T03:38:00.000-08:00

11/30, Rain day, from Washington D.C. to Baltimore, 64.5miles

I woke up 5:00a.m. and took hot shower and read maps and directions which Mark showed me yesterday night. I ate breakfast with Mark and drank a cup of coffee. The coffee tasted nice. Mark went to work 7:15a.m., said bye-bye and after that I prepared for departure in his home, it was shower outside. Though we started biking at 8:30a.m. I lost my way both in Washington D.C. again and Red Creek Trail. Oops..
There were some drive circles in Washington D.C. the traffic in D.C. was still complicated for me.
And in Red Creek Trail there were sometimes no exits and signs, so it was difficut to find way for me. I asked some people and could find way to back to right way of maps.
We passed Wheaton, Olney, Brookeville, Dayton, Gleneg, Ellicott City and arrived at Baltimore at 4:00p.m. We went to bike shop, Baltimore Bicycle Works, and asked to check tension of rear wheel. The condition of tension was good. I said thank you to the staff and went aim to go Max's home. We stayed at an apartment of Max and Maya, Joanna, Allison tonight. I met Max, by one e-mail. 3 month ago, he sent an e-mail to me kindly. Now we met, talked, had enjoyable time together. It was miracle, very exciting. Max and Maya had already traveled cross country by tandem bike. I enjoyed looking their photos of travel and we talked about bike, trip each other. I had wonderful time with him at Baltimore. At night 2 friends of Joanna visited apartment, they carried local beer of Pennsylvania," Yuengling". Great! I should write "Beer blog" at the end of diary of today.

"Beer blog"
Yuengling:
Tasted light. Though some fragrance contained, first tasted, middle taste, and after taste were still light. It is better than Coors or Bud, but I like Fattire, Hoptober, Wassatch than this. I prefer a little bit darker.

Takashi 2010/11/30 @Baltimore

11/29 Washington D.C.

2010-11-30T20:02:00.000-08:00

11/29, Cloudy day, from Fredericksburg to Washington D.C. 81miles

We arrivd at Washington D.C. today, capital of United States. Long way from Santa Cruz to here, Wrong way many times in Washington D.C., Big city, complicates traffics. But I could visit some beautiful places in Washington D.C. particular I was happy to visit Washington Monument, reflecting pool, which I saw the movie of Forest Gump! I had not known about that monument was located in Washington D.C. Tonight we home-stayed at Mark Ferrara's home, Latin language teacher, he took me some memorial places, around in Washington D.C. and showed me, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial. Thank you so much, Mark!

Long day today, 10hours 30minutes.... Oops. I woke up 5:10a.m., started from Fredericksburg at 8:00a.m. and arrived at Washington D.C. at 6:30p.m. After breakfast, I took some photos of bamboo bike2 in the garden of Steve's home. There were some bamboo plants there, it was interesting to me. I heard that bamboo garden was popular around here. Bamboo bike2 also seemed happy to meet friends. It was chilly morning in Fredericksburg, grass was frost, and bamboo bike2 was frost. We said bye-bye to Steve, his dogs, cats and bamboo in his garden, thank you so much, Steve! I prayed our safety to God of Bamboo.

The road were not hilly today, we enjoyed biking, we passed Independent Hill, Dale City and Occoquan. In Occoquan, a city near Dale City we met Bobbie, a security patrol guy, when I had wrong way to went into the government area he stopped us. We talked for some time, he had been lived in Tokyo for 14years, we talked about Japaese foods, economics, and bamboo in Japanese. I felt nostalgia for Japan because we spoke Japanese and talked about Japan. We said bye-bye to Bobbie, "Mata Aimasho" (See you again!). The traffic was getting complcated, meant we were getting close the big city, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York. At Tulley Gate I was checked ID, passed Mt.Vernon, Alexandria, Arlington, cross Arlington Bridge, and arrived at Washington D.C. I saw beautiful sun floating above the Potomac River.

Though I lost way many times in Washington D.C. I could arrived at Mark's home at 6:30p.m. Mark hosted us tonight, cooked roast pork to us, delicious. After dinner Mark was so kind that took me around Washington D.C., Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Washington Monument. I could see many cherry trees around Jefferson Memorial. As a Japanese I felt happy to hear the story that those cherry trees were given from Japan. I wonder if the people around here enjoy looking cherry blossom ("Ohanami" in Japanese). I sang a song "Sakura" with Mark. After coming back home, we talked about Japanese language and culture.

Do you know? I have not yet seen the flower, bamboo blooms flower once for a long long years. (50years or 100years) Bamboo grows very fast, grows straight, strong, supple, and blooms flower once for a long years. Mysterious plant. On the road today I saw small neglected bamboo forests, I took photos. Such neglected bamboo forests are scattered around Japan. Bamboo Samurai focus on this problem.

Takashi 2010/11/29 @Washington D.C.

11/28 @Fredericksburg

2010-11-29T04:21:00.000-08:00

11/28 Fine day, @Fredericksburg

Today was beautiful Sunday. I stayed at Fredericksburg with Steve and his family. I took good rest and relaxed, ate good foods.
I woke up 6:00a.m. This mornig I went to church with Steve, there I sang some songs and read some sentenses of bibles. I felt relaxed and meet some people and talked to them.
Coming back home we ate "Challah" as lunch, Jewish New Year traditional foods, big round bread with some raisins. It was a little sweet, tasted good. I went to buy a vantage to role right ankle.
After that Steve introduced me around Fredericksburg town, a home of Mary Washingon, Ferry farm which George Washington lived in his childhood, and cut cherry tree. I walked around battlefield of civil war in Fredericksburg with Steve and his 2 dongs Dogg and Dioji for some time. Dogg was Akita, one of the kinds of dogs in Japan. I saw Akita in United States for the first time. I felt good. And in the battlfield we saw some wild turkeys, it was exciting! It was wonderful to me there were some such a big, beautiful, wild parks in the town.

We had great time with Steve and his family for 2 days in Fredericksburg. And we could had great rest here. We will go aim to Washington D.C. tomorrow. Thank you so much, Steve, Bobbie, Joe, Dogg, Dioji, Charlie, Charlotte, Monster!

Takashi 2010/11/28 @Fredericksburg

11/27 Fredericksburg ~ Happy 2 days later Thanksgiving! ~

2010-11-28T14:19:00.000-08:00

11/27 Fine day, from Twin Oaks Community to Fredericksburg, 48.7miles

Though I woke 3:00a.m. and washed face, I felt I was yet intoxicated a little, so I slept again. I woke up 5:00a.m. again and prepared for journey. I went to a kitchen and met Maggie and David and some ladies and guys there. Maggie cooked french toast, scrambled eggs, oat meal for me and David. It tasted great, and got lots of energy. French toast was tyo good! I said bye-bye to David and Maggie. Thank you David, Maggie! And thank you so much for the people in Twin Oaks Community!

The road today was gentle, the weather was tyo fine, we enjoyed biking under the trees which dropped almost their leaves. Though the traffic was getting conjested, it meant we were close to the New York, the destination. Today I used a map which David checked by google maps and printed.

We arrived at Fredericksburg 1:00p.m. and met Steve, hosted us tonight kindly. I met his son, Bobbie and Joe. And I met Dogg, Dioji, Charlie, Charlotte, Monster, powerful dogs, cute cats. I and Steve walked around with Dogg and Dioji. My right achilles tendon was still painful, not good, but the condition was not getting worse. I will taping around ankle and will overcome this situation.

Tonight there was wonderful thing...happened...!

"Thanksgiving two days later!"

Steve was cooked for me! He was so kind that they waited for Thanksgiving dinner till I came. Thank you so much! I took some photos, these were memorial, for the first time Thanksgiving for me. Before eating we prayed for a couple of minutes. I ate lots of turkey with gravy, cranberry sauce, some staffing and sweet potato, broccoli. I was tyo happy to eat Thanksgiving dinner and have enjoyable time with Steve, Bobie, Joe. After dinner we went walking with Dogg and Dioji around University of Mary Washington. There were many beautiful buildings in University, library, gallery, dormitory, restaurant... Though I still wore shorts, I felt a little bit chilly. When a big clock tower appeared in front of us, I tried to take photos of that tower, my camera did not work well at that time, did not focus well. But it was OK, because I will not forget this wonderful night with Steve, Bobbie, Joe, Dogg, Dioji,Charlie,Charlottes, Monster, "Thanksgiving 2 day later night!" Thank you so much, Steve! I was tyo happy! Our Thanksgiving menu was as follows, cooked by Steve.

"Thanksgiving menu"

Maple Roast Turkey
Cranberry Sauce
Lemon and Cashew stuffing
Broccoli
Sweet Potatoes with maple syrup
Gravy

Pumpkin Pie
Apple Pie
Ice cream

Takashi 2010/11/27 @Fredericksburg, VA

11/26 Twin Oaks Community(2)

2010-11-28T13:33:00.000-08:00

11/26, Cloudy day, visited Twin Oaks Community, tyo inspired!

Twin Oaks community,

This journey was guided adventure by something, I felt so.
I felt happy and miracle to visit this Twin Oaks Community, small but sustainable, there was something valuable, inspired in this community and there were wonderful people who have own belief, passion. Definitely, bamboo bike2 also must felt so today.

This community is located near Louisa, VA, and 92 adults and 10 children live, helping each other, doing business by themselves, sharing profit of their business, sharing some property (10 refrigerators, 10 stove2, 20 cars, 2kitchens, foods) and has been builting community by themselves. They are pioneer with high green conscious, sustainablity. They make a living in community to make hammocks, chairs, tofu, vegetables, eggs, meats in community, I saw some guys were making hammocks by handmade, and making tofu. I ate delicious eggs, breads, vegetables, tofu, miso soup, rice, and pumpkin pie which they make by themselves in community. I pushed trucks to a house, molded some cardboard boxes, ate dinner and talked, with them.

Leaving bike shop, bamboo bike2 and I visited this community. I have not known about this community since visiting, but as I was talking to them and seeing their life, gradually I had understood what this community was. They were very friendly and got interested in bamboo bike. At dinner time, bamboo bike2 stood in the center of between kitchen and dinning, was talked , was touched, was lifted up by some people. Bamboo bike2 seemed so happy to meet the people in Twin Oaks community, I felt. Of course I was happy. There was 2 kitchens in community, one was for breakfast or free time foods, another was for lunch and dinner. At lunch is held at noon and dinner is held at 6:00p.m. everyday, at that time almost people in community gather, eat, talk, and enjoy themselves together. The kitchen for lunch and dinner was called ZK, big building, inside was very warm by heat which woods were burned into. The other buildings also had own name, and inside were very warm by heat woods burned. We had great time with them at dinner. After dinner I worked molding cardboard boxes to pack tofu with some guys and ladies. I enjoyed working.

Tofu which is made here was a little hard for me, Japanese. In Japan mainly 2 different type of tofu there are, one is "Kinukoshi", another is "Momen". "Momen" is harder than "Kinukoshi", but tofu made here was harder than "Momen" and less water included. But taste was good. Interesting.

After working I drank local beer with David, and talked about sustainability, Japan, trip, what I miss now. Beer was local brewery, "Starr Hill", I was glad to meet this local brewery. What I miss now?.. yes, it is Japanese foods, foods mother cooks and aunt cooks. Particular I want to eat "Udon" , a kind of noodle, now. I wrote beer blog.

"Beer Blog"
Starr Hill;
local brewery in Charlottesville, VA
First taste is light, middle taste is light, but after taste is strong, piercing to stomach gently. Gradually be intoxicated. I felt as if head was swinging...Oops... it is good beer to sleep well before crash..

After drinking Starr Hill, I did not remember what I did well at that night. But I remembered the warmth of bed, and the beauty of the stars of chilly night such like the eyes of David and Maggie and the people in Twin Oaks Community who have own belief, passion, enthusiasm. It was getting cold around here. Good night.

Takashi 2010/11/26 @Twin Oaks Community, Louisa, VA

11/26 Twin Oaks Community(1)

2010-11-28T09:40:00.000-08:00

11/26, Cloudy day, Louisa, 0mile, finished repairing for bamboo bike2, tyo good!

There were many things I experienced today. All experiences were valuable, wonderful to me and bamboo bike2! So I write blog divided into 2 parts. One part is about the repairing of bamboo bike2 in bike shop in Charlottesville and another part is about the meeting and experiences in Twin Oaks community, Louisa, VA. This part "Twin Oaks Community(1)" was written about the experiences in a bike shop in Charlottesville.

In bike shop I met the President of the shop and talked about bike, bike business, bamboo bike, of course the repair was completely done. He also found the big problem of the rear wheel of bamboo bike2. The President, Rodger is also competitive bike racer. I had precious time to talk Rodger and was taught many things about bike. I and my spirit were inspired much by him, his passion for bike. In Twin Oaks Community I met David and Maggie and Paika, and many people in that community. Twin Oaks is an intentional community in Virginia, made up of around 92 adult members and 10 children. Since the community's beginning in 1967, they live to help each other, share profit of business, some property, and have high green conscious, ecological thinking. I was inspired so much by David, Maggie, the people in the community. and their pioneer spirits. In the community I pushed a big truck to move with them, molded some boxes for packing Tofu, ate eggs, vegetables, miso soup which they make by themselves.

I woke up 4:00a.m. and packed staff for departure. I ate some breads with coffee as breakfast. Around 8:00a.m. I called all the bike shops in Charlottesville, but there were no reply, of course the shops have not yet opened. The second call was around 9:00a.m., I could contact one bike shop but they said to me, " we could not repair today, today was Black Friday, so we were busy." , I see. The third call was 9:30a.m., no reply, the forth was 9:45, no reply. I must think plan of today again...if there were no shops which I could repair the bamboo bike in Charlottesville... I could not delay more....are there another way to repair here in Charlottesville? or are there any way to carry bamboo bike to other place which I ccoud repair?.... the fifth call was 10:00a.m., no reply... Though I have almost given up the contact to the bike shops in Charlottesville today, considering about the traffic and Black Friday, I decided that one more call to bike shops at 10:05a.m. and if there would be no reply, I would call Steve who hosted us in Fredericksburg tomorrow and asked him to pick up us.

10:05a.m. called.... "Hello, blue wheel bicycle...." Got it! ("Yatta!" in Japanese) I checked out the lodge and called taxi and visited bike shop, "Blue Wheel Bicycle" around 11:00a.m. There was a guy who worked at that shop, whose name is Rodger, the President of Blue Wheel Bicycle, he said to me "I needed 4 hours". I was happy to repair bamboo bike2 during the day. Though some customers visited shops, I could talk to Rodger for some time and interview. He talked about the difference of market between Japan and United States, and talked about the competitive market around VA. I asked some questions to him, I showed some of the interviews with him on blog.

1.What is the most important thing to run bike business?
  Answer; You have to learn business skill, sense of marketing, customer service.

2.How do you overcome that competitive situation aorund here in VA?
   A. Challenge!

3.How should I do to looking for the attractiveness of using bamboo for bike?
   A. It is a difficult question. People need reason when they pay money to buy bike. So you have to write review on the internet or magazine, because people read magazine or articles on the internet.

During his working to rapair bamboo bike's wheel, I saw him how he worked. I felt some sense of joy, exciting. Because I love craftsmanship. I love to see someone making products and make by myself. He found a crack of rear wheel, and said "This was a big problem, you had to change the wheel, you had no choise." I bought a new wheel. I thought the crack was caused by the accident on the road, and felt lucky because we found this big problem before we would face another big accident. I apologized to bamboo bike2, "I am sorry for bamboo bike2, I could not find this problem for you till now." I got experience, to check tire but also wheels inside/ outside were important after accident or falling.

Finished repairing, recovering from injury, bamboo bike2 seemed to be happy for me When we left the shop, Rodger gave me advice to check the tension of spoke after 100miles running, and said to us, "Safe trip!"
Thank you so much, Rodger. While touching my hair which has grown, I felt my passion to my business with bamboo and passion to contribution to society in my heart with bamboo bike2. Lots of fallen leaves were moving on the road from south to north outside, strong wind was blown today.

Takashi 2010/11/26 @Twin Oaks Community, Louisa, VA

11/25 @Charlottesville, Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T16:30:00.000-08:00

11/25, Cloudy day, @Charlottesville
～Wait for the open of bike shop

Today we stayed at Charlottesvill, I stayed at a lodge with bamboo bike2. Both we were injured around legs..., I was injured right achilles tendon, bamboo bike2 was injured one spoke of rear leg(wheel). We laughed each other.
This early morning I decided not to go ahead. I checked about bad effects of spoke defect on some website and got a kind advice from my friend, Ben Strong that we should not go ahead. Today I checked some maps, and re-planned our schedule, considered about "Bamboo Donation" system, wrote report about Samurai, and walked around Charlottesville. The latest schedule: http://bamboo-bike-ustrip.blogspot.com/p/route.html
(Now I am searching for the host in Washington D.C. and hosts between Washington D.C. and Philadelphia, so there is still possibility to change my schedule, if you can host me, or have friends who can host us in early Dec, please let me know!)

Here in Charlottesville, there is a University of Virginia, and there were many beautiful or sublime buildings made from bricks. Town was filled with academic atmosphere. I saw the name of Thomas Jefferson on the memorial plate in this town,too. And the big bell informed me the time with a big and nostalgic voice sometimes. Peaceful, static, there were few people walking on the street. I visited closed 2 bike shops where I plan that we will visit tomorrow morning. Today was Thanksgiving, so though I called all the bike shops in this town, all were closed, We will visit bike shop around at opening time, and after finishing repairing we will go aim to Louisa, about 56miles.
Almost the restaurants were also closed, so I cooked some foods by stove, rice, coffee, pasta and ate these foods. It was the first time for me to stay on this day,Thanksgiving. I felt a little cold when I walked in the quiet city on the way back to a lodge, I passed some people who listening the R and B music by radio, at that time I remembered the life of University in Japan. I must write thesis of graduation of university when I came back to Japan.

P.S. I got a phone call from San Francisco tonight, from my friends, "Happy thanksgiving!". I felt tyo happy! Thank you so much, Ben!, Amy!, Azuma-san!, and Michael! Takashi 2010/11/25 @Charlottesville

11/24 Charlottesville

2010-11-25T06:18:00.000-08:00

11/24, Fine day, from Buchanan to Charlottesville, 107miles

Today was big day, passed the last big pass of the Appalachian, and rode over 100miles. We did our best and enjoyed biking this big day much. I suddenly decided to change schedule of today and decided to go not to Afton but Charlottesville, VA before crash yesterday, because I have one promise with a gentleman to stay at his home in Loisa,VA with his family tomorrow, and to help his wife to cook dinner for Thanksgiving. Samurai always sure to keep promises.

I woke up 4:00a.m. and boiled water by a small stove, and cooked instant oatmeal, 0.6L of coffee. This small stove cooked for me many foods(almost rice..), boiled water for me. I said thank you to this small stove. I ate 3 packs of oatmeals and 4 breads pasted peanuts butter and drank some coffee.

We started biking 6:00a.m. on I-81 already there were many cars and big truck running.　Though it was still dark, because of the lamps of many cars I can see around more than usual.　Around 8:30a.,m. we passed Lexington,VA, I saw many Christmas decorations in the town, beautiful　church, buildings made from red bricks.　

We arrived at Vesuvius, the entrance of George Washington National forest, and the big last passes of the Appalachian for me and bamboo bike2 in this trip. I took some photos of us. Many memories of this trip occurred in my heart and head, memories appeared one after another.
All memories are valuable for us and let me feel happy.

For a couple of minites..passed. Sentimentalism..Nostalgic.. suddenly the bravery awakened me.
"Go ahead!" "Let's go, bamboo bike2!" Bamboo bike2 replied at once, "yes, my brother!"

3miles continuous uphills, steep and curvy, lots of sweat. lots of excitement. Lots of squirrels, birds, trees, fallen leaves, fallen trees, little cars. There were many faces of autumn, waiting for winter. It was quiet around. I could hear my own breathing only. Sometimes I looked around and enjoyed scenery, and sometimes looked down on the road and put power strongly into the pedals of bamboo bike2, When I climbing this uphills, I was always feeling lots of valuable memories of this trip occurred in my heart one by one, such like a clear spring in a beautiful valley. "The last big pass of the Appalachian, SR56, here was a good place for us and this trip." Thank you so much for the Appalachians!

After 45minutes, we arrived at the sign of "Blue Ridge Parkway", the top of mountain, about 3,200feet from 1,700feet(Vesuvius). I took some rest for a couple of minutes and took some photos. I felt chilly a little. No one there were. Only me and bamboo bike2.

Under the old bridge made from stone, I rode on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and passed road surrounded by the high mountains of the Appalachian. I saw many colorful mountains, the Appalachians. We passed Reeds Gap, Rockfish Gap, Afton and arrived at Charlottesville at 4:00p.m.

I found a lodge to stay tonight. After checking in , I checked tires of bamboo bike2 as usual, I found a problem of bamboo bike2. One spoke of rear tire was broken. I did not know how important this problem, I am beginner, little knowledge about bike. I considered the effect of this defect, I could not get any idea. "Can I run at this condition? or not? Why did it break? Since when? Maybe today... Is it a big problem? or not? I have a promise with someone tomorrow. I am late on schedule, I must be hurry. Tomorrow is holiday, will bike shop in Charlottesville open?.."

I ate dinner at the restaurant near the lodge, ate chicken and some vegetables. After back in my room, I could not yet make decision what I should do, Should we go or not to go ahead at this condition, should I go bike shop and fix? I sent some e-mails to my frieds who knew about bike well. I felt some tired, outside it was quiet, sometimes I heard the warning of police car. I will decide what to do tomorrow early morning. Good sleep.

Takashi 2010/11/24 @Charlottesville

Schedule arrangement

2010-11-23T19:09:00.000-08:00

I arranged schedule a little tonight.
http://bamboo-bike-ustrip.blogspot.com/p/route.html

Takashi 2010/11/23 @Buchanan

11/23 Buchanan

2010-11-23T18:42:00.000-08:00

11/23 Fine day partly clouded, from Christiansburg to Buchanan, 67miles

I woke up 3:30a.m. ate fast breakfast; 4 breads with peanuts butter and a bunch of chocolate cookies, and sweat tea. We started 5:30a.m. it did not rain yet. Weather foecast on TV told me with a gentle voice that it wolud rain since this noon at Buchanan. I planned that we would arrive at Buchanan till noon to avoid rain.
Early morning deep drizzle occurred, I could see about 30feet in front of us, it was very dark. The moon was covered its beautiful face by drizzle, shed dim light above the black road. At gas station in Ellie, name of town, I saw a few faces of human beings and some motor vehicles under the bright lamps. I did not drop by the station, looked map, we went ahead. Cars also drove at slow speed, everyone payed attention. The branches of trees like nerve were still, wind did not blow, the cry of creature broke the silence. A few drops dropped from helmet of mine, thought it did not rain, my rain-jacket was wet, my eyelashes wore a few small water drops. The knight of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow appeared suddenly .... Such a darkness under we passed, I could hear the sounds of pedal of bamboo bike2.

The drizzle continued till around 8:50a.m. After that I saw big sun. The Appalachian was shined by sun light, some colors which I could not explain I saw. Beautiful scenery appeared. I saw the faces of cattle, horses, farm machines, houses, trees, mountains, rabbits, squirrels. Great impression. I breathed deeply many times. Goddess of America lives here and there. We passed Catawba, Daleville,Troutville, and Buchanan. The town decorated for Christmas already. Pretty and beautiful.

We arrived at Wattstull Inn in Buchanan at 11:30p.m. We could avoid rain.　After taking shower, I cooked ramen, chicken rice, pasta, and ate as a lunch.　Though I called the boss of the bike hostel in Afton where I wanted to stay tomorrow, there were no response. So I decided that if there were no one there in Afton, we would pass Afton and reached at Charlottesville,VA, big town.

I cooked mushroom rice and ate mushroom rice, tuna-can, 1 bread as a dinner. Tomorrow we will pass the last big pass of the Appalachian, we want to enjoy biking. Weather forecast showed me that it would be fine day tomorrow, the day beofre Thanksgiving. Good night.

Takashi 2010/11/23 @Buchanan

11/22 Christiansburg

2010-11-23T15:02:00.000-08:00

11/22 Fine day, from Wytheville to Christiansburg, 56miles

Yesterday, I stayed very good hotel, Hampton Inn, Wytheville.

Hotel Impressions;
1.The bed was very soft, my body sank deeper than usual.. When I jumped into the bed and jumped on the bed, bamboo bike2 laughed at me and said, "Except me, no one looked at you, Takashi"...
2.The bathroom was very clean and wide, I took shower for a long long time at both yesterday night and this morning, pasted moisture on skin, used conditioner, smelled flavor of soap, felt relax, bamboo bike laughted at me, and said, "Except me, no one looked at you, Takashi"...
3.The coffee was very tasted, and there were some kinds of coffee, Decaf, Roasted and Regular.
I tried to drink all types of coffee, I preferred Decaf, because it was tasty, and light. Bamboo bike laughed at me and said, "you would write a coffee blog, wouldn't you?"...

I woke up 4:30a.m. and prepared for departure, and I went to restaurant to eat breakfast at 6:00a.m. This morning breakfast was tyo super,2 bagles, 2 breads, 4 omulets, a bunch of sausages, 3packs of oatmeal, 2 yogults, a bunch of fruits, 1 banana, 2 cups of coffee, and 1 orange juice.
I felt "Manpuku"! ("Manpuku" is in Japanese, it means "stick to rib" in English) Furthermore, I was given 3 omulets and a bunch of saisages and 1 bagle from the hotel. I packed these foods into tapperware container which my mother gave me before this trip. I remembered my hometown, Osaka and my family. Thank you so much, Mom!

I checked e-mail and wrote some responses, heard 3 songs "Bleeding Love", "I got you" by Leona Lewis, and "Photograph" by Nickelback. on Youtube. I like Leona, and Nickelback. Very relax.
We started 8:00a.m. It was fine today and 56miles distance. I shook hands with the hotel man of the Hampton, who got interested in our trip, he gave us the kind words, "Safe trip!" Thank you so much! It was very warm, very good day for bike today.Bamboo bike seemed to be fun! On the way, a handsome gentleman with Ray-ban sunglasses said to us with a big big voice suddenly, "GOOD DAY FOR YOU!" Oops.. I was so surprised that I almost slipped down....but I felt happy! The people in Virginia were very friendly for bike, almost they waved to us ,in the car, along the road and some people said to us, "Hi!". We felt happy.

Around here, from Wytheville to Christianburg, beautiful scenery was spreading, too. There were some farms, gentle hills, some farm machines, pretty houses, cattle, horse, sheep, sunlight danced here and there, time passed slowly, peaceful, static. It was like a paintings. And when I saw the tree around here, I sometimes felt it was such like a capillaries or Nerve. It was delicate, sharp, subtle, poetic, beautiful.
Though my right achilles tendon has been not good, we were enjoying biking around here. While biking, I often got flash backs of everyone whom we met in this trip, and everywhere whom we passed. When I saw a black big dog, I remembered Bohdi in Denver and Ziek in Utah, when I saw a sheep, I remember the wild and beautiful scenery in Nevada, Pylamid Lake, Deborah, David, four wheeler, RV, the boss of Cold springs station, Harley Davidson, Stephen... Rose mountain near Reno...Austin summit, Peter, Alek...New York Steak... when I saw the exposed wild rock, I remembered the Bryce Canyon, and Michael, David, when I saw the blue pond, I remembered the hot tub in Kings beach, Ben, San Francisco Giants, hot tub in Montrose, Rocky, lent cabin, sweet tomatoes..... Memory brings abother memory, Memory connects another memory. All memory are valuable for me, I am always feeling happiness/ gratitude/ while biking, I often breathed deeply recently on ride, that is...I breathed happiness into my whole lung. Samurai never forget gratitude.

We arrived at Christiansburg at 1:00p.m. I ate lunch at lodge, 3 omulets and a bunch of sausages and 1 bagle which I was given at Hampton hotel, and beef stew and chicken rice which I bought in
Family Dollar in Christiansburg. I cooked beef stew and chicken rice by microwave, only 90seconds! Wow.. I felt the great power of microwave, the progress of technology, innovation.
Bamboo bike laughed at me and said "Have you time-slipped from 19th?"

I watched football game on TV and checked weather news. It will rain aorund hera and Buchanan from afternoon. I decided to start early morning to avoid rain, wet, and not to be a "wet rat".
I slept early on the bed without dinner(I did not feel hungry). Bed was not soft, it was not like as a bed in Hampton Hotel, but I could slept very well, maybe I can sleep well anywhere without at Gunnison, and at Bob Scott campground.. Good night, my family, my friends, everyone, and bamboo bike.
During this trip, I am writing some reports of Samurai, which I think, I feel, I believe. Samurai reports of Samurai!

Takashi 2010/11/22 @Christiansburg

2 Bamboo Fish appear in a pond

2010-11-22T15:24:00.000-08:00

We have already run 3639.8miles (6,066km) in United States and 1,380miles (2,300km) in Japan this year with bamboo bike. The remaining distance is 816.2miles (1,360km). Now when I am biking with bamboo bike2 on the road, various scenes appear one after another in my head, as if I were with everyone whom I met in this trip, as if I heard their voices closely, and clearly. Feeling happiness, feeling gratitude, feeling nostalgia. 2 Bamboo fish appeared today, because we passed the transit point, 8,000km (8,366km, total). The last bamboo fish will appear on Dec 1st, at Wrightsville, PA. The final destination is coming.

Takashi 2010/11/21 @Wytheville

11/21 Wytheville

2010-11-21T17:00:00.000-08:00

11/21 Fine day, from Damascus to Wytheville, 59miles

Today was the 5th day since we have entered the Appalachians. I woke up 4:15a.m. Ate breakfast: chicke broccori, sirial with 2% milk. And I made original drink, 100% spring water from Meadowviwe, lemonado, and 2% milk. Tasted?!...ya, it was OK.

After cleaning up the room, we started 5:50a.m. Wind blew a little bit storngly, but no problem, we already had experienced such windy day in Great Basin National Park, in Kansas, Missouri. Today we passed about 3,800feet hill, some hiker's trails, with hearing the sounds of river.

I saw wonderful sunrise, and scenery this morning.

This was awesome.

Big Sun shed the light on the ground here and there through between the trees, white air occurred from the frosty grounds and some rose up and the others floated between trees, above the grounds. A few birds sometimes sang.

I am feeling the Appalachians has 2 faces, the dark face and the bright face, it was like "Goddess, of Medousa". At the dark face, I could see early morning, it was like a world of Poe, whom I love the best as a poet, trees were strange shape, conjested, rivers were curvy, and it was dark covered by many trees. It was like a "Dreamland" or "City in the Sea" by Poe.

(Oh... Poe was lived in Virginia for a few time..)

But the other face was wonderful, beautiful, delicate, subtle, nervous, sculptural, static, and gentle.

I felt the Goddess of America when I saw such this beautiful morning in the Appalachians. Rocky Mt. was like "Alexander the Great", heroic, spectacle, strong, powerful and bravery. I was enjoying the various scenery of Appalachians. This morning was so impressive that I will never forget this morning in my life. Great the Appalachians! Thank you, God of America, thank you Goddess of America.

We passed Troutdale, Sugar Grove, Cedar Springs, Rural Retreat, and arrived at Wytherville at 11:30p.m. Tonight we stayed at Hampton Inn in Wytherville, it was pretty expensive for me but I could connect internet, gather lots of information, take great rest, use loundry, stay warm.

I cooked chicken rice by microwave, and eat with 4 breads with peanuts butter, some coffee.

We have already run 3,639.8miles(6,066km), 82% of all distance. The distance of the rest of this trip is 816.2miles(1,360km). The goal is coming.

Takashi 2010/11/21 @Wytheville, VA

11/20 Damascus

2010-11-21T15:35:00.000-08:00

11/20 Fine day, from Elkhorn City to Damascus, 83.5miles

I woke 3:30a.m. and did packing...with eating fast breakfast, 4 bread with peanuts butter, and apples. I fixed the right achilles tendon with some tapes, felt good, I hoped taping would alleviate hard pain. Today was tough day for my painful right achilles, there were two 3,000 feet hills between Elkhorn City and Damascus. This journey is not a war, but cooperation, like harmony. I just want to enjoy biking with bamboo bike2, study biking with bamboo bike2, promote bamboo products, raise awareness of Eco friendly life, neglected bamboo forests in Japan. I will pedal by using left leg power more than right leg's to help the right leg achilles, Bamboo bike2 will often use 3rd small gear to help my right leg achilles, during Appalachian Nature will entertain us I will forget the pain of right achilles.

We started biking 5:15a.m. Bamboo bike2 put the pedals on the Virginia for the first time, passed Breaks, Haysi, Council, Honaker, Rosedale, Meadowview and arrived at Damascuc 3:00p.m. Around Council, I saw beautiful sunrise. I stopped for some time, looked at the sun, and ate 1 energy bar.

Though I thought there were 2 big hills today....actually there were 3 big hills for us.. Around Haysi, there was one additional pretty big hill, curvy and curvy and steap.. I felt lots of sweat on the back, head, shoulder... when I was passing these 3 hills. I want to share the feeling at uphill/ downhill/ top of hill/ around here with everyone in some photos..

・Uphill...

・Downhill...

and Uphill again...

and top of hill !!

We enjoyed biking so much today. During climbing hills, descending the hills, when we reached top of the hills, I enjoyed biking, was always feeling good. I could alleviate the pain of right achilles tendon because of taping. We are loving the Appalachians.

"A feeling for the Appalachian 4th day" ;

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!!

Today's hills were fatastic, I thought today's biking would be one of the best riding in this trip. Particular the route of SR80 between Rosedale and Hayters Gap was tyo exciting for us. This route was special, I thought. We could feel the clear atmosphere in the forets. And car drivers was so kind that they gave lots of attention to us. Some drivers waved to us. The people in Virginia was friendly for cyclists. Around Meadowview, gentle hill were spreading, many cattles and horses there were. Around Meadowview it was very spectacle, filled with country atmosphere, smell. Tyo good!

I dropped by a shop and ate lunch, 2 slaw dog and chicken salada, chocolate milk, lemonado. I talked to Betty, the owener of the shop about Meadowview, Damascus, trip, and bamboo. She gave me a 100% clear water from spring in Meadowview. I mixed this water with lemonado.

"SNAVELY'S STORE"

Owner: Jack and Betty Swavely

12250 Lindell Road Meadowview, VA 24361

I arrived at Damascus and asked a lady,whose name is Eura, the owner of the beauty shop in Damascus, the direction to the church where we stayed tonight. She kindly showed me the direction, and furthermore showed me Buchbone rock, and Tennessee for some time. In Damascuc there were 3 bike shops in town. I visited these bike shops but 2 bike shops were already closed because on Saturday and I talked to the staff of 1 bike shop for some time.

Tonight I stayed at "the place" , hostel in Damascus. Though I expected other biker's or hiker's stay and to talk with them in that hostel, no one there were tonight. I stayed with bamboo bike2. I cooked rice and pasta by microwave which was equipd with this hostel and ate. Pasta was scorched because I set microwave timer too long..... Oops.. And there were no air heater in hostel, so I used sleeping pad and sleeping bag.

Before carsh, I prayed.

My right achilles tendon has been not good. It was difficult to walk normally because of pain. I prayed to arrow head which Cathy gave me in Golconda, "Please let me continue this journey, and give me some power". I prayed. I hold this stone, Indian's arrow head strongly..tightly.. Darkness covered this hostel, no one there were outside, inside, without me and bamboo bike2. There were no sounds, silent Saturday night. I heard voice of someone who were whispering to me gently, " bravery..you are brave..you can do it" , the voice was small but clear. Though I looked around at that time, no one there were outside, inside, without me and bamboo bike2. I gazed at this stone for some time. But I could not hear such voice anymore.

Mysterious..

The voice was from / Stone ?/ Indian ?/ Bamboo bike2 ?/ anyone ?/ ...I wondered...

But I felt mysterious power occurred from inside me, this power changed into bravery.

Inside sleeping bag it was warm. Good night.. Takashi 2010/11/20 @Damascus, VA

11/19 Elkhorn City

2010-11-21T12:23:00.000-08:00

11/19 Fine day, from Hindman to Elkhorn City, 63miles

Watch Alarm rang gently like a whisper of birds of forests in Kentucky, I woke up 3:30a.m. Today I must decided to go Elkhorn City or Haysi. The distance to Haysi is 15miles far than Elkhorn City.

I decided. I am an early decision maker. If I could contact with a lodge in Haysi on the way to Elkhorn City, we will go to Haysi, and could not contact with, to Elkhorn City. In Hindman we were helped by kind people. But this was miracle, and my phone was unfortunately out of network, so I thought I should avoid the risk of staying nowhere at midnight/ early morning, (it was frosty, contented with fog, chilly)

This morning, I ate a special breakfast. I am a "sticking a rib's breakfast eater".(I do not know whether this "words" exist or not.) : 3 beef, 2 crumberry, vegetable salada, sweet potato, 3 bread, macaroni cheese, chocolate cake, walnut pie, crumberry cream, many apples. These breakfast were gifts that Rebecca and some kind ladies took for me yesterday celebration night...

With gratiture to them I ate breakfast. Thank you so much Hindman.

I started biking 6;10a.m.with bamboo bike2. The condition of Bamboo bike2 was tyo good, no flat tire, light waight, strong, neat, beautiful, stiff, and front carrier was also good which Nick repaired for us in Berea, KY. It was still dark around, I saw fog. We passed a bridge in Hindman, passed SR160, Pippa passes, and a few mountains..

A feeling for the Appalachian 3rd day;

It was fun ride for us! Today was the 3rd day since we have entered in the Appalachians, we were enjoying biking tyo much. There were exciting curvy uphill/downhill which I could not meet with in Rocky.Mt. and beautiful scenery surrounded by many colorful trees, and we could hear various songs of birds, I could feel something move in the forests. Fantastic, Appalachian!

At the pizza and burger shop on US23/119 near Lookout, I took rest and some foods. And I lent phone in the shop and I called to a lodge and police emergency in Haysi, but there ware no reply from lodge in Haysi. Though I asked police emergency whether I could stay in Haysi tonight, their reply was not clear for me. I decided to stay in Elkhorn City tonight.

I arrived Elkhorn City around 1:00p.m, coming up near the city, many coal trucks appeared. In a post office in city I talked to the 2 staffs and a lady. One of the Staff said to me with laughing, "you were the last person this year! " and she showed me the direction to a lodge, "OK, stop light, you turn right, cross the bridge, on the left." Many people said to me so with laughing. I felt the wheel of fortune. It may snow in the north area in Dec and very chilly, but I will not stop this journey. I do never run for myself, I run for bamboo, bamboo business in Japan, Japanese society and I am supported/ helped by many people. I can hear their voice, feel great power from them. I am never running by myself, I am running with many people and bamboo bike2.

Cross the big bridge in city, we arrived at a lodge. After checking in a lodge, I wrote some sentences for blog and went to the the library in town. I checked e-mail, and posted articles up on blog. I stayed at liberary till 5:30p.m. After that, I dropped by a restaurant at the corner of main street because I felt hungry much. I ate much. : 6 shrimps, 1 French salada, 1 fried steak with gravy, 2 cups of unsweat tea. When back to a lodge, I enjoyed watching a basket ball game and weather news on TV for some time.

The condition of my right achilles tendon has been tyo bad. I must take measures somewhat to this pain. I thought...thought...What I could do now was..

1.adjust the height of saddle (lower the height)

2.taping (fix achilles tendon with some tapes)

3.?? (I will think while riding..)

I lowered the height of saddle, by 0.4inch. I will fix right achilles tendon tomorrow morning with tape which I received at hospital in Marion IL.

Outside was very quiet, sometimes the train carrying coal whistled with a big voice, after that silence came again. I remembered the camp night in Cassoday, KS at the middle of Oct.

The train here in Elkhorn city was carrying coal. At that night (Middle of Oct) , what did those trains which I met in Cassoday, KS carry? For a few minutes I was thinking about that, and the life of neightbors live in Cassoday and remembered that night in Kansas. Tomorrow we will enter Virginia. I am looking forwrd to what Virginia is. The stars were shining. Outside was very quiet.

Takashi 2010/11/19 @Elkhorn City, KY

11/18 Hindman

2010-11-19T14:03:00.000-08:00

11/18, Partly Cloud, with a little rain, from Booneville to Hindman, 66miles

I woke up 4:00a.m. and prepared for start and ate breakfast: one bowl corn sirial with a cup of hot cocoa, 2breads with peanuts butter, a cup of coffee, I checked weather forecast on TV, showed me "a little rain at morning, partly cloudy at afternoon". We started at 6:30a.m., it was still dark, sometimes big truck lighted up by many lamps passed us, there were little cars, trucks on the road. We passed downtown in Booneville, passed a few mountains and dropped by gas station in Buckhorn at 8:30a.m. In front of a gas station many cars and trucks stopped, guys took rest and talked inside the shop. I enjoyed talking to them for some time. They were very friendly and showed me a restroom, a TV room, and said to me that I can use computer here. Thought I did not use laptop, I watched TV while eating 2cakes for some time. On TV, Lady Gaga was singing.
They got intrested in bamboo bike, I was happy, of course bamboo bike2 was also happy, bamboo bike2 turned red a little. And one of the guys adviced me about the route in detail and adivised to pay attention to "Coal truck". I studied that Perry/ Knott/ Floyd/ Pike county and some couties around here are "coal county", famous for coal harvesting industry. Many coals were harvested here and carried to Kentucky, Virginia by "Coal truck". Today on the road, long and wide "Coal trucks" passed us at slow speed many times. I saw coal, black diamond full-burdened in those trucks.

We were enjoying biking at the Appalachians, uphill and downhill, it was curvy, but a fun ride for us.

Since Rocky Mt. we have not meet such long uphills/ downhills. On the road, we saw lots of trees, rivers, rocks, fallen leaves, fog, deers, dogs, squirrels, ravens, and heard songs of birds. Today I wore a rain jacket which Deno presented me, with an orange luminant shirt which David Cuzy presented me. These were comfortable to keep warm, highlighten us. I love these items.

On downhill unless I wore this rain jacket, I would felt a little cold. Thank you so mcuh, Deno, David.

We arrived at Hindman,KY at 1:00p.m. Though I dropped by a campsite and Bed and Breakfast in Hidman, there were no one, maybe already closed. My cell phone was out of network around here. That was a big problem for me, cell phone was an important staff! I lent phone in some places, cafe and gas station, but there were no replies from campsite and Bed and Breakfast, Furthermore I heard that any motels in Hindman also already closed...

I felt a little trouble but I had a mouth.

I dropped by "Hindman human service center" near the gas station, and asked whether there were any places to stay tonight. The officer showed me one name "Mike", who worked at "Hindman Settlement School". I visited him. I met Mike and Rebecca there. They were so kind that they provided us a great room, one of the rooms of school. Furthermore I and bamboo bike2 were invited "Thanksgiving celebration supper" which was held in Hindman Settlement School tonight.

I felt happiness, and I felt sometihing big/ sacred again.

Because I have some time till supper, I visited a local newspaper company in Hindman, "Troublesome Creek Times". I was interviewed by newsreported with bamboo bike2 there. Maybe on next publish, our article will be posted. After that I went to a cafe in downtown, "The Appalachian Artisan Center Shop and Cafe". Inside shop it was artistic. I could use wi-fi there and checked e-mail and ate late lunch.

I spend a couple of hours there and after that I went to "Hindman Settlement School" to meet Rebecca and Mike. This celebration supper was tyo great for me and bamboo bike2. We had a great time with them. I talked to many people who participated in this celebration about myself, trip, bamboo, bamboo bike, neglected bamboo forests problem in Japan and Japanese culture. And I showed them bamboo bike2, bamboo bike2 also enjoyed time with them. Great foods there were in supper, chicken, beef, sweet potato, vegetables, many, many, and dessert, soft drinks, thanksgiving traditional foods. I ate too much..stick to rib..

And in this celebration I heard about "Shiitake" from Robert, which is a kind of mushroom, we Japanese often eat, tasts soft, sweet, and sometimes put into "Sukiyaki", "Miso soup". "Sukiyaki" is special dinner for Japanese, "Miso soup is one of the most traditional Japanese breakfast.

This "Shiitake" is planted in Whitesburg,KY near Hindman. This is exchanging program between Whitesburg and Toyama city(maybe), Wow, small world. I was happy to hear that and be with them tonight who enjoyed talking about Japan and thier city. Furthermore I heard about "Banjo" local music instrument, used in "blue grass music" around the Appalachians. I saw "Banjo" at Kelly and Cheryl's home, too. After dinner Rebecca showed me historical antiques in Hindman, and gave me lots of apples and 2bottles of water. Today I could meet wonderful people in United States again. I have been studying hospitality from American people during this trip. And I could touched with culture, history of Hindman, I and bamboo bike2 like Hindman.

Well...I have one problem about physical.

Since yesterday, I had dull pain of right achilles' tendon, got a little bit swollen and turned red, the condition was too bad. I could walk/ pedal but I felt hard and dull pain. I did not know why this pain occurred. After biking in both yesterday and today I pasted analgesic and massaged well. I hope early recovery. Bamboo bike2 will help me to pedal, I will often use the third gear (most small one) to soften the load of achilles tendon. Samurai never give up.

After back into the room, I took a nap for some time and took hot shower, and read some articles of local newspaper and about Hindman Settlement school. Though I wrote some sentences for blog, I felt sleepy. I stopped writing blog. Inside room, I could hear hot breathe of air conditioner.

I felt warm of my body and warm of their heart of Mike, Rebecca, Jim, Robert, and the people in Hindman. I was happy. I saw outside, it was dark, some electric lamps shed light on the road. It was quiet. Trucks passed.. quiet came again. Weather forecast on newspaper showed me a good condition of /weather/ temperature/ for next 5 days in the Appalachians. Good sleep.

2010/11/18 @Hindman

11/17 Booneville

2010-11-18T12:45:00.000-08:00

11/17 Fine day partly cloud , from Berea to Booneville, 49miles

I wanted to write a few things which I forgot to write on blog yesterday.

1.There were some green conscious places and stores around Berea college area
2.Kelly showed me his and Cheryl's cool bike

Berea college was made from red bricks, it was beautiful. Around college there were some restaurant, cafe, crafts shops. I saw many students, and the people who enjoyed lunch, talking, listening music, looking into laptop there. Kelly showed me the place where students of Berea college were acting with green conscious issues. I heard about "grey water", recycled water. After back to Kelly's house, Kelly showed me his and Cheryl's bike, his bike's component was combination with aluminum and carbon, shape of frame was thin and flat, color was red and black, cool.

This morning, Kelly cooked an energetic breakfast for me. While feeling gratitude to Kelly and Cheryl, I ate 4 scrambled eggs, 1 bread with butter, 5 sausages and 1 grape fruit with coffee. I got lots of power!

I said "thank you" and "bye-bye" to Kelly, Kelly must go to collede earlier than I. Thank you so much, Kelly. I never forget your kindness and my promise to you. Cheryle cooked vegetable and chicken roll, rice with soy-souce "Tamari" ("Syo-yu" in Japanese) roll. I ate rice with soy-souce at lunch, tasted very nice, I felt some nostalgia, because I have not eaten Japanese foods for about 70days. She gave me an apple, and trail mix, in this mix "Wasabi" was included. I thought it was very unique. I like "wasabi",too. They provided me a new bantage for left leg yesterday...I could stay warm, watched basket ball game in college, accessed internet, ate pumpkin pie, drank beer.... I was helped so much by them. Thank you so much. I want to keep this memory with them in mind in my life. If they will come to Japan, I want to host them. I said "bye-bye" to Cheryl, and I started biking at 8:20a.m. with bamboo bike2.

We passed on US421, SR3445, SR1071, and SR30 and arrived at Linda's Victorian Rose, Booneville 1:30p.m. Linda was very friendly, talkative and she said " Very surprised at late cyclist". we laughted. ya, I know, we are late, we must go ahead, avoid snow, iced road asap. She provided us a nice lodge, inside the lodge there were lots of antique, lots of paintings, lots of candles, lots of flowers, bamboo chair and bamboo diningware.

Today there were a few thigs I wanted to do for bamboo bike2, /dip chain oil/ arrange back light/ arrange water bottle cage/ Yesterday bamboo bike2 was wet by rain, so I dipped oil with chain.
And I arranged rear light, added one light which I used as a front light, because I have felt that I needed to light up the back of ourselves more, around here in Kentucky, the road was curvy, narrow, shoulderless. And I arranged the water bottle cage not to move using rubber. I thought to carry some used rubbers was important in bike trip.

A feeling for the Appalachians; uphills were not so long, but road was curvy, narrow, a little bit dark, shoulderless. That was the matter not physical but mental, paying attention to back was most important. In small roads, for examle, SR3445, SR1071 I enjoyed rollar coaster biking, enjoyed beautiful scenery with bamboo bike2, there were little cars. Bamboo bike2 also enjoyed biking, beautiful Nature around here in Kentucky very much. Sometimes bamboo bike2 talked to trees in Kentucly gently, "Hey, you were beautiful, and strong because you could endure such this cold, I prefer a little bit tropical season, but I was happy to meet you, I wanted to contribute to green society with you" Now I am feeling for the Appalachians. I will add to write about our feeling for the Appalachians while riding with bamboo bike2.

I ate dinner, spanich rice, vegetable and chicken roll, apple, and popcorn. Cheryl cooked vegetable and chicken roll for me this morning, inside roll, there were plenty of chickens! I felt happy and
felt her kindness, thank you so much Cheryl. Apple was very sweet, dinner of tonight was tyo good for me!

Outside, there were nothing to move, wind did not blow, I could not hear any sounds. It was very quiet here in Booneville. I read a book "bible for businessman" , took rest sitting on the bamboo chair, aside by me bamboo bike2 kept quiet, looked at me. Candle lights lighten up inside the room. For me, time to read books was peaceful and gave me a relax. Weather forecast on TV told me a little rain tomorrow, but I felt peace and comfortable. I did not know why I felt so. Good night
Takashi 2010/11/17 @Booneville

11/16 Berea

2010-11-17T04:34:00.000-08:00

11/16 Rain day, from Harrodsburg to Berea, 46miles

I woke up 3:30a.m, it did not rain yet, I decided early start. Yesterday I could stay warm because I slept in the restroom... smell was not bad...

I cooked breakfast, ate 3 oatmeal, 3 breads with peanuts butter with coffee. We started biking at 5:15a.m. It did not rain yet. Rain began to start 6:30a.m. and getting harder gradually, Such this hard rain was the first time in this trip. I took more attention to back than usual, I often looked around, sometimes stopped outside of the road. On Hwy27, though I did not know why I felt danger. I felt as if someone talked to me, " Don't bike, walk out of the road with bamboo bike."
I see....in the dark, in rain, there were lots of cars, trucks, big trucks on the road, and shoulder was narrow, almost none. I replied to myself, "Ya, I knew, I must protect bamboo bike2, and the road was not for only bike people and bike, the road was for all drivers." I walked along the Hwy27, outside of the road.

In the rain, during today's biking, I had been feeling thank you for Deno all the way, because today I wore rain jacket which Deno chose for me in St.Louis. It is not hot, not wet, comfortable. Tyo good! Thank you Deno! This jacket was waterproof, and insulated. The parts of insulation could be removed. Todya I removed insulation parts. Great!

On the way, we dropped by church and took rest. We arrived at Berea at 11:30a.m. and dropped by Berea coffee and Tea, ate lunch, a panini and water. If front of the shop I talked to Mr and Mrs,Blount about our trip, I was happy that she got interested in our trip. She showed me about the banana fiber in Berea as a sustainable resourse as same as bamboo, I heard for the first time. Tyo good! And she donated us some money. Thank you so much, Mr. Blount and Mrs.Blount.
I met Cheryl who hosted me tonight, worked at Save the Children in Berea. She took me and bamboo bike2 to her house, and I took warm shower, after that we went back to her office in Berea.

Miracle occurred in the shop. I met Nick, the bike shop owener in Berea, where I wanted to go this afternoon to repair my broken right-front carrier. He was so kind that he repaired broken carrier.
I was tyo lucky! Thank you so much, Nick!
His shop, "Appalachian bicycle collective" (on facebook), http://appalachianbikes.com/

After that I met Kelly, who was a husband of Cheryl, teacher of Berea college. He showed me some places in Berea college, and in town. I met some people and enjoyed talking. I ate dinner in Kelly and Cheryl's house, ate pasta, salada, pumpkin pie. Pumpkin pie was tyo nice! I drank Sierra Nevada, and Daniel Adams.

"Beer blog"
Sierra Nevada;
I drank this a few times in this trip. I like Sierra Nevada than Daniel Adams, because tasts like darker, and aftertaste is good.

Daniel Adams;
I drank this three times in this trip. sharp, clear. Bitter aftertaste, and a little bit bitter than Coors.

Kelly took me and bamboo bike2 to the Berea college and we watched college basketball game. I like basketball. I enjoyed watching basketball. Berea college won the game. In half time I and bamboo bike2 were introduced to spectators as guests at the center court. We were happy and bamboo bike2 seemed to turn red a little bit. We stayed at Kelly and Cheryl's house tonight, could stay warm. Thank you so much!
Outside wind was strong, I saw some geese flying over the lake in front of house. I am feeling "happiness" I can not explain well. I was helped and supported by lots of people. Thank you, thank you, thank you so much. The Appalachians appeared in front of us. Tomorrow we will enter the Appalachians.

Takashi 2010/11/16@Berea

11/15 Harrodsburg

2010-11-16T11:50:00.000-08:00

11/15, Cloudy day, from Bardstown to Harrodsburg, 46miles

I woke up 4:00a.m. took a hot shower, in the mirror, I saw scraped points of my left leg and hip, these were almost healed. I checked weather forecast on the website, it showed me it was cloudy this morning and afternoon, and rain at night in Harrodsburg. And in Berea, the next stop will rain all day tomorrow. I assembled time schedule both on Monday and Tuesday.

I checked e-mail and wrote some responses. Some of these were from Japan. Though I felt some nostalgia, I focused on this trip.
One of these was about my "Donation project" which I have been proceeding in this trip. I want to donate some "bamboo plants" and "bamboo plates and bowls" to 2 special places in the church, the Glide Memorial Church San Francisco.

One is the "creative space" which is a very pleasant small gallery used for glide's members and guest art exhibits. The art exhibit they have now displays photos taken by the Glide Women’s Art and Empowerment Group who took photos about issues around homelessness in that community; an earlier exhibit was produced by the children in about a class they had with Cecil Williams. The room has high ceiling (12-15 feet high), and uses alot of recycled and renewable materials, including bamboo flooring.
The other space is the new "demonstration kitchen", which is used to provide cooking classes to neighbors in the community about improving diets through cooking healthier meals using local ingredients. Their first cooking class was one week ago and had 10 families; the next class has more than 20 families signing up. It is a normal size kitchen, like in a home, and the location is just next to the creative space.

The Glide showed me what beautiful it is to contibute to public sociey and help each other in this March 2010. At that time I visited to study social enterprise/ business, non-profit organization in San Francisco Bay area under the VIA program. I sang songs/ gospel at Glide(like that), and I heard the names of babies who were born/ of names of people who died there in a week. I felt strong emotion and realized that what beautiful it was to help each other, to build friendly community toward the future. "This was the social enterprise, this was the social business, my way", suddenly I said to myself at that time. Since then I have been believed so. When I came back to Japan in April, as the first step that Bamboo Samurai contributes to public society, I decided to donate Glide by fundraising of "Cross country trip with bambop bike".
I have still learning what beautiful it is to help each other from lots of people I met in this trip. Through the donation, I want to raise awareness of eco-friendly life using bamboo to children, people of United States and Japan broadly.
I have been proceeding this plan with my friend, talking about fundraising system, cooperator, numbers of bamboo plants, and..and...
I decided to late start today, because I wanted to write responce to my friend about this project to proceed asap. I will update about this donation project in detail up on my blog, please check and please support me if you get interested in!

We started 9:00a.m. It was very cloudy, I felt cold. I wore arm/ leg warmer. I saw 2 deers on the road this morning but did not saw deer hunters. Deers jumped across the road and looked at me from far. Tyo Pretty.

And I saw a doll of horse riding jockey in a garden, Kentucky Derby horse racing... Funny.
In Mackville, I dropped by a post office to send letters to Japan from Kentucky. I talked to office staff and a lady for some time, enjoyed talking. Toyota, cheese burger, road in Kentucky, deer hunting, Japan. In Rose Hill, I dropped by a grocery store and bought 2 breads, and talked to the boss of the store. "Good day for biking! Do you still feel hot?" I replied "Ya", he laughed much and showed me a direction to Harrodsburg. I am loving Kentucky.

In Kentucky I am feeling the people around Kentucky are very friendly to bike person.
We arrived at Harrodsburg at 1:00p.m. We stayed at Anderson Dean Community Park, here was a big park, there were some spaces with roof, and shelters, baseball grounds..and..and.. Tyo good! I cooked dinner at 5:00p.m. :Mexican rice(it was hot, so good for this season), 2 ramen, 0.6 litter coffee. It was not rain yet, felt a little bit cold aroud 8:00p.m. Good night. Tomorrow maybe I will be "wet rat" (In Japanese, if the people were wet by heavy rain, the people are called "wet rat")

Takashi 2010/11/15@Harrodsburg

11/14 Bardstown

2010-11-14T19:39:00.000-08:00

11/14 Fine day, from Falls of Rough to Bardstown, 95miles

I woke up 3:30a.m. started to cook breakfast outside, 2 deer hunters prepared for hunting. I cooked 3packs oatmeal, bread with peanuts butter. We started 5:00a.m. Around here and there it was still dark and somewhere I could see fog. We encountered many cars of deer hunters.

When I passed White Mills which was a small town, I noticed a trouble of my right-front bag(pannier). I noticed screw which attached right-front carrier with right front fork was cracked. I could not carry front bag attached with right-front carrier, I decided if I carry right-front bag by hand or if I put it on the sleeping bag. I decided that I put it on the sleeping bag, I remembered 2 ropes which were not use now. I binded bag with sleeping bag by using 2 ropes. I was lucky to have ropes. If I did not have those ropes... Oops, I may I must drop some equipments or carry bag by hand while riding long way. I was very lucky. I need to repair right-front carrier, if I can I want to repair before we pass the Appalachians. Because there are bike shop in Berea which is open Tue, (Monday is closed), I am planning we will go bike shop in Berea on Tue.

In Sonora I ate the second breakfast, 2 bread with peanuts butter and energy bar. My legs were sore, but I fekt it was good for me. Today we could run 95miles, it was good practice/ rehabilitation before the Appalachians.

Today was very beautiful, gentle slopes of hills were spreading broadly such like a green wave of sea. There were many corn fields which were already harvested, these were brilliant like a golden sand in desert of Arabian night. Cows sometimes stopped eating, gazed at us. There were some small ponds which color ware green, brown.

Before arriving at Bardstown(89miles), I dropped by grocery store, and ate a sandwich and talked the staff of the store, she was a college student, we talked about Japan, coin, culture, deer hunting, bamboo and many thing. At that time I was taught by her that my watch was 1 hour later.

Because I felt hungry much I ate dinner in restaurant, "Kurtz restaurant".. I ordered "Kentucky traditional foods". I ate fried chicken, beets, gravy, and pie as a dessert. Very good, particular I like beets. Fried chicken...Kentucky traditional foods...I see, Kentucky fried chicken. There are many store chain of KFC in Japan. Additional I drank beer "Miller Lite" tonight. And I saw booklet on which one sentence was written, "Kentucky bourbon trail". Kentucky.... basketball, horse racing, bourbon, fried chicken, fried turkey, roller coaster road, chasing dog, deer hunting, bike hostel...now I am studying.

"Beer blog"
Miller Lite: light taste/ clear taste, not creamy, not darker, like bud, coors, busch.

Recently, on the way, I often think about myself, several luckies surround me. I am feeling these luckies are not mine, someone/ something I can not realize gives me. I often think of Jesus, God, I think I should read Bible. We stayed at Old Bardstown Inn tonight. The Appalachians was coming closely, It was a little bit cold outside. Tomorrow I plan to go to Harrodsburg, Good night.
Takashi 2010/11/14@Bardstown,KY

11/13 Falls of Rough

2010-11-13T17:58:00.000-08:00

11/13 Fine/ Rain day, from Sebree to Falls of Rough, 73miles

Yestrerday night, Thougn I did not know the reason, I was very tired. I crashed in the car on the way back to Sebree from Evansville, Indiana. So sorry, Bob, Violet.

I woke up 4:00a.m. checked weather forecast, e-mail, facebook, and posted diary up on blog. Because I wanted to avoid rain this afternoon, I decided to start biking between 7:00 and 8:00a.m. So I called Bob by bell at 6:40a.m. We talked for some time, and I was blessed by Bob, I said bye-bye to Bob, thank you so much, Bob. I am so sorry, Violet. I regret. I could not say bye-bye to Violet, she was still sleeping. I had fun time with them, enjoyed talking to them about many things much and stayed at your church like as my home. Yesterday I was given ointment and bandage from Violet, and given a "Kentucky budge" from Bob, I put it on bike shirt. Thank you so much, Bob and Violet! Enjoy thanksgiving day with your family and enjoy "deep fried turkey"!

I started biking at 7:00a,m. with bamboo without breakfast. I like this bike shirt, this is special for me, Deno gave me, design is good, like coloring. Thanks Deno!

We arrived at Whitesville around 11:00a.m. and dropped by a resutaurant in Whitesville, ate lunch, homemade salada and cod fish humberger. I did not know what cod was, but I tried, good. Particular salada was very good. I read newspaper and checked weather. "Cold front" stayed at around center of Missouri, cold atomospehere were following us. Oops. We should go ahead in front of "Cold front" and pass Appalachians before the road in Appalachians will ice. In a restaurant I met many deer hunters, I remembered Golconda, people in Golconda. Deer hunters, the boss of restaurant, staff talked to me about bamboo bike.

They said, " Pretty Neat", "I have not heard", "I have heard but saw first time", "Did you make bamboo bike?","Bamboo was strong". I was happy to know that all people around here in west Kentucky knew about bamboo, and they all got interested in bamboo bike. I delivered some business cards which Ben Walker made for me. Thanks, Ben! And at that time I remembered Martines, CA. Thanks, Wojing! In restaurant they showed me the best route from Whitesville to Falls of Rough and said "Safe trip!" They were kind. Thank you!

We arrived at Falls of Rough at 1:30p.m. We visited campsite of Rough River Dam State Park, but I knew that campsite was already closed there. I decided to stay in lodge near State Park. At State Park, I bought letters and envelopes to send to my parents and finace in Japan from Kentucky. In room while reading map I saw an old American flag which Paura Craper gave me. I am carrying this flag with map putting in package in this tip not to wet and will carry whole of my life. This flag is special to me, it has special story between her father, family and I. I gazed at the flag for some time. There were some holes in flag which let me feel a long histroy of her father and family. I felt as if I looked at my future through holes and someone gave me power.

Outside it rained. it was already dark at 5:00p.m. It was still not cold to me.
I cooked dinner outside, 2Ramen, chicken rice and coffee, and ate energy bar. The boss of this lodge was so kind that he permitted me to use internet at his office. Thank you, boss, thank you, Rough River Rodge.

Takashi 2010/11/13 @Falls of Rough, KY

11/12 Sebree

2010-11-13T04:03:00.000-08:00

11/12, Fine day, from Marion to Sebree, 43miles

Today was beautiful day. Sunlight danced on the leaves and made beautiful contrast of shine and shade. I woke up 4:00a.m. wrote e-mail to my friends. Wayne who is a pastor in church in Marion,KY. came to my room at 7:45a.m. We went to Cafe shop to eat breakfast, ate omulet and baked patato, good. We talked about family, Japan, Marion and many thing, I enjyoed talking with Wayne, and I felt always his kindness, warm heart. Why are American people so kind? Great people. I was blessed by Wayne, and Bamboo bike2 and I said bye-bye to Wayne. Thank you so much Wayne, we took good rest, connected internet, could stay warm in your church.

"Church in Marion" ,host cyclist
Wayne Garvey
302 W.Boliville st, Marion,KY
Cyclist can stay, enjoyed talking here like in home. (next year this place will be registered in ACA's map) Tyo cool!

We started biking 9:00a.m. My leg condition was good. Of course bamboo bike2's condition was tyo good. The scenery around here, Marion, Clay, Dixon,Sebree, it was like a Nevada, or Kanzas, or Missouri, I felt. Vast field were spreading in front of us. Sunlight were dancing on the field here and there. When we passed Dixon, I ate a energy bar, banana. We arrived at the church in Sebree 0:15p.m.Tonight we stayed in church. I met Bob and Violet, a pastor of church and his wife, they have ran church for 31years, hosted cyclists for 31years. I was invited lunch, teriyaki vegetable, rice(like a Japanese rice),ham, sweet potato! ice cream, and unsweet tea. Tyo good. Oops..stick to rib...

When she heard this word, and I talked to Violet about the story "stick to rib" I was taught by Cathy, Ben in Golconda, she laughed much and enjoyed this story. I felt happy,too. She taught me one word, it is "deep fried turkey". I heard for the first time. On Thanksgiving day, her son often cooks big fried turkey, he dips turkey and fried. → deep oil and fried → deep fried turkey
It sounded very interesting to me.

I took shower and connected internet, gathered some information, weather, e-mail for some time,
I asked Vioket to contact local newspaper, but I could not meet reporter because he/she went out, after that Ben and Violet took me to Evansville, Indiana by car. In the car we enjoyed talking about Japan, Kentucky, horse racing, basketball, football, Obama, family, my trip, price of gasoline, different accent between West America and East America. Bob sometimes teased me, he said about the diferent accent, " Kentucky was most correct". I did not know whether this was true but Violet said to me, "he teased you." I did not know whether it was true, but Funny.

We went to hospital in Evansville, and visited their friend who encountered traffic accident of the truck. I was so sorry, their fried, and at moment I felt my lucky to my heart, and felt that I wanted to say thank you to something sacred/ big/. After that we went to Italian restaurant and ate dinner, spaghetti. On the way back to Sebree, I felt sleepy, and slept in the car. Though we planned that we went to listen music after dinner, they were so kind that they changed plan and took me to church. When I backed to room, at once I crached.... maybe I was very tired. I thought that I needed a little bit more rehabilitation for trip/ padaling /. But I will be able to overcome this situation, I will train my leg, mustle, conditon for a couple of days. Good night.

Takashi 2010/11/12@Sebree,KY

11/11 Marion ~ ～God bless Golconda, they taught me how beautiful human being is ～

2010-11-11T18:48:00.000-08:00

11/11 from Golconda to Marion, 37miles

"Departure, Back on the road" by Ben Walker

I woke up 6:00a.m., took a shower, packaged some stuff into new bags. Ben was still sleeping. I talked to D.J. for some time. I wrote letters to Ben and Cathy on a paper which were made from Japanese bamboo. Memories in Golconda flashed back one by one, this morning on the bed, I could not control my expression well, sentimentalism, that was something impressive I could not express.

Ben woke up, said "Good morning". At that time, I could not still control my eyes, my tears well. I picked up bamboo bike2 from apartment to outside. Bamboo bike2 did not say nothing to me. We have not talked yet. Ben went to grocery store to buy "Corn Chex" for my breakfast. I ate breakfast 2 bowl "Corn Chex" and an apple.

I met Joy, said bye-bye, I hope her condition are getting better and better.God bless Joy. After that Craper and Cathy came to meet me, Craper gave me some gifts, books, flower, beautiful origami crane....taught story about her father who loved Japan, I felt her kindness, softness, wisdom, longing for Japan, wish for my safe trip deep inside her eyes. She knew Japanese culture well. A red colored beautiful origami crane....it looked double because of tear. Cathy gave some gifts for me and fiance, books, bible, beautiful spooner in the Elizabeth era, Indian's arrow head, a poem, 2recipes for cabbler and quiche, necklace which shapes big mariposa. Arrow head is a weapon of Indian, symbol of brave warrior. I will consider and make my "company logo" using bamboo and this Indian's arrow head Cathy gave me. She gave me a poem as an amulet. I love poem, so after biking today I tried to read the poem she gave me, but I could read only a few sentences, I could not read more because my heart was filled with joy, her kindness, her wish by such a few sentences. During trip I always put this poem and arrow head in my pocket.

"With Craper, her Grandfather and Cathy" by Ben Walker

My heart were filled up with something I could not express, it is like a joy, like happiness, and at last these poured out of my eyes as tear. Something sacred hugged me, I was feeling. This was the feeling that I was hugged by something warm, something big, too. I don't know what it was. I can not express what it was. But I am sure feeling.

"Promise, Astalavista!"

On the main street of Golconda, I said bye-bye to Ben, Cathy, Craper, they are special to me.

Thank you so much. Golconda, it was my second hometown, my favorite town in United States, like a memorial box of jewels.

I have many dreams, today I got one dream. That dream is that I will contribute to build bridge between Golconda and Japanese town. The bridge will cross over future, like a singing bridge cross over great Ohio river. And I promise I will visit here in Golconda again.

Samurai will sure to do what Samurai said once.

Astalavista!

See you, Forever my friend, Ben. Forever my teacher Cathy, Craper, and Great Golconda! God bless Golconda. Tyo cool, Golconda! Beautiful day today.

Today was the first day I and bamboo bike2 on the road. We rode 37miles from Golconda to Marion, KY. On the way I kept reminding Golconda. On the way Bamboo bike2 said to me for the first time, "Hey, Takashi, take care of your leg. Hold tight my hundlebar and I can support you! Go together to New York." I felt happy, I replied "thank you bamboo bike2, my leg condition was good." Yes, I must keep having strong heart, I am Samurai, never give up.

Today was also the first day bamboo bike2 put the pedal on the Kentucky states, across the Ohio river, by ferry. On the ferry, I gazed at deep-green water of the Ohio river, I searched for "Cat Fish", but I could not find anything. In front of me, I saw the field of Kentucky were spreading, in the back of me, I saw some rocks, some houses of Illinois.

I said bye-bye to Hiro. Hiro will fly to New York from Paducahand take video in Bamboobikestudio. I know he loves work, he is professional. I respect him. I was happy to speak Japanese with Hiro, see you again in Japan, Hiro!

We arrived at Marion 1:00p.m. I dropped by local newspaper office,"The Crittenden Press, Inc" (www.the press.com) to promote bamboo. I talked to some staffs to promoted bamboo bike/ bamboo/ Bamboo Samurai/ eco friendly life. I hope they get interested in this activity.

Tonight we stay at Church in Marion, we were invited church by Pastor whom we met in campsite in Marion. We can stay warm. I ate dinner, taco rice and tuna-can, energy bar, banana.

In city park in Marion , it was very quiet, sometimes the leaves sang a pretty song dancing with wind. Bamboo bike2 were surrounded with "Nature" in fall in Kentucky for the first time. Sunset was coming earlier. The Craper's dad's, a veteran of WW2, flag were swinging. Today is veterans day, beautiful day today.

I wonder if Ben and Joy already stayed at hotel in St.Louis, and if the inspection worked well for Joy. God bless Joy and Ben. Takashi 2010/11/11 @Marion,KY

11/10 @Golconda

2010-11-10T21:29:00.000-08:00

11/10 @Golconda, Fine day, 0mile

"Bamboo bike2 on the bank along the Ohio river" by Ben Walker

I woke up 5:40a.m. and sat down on the seat, Ben was sleeping beside. I was waiting for on AIR of video, WPSD NewsChannel6. Ben woke up, we watched TV, and about 6:40a.m. we watched the video of bamboo bike, Ohio river, Golconda, Ben, me!
Tyo cool! It is a memorial record of my whole life. Thank you, Ben. Thank you, Golconda, IL.
Video was on AIR at 6:00-7:00a.m. WPSD NewsChannel6 ,http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1444369709029

This morning, in the restaurant Golconda crowded with deer hunters, I saw a doe hunted by Daniel Broadway. I saw arrow, hunted doe, ...a little bit blood... Ooops. Wild., Powerful. And I heard the fact that if deers are not hunted by hunters deers around here are over populated.

I went to Walmart in Paducah to buy some supplies, rice, noodle, bread, banana, energy bar. I filled diesel into can(30oz) for cook. I ate lunch, sandwich at Bar-B-Q. with Hiro and Ben. Souse was great tasted, I liked it.

I visited 911 in Paducah, met Lew. After coming back to Golconda, I was interviewed by Hiro, Japanese crew, Cycloimage at Golconda Marina and the beside of Ohio river for some time. Trees were colorful, turned red, yellow, green, brown, sky were pale blue, there were no clouds. Warm atmosphere covered above Golconda, it was a little bit hot, I felt. The Ohio river ran through, sometimes fish jumped up from the river but after that there were no sounds. I saw one family with kids were walking, and 2 guys were jogging on the road along the Ohio river. The flag of United States were swinging. Tomorrow is veterans day. This great river let me feel a stream of history.
I felt calm, peace, nostalgia much.

I ate dinner, sandwich with Bar-B-Q and cowboy beans, potato salada which Joy made for us. I like cowboy beans. And I hope Joy's recovery, health, condition is getting better. Good night Joy... thank you, Joy. Your potato salada was good. God bless you.

I adjusted pannier(bags) with bamboo bike2. Tomorrow we will back on the road. Now I feel a little bit sentimentalism. The people in Golconda, the scenery of Golconda, visiting church in Golconda, the food of Golconda, the smile of Pope County High school/ elementary school, Homberg vallery, musical, Superman,... the memory in Golconda was occured in my heart one by one.

I planned schedule of the rest of trip tonight, http://bamboo-bike-ustrip.blogspot.com/p/route.html. And donation project of Bamboo Samurai is proceeding, http://bamboo-bike-ustrip.blogspot.com/p/sponsors-cooperators.html Takashi 2010/11/10@Golconda

11/9 @Golconda

2010-11-10T06:21:00.000-08:00

11/9 @Golconda, Fine day, 0mile

At the court house in Golconda by Ben Walker

This morning was awesome, tyo Beautiful, warm, wind is not strong, trees were gorgeous. I went to court house with bamboo bike2 with Ben. I heard the history of the War between the States in front of the cannon set in the court house. And I heard the story of veteran from Golconda in front of the 4 big stutues of veterans. Hiro came with camera and tri-pod. At 8:30a.m. we met Julie Collins, who was an anchor of WPSD NewsChannel6. I was taken some pictures near court house and on the road along the Ohio river riding on bamboo bike2. Sometimes I, Ben and bamboo bike2 walked together, were taken some pictures. I was interviewed about my trip with bamboo bike.
This taking pictures and interview will on AIR around tomorrow 6:00-7:00a.m. WPSD NewsChannel6.

"With Julie Collins","Interview with WPSD NewsChannel6" by Ben Walker

After that

I and bamboo bike2 went to Pope County school again. Bamboo bike2 met many students again, talked to them, toughted by them, was lifted up by them. Bamboo bike was tyo happy and I was tyo glad to have such great time with students. When we visited 4th grade students, they were all standing and said to us, "Kon Nichi Wa!"

Oh....! Happiness, my heart was filled with the joy of Happiness. Kids touched bamboo bike2, bamboo bike2 seemed to be very proud. I felt that bamboo bike2 was proud of meeting with kids who are the hope of the future, green society. I hope kids keep going to their own dream. We were happy.

At the end of the meeting, students gave me a special letter on which photos of all kid were pasted, and one message was written to me,

"TAKASHI HAVE A SAFE AND DELIGHTFUL TRIP ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, YEAH FOR BAMBOO BIKES!"

by 4th grade students of Pope County.

And Craper gave me a flag her Grandfather which flag has history of her family. I was very proud of having her family's flag. I will carry a letter and a flag on all the way of this trip. These are protecting me from any difficulties. And letter and flag are my "Treasure" of whole of my life. Thank you, students, thank you, Craper.

This afternoon, ate lunch, tried cat fish, fried pickles again. Tasted good, I like cat fish and fried pickles. After lunch I was interviewed by Hiro, Japanese TV crew for some time. I trained my legs up and down at the steps in Golconda.

"Two world together, With Jim, a retired nuclear engineer, taught in Kobe Japan, I studied at Kobe University, at lunch in Golconda" by Ben Walker

In the evening, I adjusted some equipments with bamboo bike2. It was warm night, we were preparing for back on the road, the rest of trip, 1,500miles to New York from Golconda.
After dinner I drank "dandelion root tea". It was the for the first time, there are many dandelions in Japan, but drinking and hearing about are both for the first time experience. It has a good effect to health for liver. Takashi 2010/11/9@Golconda

11/8 @Golconda

2010-11-09T21:41:00.000-08:00

11/8 @Golconda, Fine day, 0mile

"Bamboo Samurai and Superman at Metropolis" by Ben Walker

"Visit to Pope county school in Golconda"

"Kon Nichi Wa!" ("Hi" in English)
I visited to school in Pope county Golconda, visited 3 class, one was Spanish class of high school, the second was another Spanish class of high school, the third was 4th grade of elementary school. I enjoyed talking to students so much. I talked about bamboo, bamboo bike, my trip, Japan, Tokyo, Japanese school, Japanese language, culture, movie, my favorite...
Their eyes were all brilliant like jewels, their eyes were looking into their wonderful future, the symbol of the next New Age, and their hope ( =Kibou, in Japanese), as if long traveller gazed into the sky and saw spaced numerous brilliant stars during his long journey. One of the boy gave me a pretty letter written by pencil.Thank you, Cameron. Wonderful town, wonderful people, wonderful school, wonderful county, wonderful future, wonderful universe. All boys and girls were pretty, I was so happy. Tyo-cool! Thank you, Cathy, Craper, Kaegi. Thank you, Pope county high school and elemantary school! ("Arigato Gozaimasu" in Japanese = "thank you")

I wrote some Japanese words (English, Alphabet, Kanji, Hirakana, Katakana)

・"Hope" = Kibou = 希望 = きぼう = キボウ

・"bamboo" = Take = 竹 = たけ = タケ
・"Samurai" = samurai = 侍 = さむらい = サムライ
・"Flood" = Kozui = 洪水 = こうずい = コウズイ
・"happiness" = shiawase = 幸せ = しあわせ = シアワセ
・"Very" = Tyo = 超　= ちょう = チョウ

In Japanese language, there are 3 languages, one is Kanji, the second is Hirakana, the third is Katakana. I promise that I visite Golconda again.
"Astalavista!"

"Homberg valley"

After visiting shool in Golconda, I went to Cathy's house in Homberg and ate luch, walked Homberg valley with Cathy, Coco, Dickcy tic. Ate chicken soup, 2 sandwiches, squash, cabble which Cathy cooked. Tyo Gorgeous!
Here in Homberg, beautiful field were spreading, I walked to the creek with Cathy, breathed fine air whole into my whole lung. What is a beautiful day today. Cathy showed me inside refrigerator, I saw many eggs. "12 boiled eggs and I bowl oatmeal" every morning..Oops! This is the recipe for breakfast of Mike. Tyo Great! This is the Major Leager's breakfast, Tori came back from shool, and her friend Deborah came to house. I met Mike, he presented me baseball cap with his signature. Since today I will change my hat from New England Patoriots to Atlanta Braves, of course my hero will shift from Tom Brady to Mike Broadway.
Mike Broadway is my new hero since today. I am sorry, Tom Brady.

"My new hero, Mike Broadway" photo taken by Ben Walker

Well, near the creak, I saw bamboo, I heard this was called cane. It was short and thin, but I was happy to see bamboo here in Golconda, and I thought possibility that some species of bamboo grow up here in Golconda. It is a seed for new business between bamboo and Golconda.

"Bamboo bike2"
I went to Metropolis with Ben, Tori, Deborah and Hiro. I met Superman there. There was a big stutue of Superman in Metropolis. Here in Mertopolis Superman was born. I posed as same as Superman, as Obama. Tyo cool!
After that I went to "Bikeworld", and meet Bamboo bike2 there. I said "Hello to bamboo bike2" for the first time. Bamboo bike2 was brilliant, beautiful. Tire, wheel, durailleur, pedal, seat post, carrier, brakes, chain, and hundlebar, these parts were shifted from broken bamboo bike to bamboo bike2. I was so happy that I could use some parts of bambo bike1 in the rest of trip. I rode on bamboo bike2 for a few minites in a parking of Bikeworld. feeling good. I was excited. I can keep going with bamboo bike2! Thank you, Bikeworld, thank you Ben, Cathy, Golconda, Paducah.

"Bamboo bike2 at Courthouse in Golconda" by Ben Walker

"One Groovy Planet"
In Bikeworld I met magazine media, "One Groovy Planet". I was interviewed about bamboo, bamboo bike, our trip, business and Samurai. I was happy, because I could contribute to promote bamboo, bamboo bike, neglected bamboo forests problem, raise awareness for green society, ecological world and my company,"Bamboo Samurai". Samurai is a warrior who fight against what he believed once. Samurai has simple spirit, never give up, keep going. When there is a big rock in front of Samurai, Samurai keeo pushing on rock, not avoid.

"My forever friend, Lew"
In Paducah, I visited Lew's house with Lew with Ben and Hiro. Hiro ate chicken soup, we ate pop corn. Lew tool alittle bit sick yesterday, so Cathy and Ben send Lew a chicken soup and cabble.
I felt strong emotion for their intimate relation, thier community. They are helping each other. This is the real "town". I think so. I was helped by Lew very much. I was happy to meet Lew, I think it was miracle. Thank you, Lew, forever friends, see you!

On the way to home Golconda from Paducah, we met female deer on the road. She was still on the road for a few seconds. Wow. Dear festival50 is coming, Nov 17 in Golconda. I could not hear the sound of gun shot, around here there were no sound. Numerous stars were brilliant in the clear air like eyes of kids of pop county school. It was not so cold than yesterday.
Takashi 2010/11/8@Golconda

11/7 @Golconda

2010-11-07T20:53:00.000-08:00

11/7 @Golconda, Fine day, @Golconda,0mile

I woke up 6:00a.m. and checked e-mail.
Today I went to church with Cathy.
I am Buddhist, but I like to visit church. sing together, pray together. Though I do not know how to express my feeling, I felt comfortable, peace, calm, it is like a sense of happiness, it is like a spirit to help /respect each other in church. These were inside my heart.

Cathy showed me several rooms in church, introduce me to the people. One of the main reason I decided this bike trip is visiting church in San Francisco(the Glide Memorial Church). At that time I visited to study business in San Francisco, I visited the Glide Memorial Church on Sunday, I sang Gospel together, I felt a sense of happiness as same as the sense which I felt in church in Golconda. At last I received "pray" from all the people in church. I could not find any words to express the feeling which I felt at this time. I was encouraged in church today, Golconda was the best place for me to re-start biking / keep going on trip with bamboo bike. Thank you Cathy, thank you Golconda.

Now I am learning some unique words in United States, some of them, "chilax", "groovy", "dog eat dog", "ass hat", and "stick to ribs",

So, today I show you one Japanese word to American people,

・"Tyo (cho)"

This means "very"or"super".　Though a few young Japanese high school girls used at first, it was getting popular and popular, now this word are tyo-popular(very popular) in Japan.

・For example: tyo cool = very cool, tyo cold = very cold

After eating quiche(Great!) which Cathy made, I went to the steps in Golconda to train my legs.

There were 100 over steps, good place to practice. I trained to walk up and down for 1 and half hour. After that I met 2 kids, and talked. I was surprised to hear that they already have experiences to hunt deer by gun....

At dinner, Ben cooked "cowboy breakfast", gravy and biscuits, and "Venison", it was a deer meat.

I heard that this was a traditional southern foods. All foods were for the first time for me. I like all, gravy and biscuits tasted good, including a little bit spicy and oil. And Venicon tasted like steak with some flavor, good for me. I like. I enjoyed traditional southern meal tonight.

Tomorrow I will go to school in Golconda, talked to students. And pick up bamboo bike2 in Paducah, and interviewd from WPSD-TV NewsChannel6 and One Groovy Planet. Though I am poor at speaking, listening English, I am looking forward to seeing/ talking to students and media.

Oops... stick to my ribs.. I ate "Venison" too much tonight...tyo stick to my ribs...

Takashi 2010/11/7 @Golconda

11/6 @Golconda

2010-11-07T06:17:00.000-08:00

11/6 Fine day @Golconda, 0miles

Photo by Ben Walker "Ohio river" @Golconda

I woke up 8:00a.m Ate Corn chex with 2%milk as breakfast, I went to the office, one of Ben's apartment, bamboo bikes are stocked to adjust soma parts which are not broken on my bamboo bike with another bamboo bike of my friend, Ben Strong.

・Bamboo bike1,mine,frame size 52, broken, some parts can be used,
→　exchange some parts with bamboo bike 2,
・Bamboo bike2,Ben strong, my friend, frame size 56 →　after exchanging I will ride on!

I exchanged seat post, saddle. Though I tried to exchange whole wheels, tire, fork hundlebar, I could not exchange these parts, because I was lack of knowledge and skill to exchange these parts, these parts were connected to chain, brake caliper, durailleur. So it was diffilcult to exchange and adjust. I decided to ask bike shop near Golconda.

Ben Walker helped me. He searched bike shop in Paducah "BIKEWORLD", and called Cathy, Mike to take me to there. I arrived at BIKEWORLD, carried broken bamboo bike and bamboo bike2.
The staffs were friendly, kind to me and bamboo bike. I ordered exchange wheel, tire, hundelebar, chain, brake caliper, durailleur. I did not know whether all of these parts could be exchanged well, but the staffs said that "OK, try!" and said "this was the first time to treat bamboo bike". One of cutomer looked bamboo bike and said "pretty". Bamboo bike was happy. I will pick up bamboo bike2 next Monday.

In this shop there were many stylish bikes, made from full carbon, full-titanium, hybrid carbon and titanium. I talked to them about the cost of bike, shape of bike, each material feature of bike.

I want to keep studying about these bike frame building, /shape /design /geometry /physics /aero dynamics /metarial engineering. This is my dream, to make original bamboo bike frame by myself by using Japanese bamboo , and travel with all over continents! Keep Going!

Mike and Tori arrived, took me to Ben's home in Golconda.
We talked about "deer hunt". In Japan hunting( Hunting is "Kari", in Japanese) is not popular, only a few people do. I never heard about "deer hunt" in Japan, in Japan, a few people hunt "bird", "wild boar"I don't know whether deer is hunt in Japan. "Deer is "Shika" in Japanese) I heard about bow, they use bow in deer hunt. And smell, the difference between male and felmale, taste of deer, and coldness. They wait coming deer in the mindnight, early morning in such cold night...about 30degree... Great, all things about hunting were interesting, I felt strength and wildness of American people. America is great.

After saying bye-bye to Mike and Tori, thank you Mike and Tori,　
I ate dinner with Ben and Hiro. Ben cooked rice, chicken, pasta, tomato. Delicious! Menu are all Ben's original. He should open restaurant.

Court house in Golconda (taken by Ben Walker)

Today I was interviewd from TV crews both United State and Japan in BIKEWORLD, Paducah.
It was "Cross cultural interview" Amazing. I was happy to talk about bamboo / bamboo bike / neglected bamboo forest problem in Japan / my company, Bamboo Samurai/. Because to spread these bamboo issues in United States is one of my objects of this trip.
My video will on TV, WPSD, NewsChannel6, soon(maybe next week). Please check!

D.J. was unique cat, he came to me closely, and stand his tail toward to me. Pretty cat.

P.S. My digital camera does not work well by the impact of accident. Bokeh often occurs. (Bokeh is Japanese word about photograph, it means that the focus of the camera lens does not encounter the object.)

Takashi 2010/11/6 @Golconda

11/5 @Golconda ~loving Golconda~

2010-11-06T09:16:00.000-07:00

11/5 @Golconda, Fine day, 0mile,

this great photo was taken by Ben Walker

There were many many things today, wonderful day!
I am loving Golconda, town in sonthern Illinois, it is like boat's lights floating on Ohio river like brilliant jewels.

I woke up 3:30a.m, I planned my "donation project" in this trip.
I wrote a part of this project, today, because now this idea is proceeding, contacting with some people.

"Donation project2010 of Bamboo Samurai"
I am fund-raising through this trip with bamboo bike,
I have an idea to donate some bamboo plants (maybe 60 gallons with barrier, soil) to the Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco. I studied non-profit business in San Francisco Bay area for 2 weeks, in this March, 2010. I was inspired so much, felt strong emotion, and was helped much by the people whom I met there. I attached some sentense which I wrote on my diary at that time as follows. After visiting the Glide Memorial Church, I decided to cross coutry trip in United States by bike while fund-raising, and to donate the Glide Memorial Church. That is one of the biggest reasons that now I am here, traveling cross United States with bike.

"Voluntary spirit is a part of general humanity. It provides a cordial relief to the others. I feel it much in San Francisco and Stanford. I think that Japanese should learn it from American. Particularly in the Memorial Glide Church I felt strong emotion! There is a sense of unity and spirit of mutual help. Names of babies who were born in the area were called and all of participant there celebrated the new lives. Awesome!"
March 31,2010, related blog, http://esiprogram.tumblr.com/post/491380934/takashis-blog-post

Now I am studying tax refundable donation style / culture to non-profit organization in United States, This style / culture is unique for me, but makes sense. In Japan I never heard such this donation style / culture. And I consider about the system to danate, and talked to some friends / get some advises from them.

At breakfast, I ate corn chex, 2%milk, coffee with Ben Walker, D.J.
I met Cathy, teacher of Spanich student class in Golconda, talked about the meeting with her high school students. It will be an exciting / valuable experience for me, for us. I am looking forward to talking students.

Ben took me by car around Golconda, guided me Golconda, we walked around state park, visit Ohio river, city hall. Golconda has many stories, War between the states, the capital city of deer in United States. Beautiful scenery, good food, warm / kind / friendly people.

"Cat fish and fried pickles"
At lunch I ate cat fish and fried pickles,I met/ heard / ate / for the fisrt time. in the resutaurant in Golconda. Tasted very good. In restaurant, I met Chris, his family, Cathy her husband. Happy.

"1st bamboo bike, Forever!"

After lunch, I got another bamboo bike from my frined in San Francisco, and I went to Viana to pick up my broken bamboo bike. Before the meeting with broken bamboo bike, I felt little scare, coming flash back memory of accident to my head, to meet broken bamboo bike, but no memory was brought back. This is the first time when I met broken bamboo bike after accident. Rear parts of bike was almost broken. I felt sad. I remembered the memory we traveled from Santa Cruz,California to Goreville, Illinois. I am soory, bamboo bike. But I felt my lucky, too. This feeling is bigger than sad feeling. Because now I am survive, and stay with friendly / kind people. Some of the parts is not broken, so I can use these! I will be able to back on the road with my first bamboo bike, we will always be together in the future, rest of my life, keep going on the road with 1st bamboo bike, keep going to solve negleted bamboo forest problem with 1st bamboo bike.
1st bamboo bike forever!

Today one Japanese media crew arrived at Golconda to interview me, company name is "Cycloimage", "CycloChannel" whose name is Hiroshi Kozaki, friendly guy, good cameraman, good journalist. He arrived here with no-map, no-GPS. Unibelievable! Brave! This is the first time that Japanese crew visit Golconda! He will stay Golconda for some days.

In the Evening we visited the First Baptist Church of Paducah, Kentucky, beautiful place. I enjoyed Musical much played some kids, students, "Phantom of Opera", "Oklahoma", "Anny". Very Pretty! There I met Michael Broadway, who will be a Major Leage player next year, Atlanta Braves, I heard his story, I was encouraged very much. I hope his success, he will do.

One media in Kentucky contacted me tonight, "One Groovy Planet".

We arrived Ben's house in the midnight. There were many things today. Numerous stars were shining in the sky, it was 28degree, fahrenheit (alomost 0℃, celsius), clear atmospehre.
(Fahrenheit,degree - 32) *5 /9 =Celsius（℃）
It was getting cold. I gazed at the stars like brillant jewels my with white breath. There were no sounds around. Good night.

Takashi 2010/11/5@Golconda

11/4 @Golconda

2010-11-04T20:06:00.000-07:00

11/4, Fine day, from St.Louis to Golconda, 0mile

I woke up 6:00a.m.
After checking e-mail, I went to the lobby of this motel to drink free-coffee, some talk to staff of motel about bamboo.

I went to eat breakfast in Golden Pancake. Because this morning I felt a little bit full, I ordered 3 pancake only, and ate. Tasted very good as usual. Eating pancake as a breakfast is good experience for me, because in Japan we eat pancake as a dessert after lunch or dinner.

After breakfast I came back to my room and prepared for departure. Today I left this motel in St.Louis and moved to Golconda with my frined, Ben Walker and his mother,Joy. Golconda, which is a old town in southern Illinois.

Finishing preparation, I went to John L Brown Park and walk half an hour. There were no one, I just only walked around this big park. It was great feeling.

Ben and his mother arrived at 8:30a.m. at motel, we went to hospital in St.Louis to check Joy's condition. In hospital there were some stores, selling glasses, clothes, it was unique for me. In Japan I have never seen such stores in hospital.

We drove to Golconda, dropped by "Old Navy", drinking "Mccafe".

We arrived at Golconda in the evening. It was quite. Golconda itself is whole historic site, here was historic place, used to be the stage of War between the States. Ohio river runs along Golconda. I saw Ohio river for the first time, it was big and quiet. I could saw a few lights floating on this big river, maybe it was ship. Ship used to be moving through this big river long long ago.

A little bit, but I felt "the stream of history" along which the river has run thorough since long long time ago. I felt nostalgia to visit such this memorial town.

I will home-stay at Ben's house for some days since today. Ben is friendly and always helps me. Here in Golconda I will wait for another bamboo bike of my friend in San Francisco and prepare for the rest of trip, recover my leg condition. At his house I met Ben's sister, B.J and her 2 kids, and D.J.,pretty cat. Ben's room was very stylish, cross-cultural. In his room I saw one splendid painting (I love this painting very much) which was painted on Japanese silk, in some parts gold was used. This painting is very valuable. Great.

And there are 2 lights painted bamboo in his room, (Cho-chin, called in Japan) I felt calm, peace.

Furthermore, Ben likes cooking and cooked very well. He cooked for Joy and me, sweet potato, chicken, steamed broccori and carrot. It tasted great, he is a good chef. Takashi 2010/11/4@Golconda

11/3 @St,Louis

2010-11-03T21:53:00.000-07:00

11/3 Fine day, @St,Louis, 0mile,

Today I wake up late, at 7:00a.m. Air conditioner in this room worked very well, it was very warm in room. I could sleep very well.
This morning, without breakfast, I prepared for the meeting with Insurance company to talk about the expense for medical and my broken equipments.
I went to insurance company in St.Louis at 10:00a.m. by taxi cab. The office was very beautiful. To use Taxi cab and to talk about insurance issue, those were the first time experience to me.
It was a little bit tough and difficult to talk about the issue of an accident case in English, but my friends helped me by phone during talking.

After that, I came back to my room in north St.Louis. I went to ate lunch at Golden Pancake. Here was my favorite place around here. I ate cheese, tomato, corn, maybe Mexican foods, and potato.
During lunch had big mistake, I used Chili sauce on potato, not tomato ketchup...
Hot...next time I must check label.

I took shower, pasted ointment to scraped places. These conditions are getting better. For some minutes I practiced to move left knee. And I checked e-mail.

At 4:30p.m. Deno, came to my room by Crossfire, stylish sport car. He took me to REI to buy some equipments, cooking stove, cooking set, warm wear, bike light, fix kit, bike lock, and more, and he took me to bike shop in St.Louis, too.
In bike shop I bought water bottle mount.
I saw hi-end bike there, the shape of frame was like knife, shark tail, airplane wing. It was very unique, I was inspired. There are about 700 species of bamboo in Japan. My work is to look for some best bamboo for bike frame. Shape, Strength, Stability, Story, Durability, Uniqueness, Originality. It is my work.

Bike is stylish, enthusiastic, healthy, good exercise, self-dependent, beautiful, green, free and that gives us new meeting. It is like a journey.
I am feeling I am loving bike day by day still now. This is the change since when I have visited United States.

After that, we ate dinner with Manita, ate chicken fried steak, Texas food. Delicious. I had great time with Deno, Manita, Jessica, Patrick in St.Louis. Thank you so much.
Deno is special, He loves biking, mountain-treck, fly-fishing, journey, speed, farming and used to be business student. I feel strong sympathy, empathy. And kind, gentle, funny, good joke. I hope to be such great gentleman like Deno in the future.

Tomorrow I will move to Golconda, town in southern Illinois, my friend, Ben Walker's house. Takashi 2010/11/3 @St.Louis

11/2 @St.Louis

2010-11-02T19:04:00.000-07:00

11/2 Fine day, @St.Louis, 0miles

This morining I woke up 6:00a.m.
Sky was clear, felt a little chilly, but nice sky, I saw strange clouds this morning.

I went to restaurant to eat breakfast, ate 3 pancakes, 1 omlet.
It was big and delicious, I liked foods of this restaurant more than "Subway".

After breakfast I practiced walking and did some mustle training in a big park,"John L Brown Park, near restaurant for an hour. I walked around park three times, and used a few machines. Now I felt difficulty to bend and move left leg, but it will be getting better by using leg. Sometimes in front of me, a squirrel moved to tree quickly.

After practice, I came back to my room, pasted ointment to some wounded places.
At day I spent almost time in room, and used laptop.
I made 2 sheets for the meeting with insurance company tomorrow, broken equipments sheet and injury sheet.
And I adjusted about the "shipping" of another bamboo bike of my friend's with Ben strong and Bamboosero staff.
Now in our plan another bamboo bike will arrive at Golconda where is a city near Goreville, my accident place, on next Tuesday, Nov 9.
And in our plan, I will come back on the road on Nov 11 with bamboo bike!

In the evening, I practiced walking and streched mustle for an hour.
After that I went to same restaurant as breakfast, "Golden Pancake" near St.Louis airport, ate chicken, mashed potato, corn with cream sauce, and chili soup. Good tasted.
At night I wrote thesis of university a little bit, I am late for writing, so I must find time to write at my best and catch up my classmates.
In United States today was election day, Nov 2, When I thought about this, I felt that I was far apart from Japanese politics issues for long time. 2 month.... it is often short, sometimes long for me. In the sky I heard the big sound of airplane. Where was that plane aim for? To Japan? I did not know. I aim to New York.

Takashi 2010/11/2 @St.Louis

Postpone the flight back date to Japan

2010-11-01T22:50:00.000-07:00

Tonight I contacted with Korean Air to postpone the date when I flight back to Japan, At the result I could change the date from Nov 21/2010 to Dec 7 /2010. In December in New York, It maybe snow / very cold, many people taught me... Collaborate bamboo with snow.... is this mismatch?! Takashi 2010/11/2 @St.Louis

Bamboo baseball bat

2010-11-01T22:35:00.000-07:00

"Bamboo baseball bat"

Bamboo is made into baseball bat. Have you known?

In Japan, bamboo bat is used only as a practice bat. Because it is prohibited to use in a game. But I heard from my friend in Pueblo Colorado that in major league baseball, some player use bamboo bat in a game.

That thing sounded very interesting to me. I think it is good news for Japanese bamboo.
Because the quality of Japanese bamboo bat is high, so there will be business chance for Japanese bamboo bat company, there may exist some possibility to access to some major league baseball players, including Ichiro, Matusi, Fukudome, the other Japanese baseball players.

A bamboo bat is made by a compound method, some bamboos are cut into at constant cubes, these are assembled with glue, pressed and shaped.
I knew a good company of bamboo bat, "Hinomaru bamboo factory (HINOMSRUCHIKKOU) " in Kagoshima, Japan.
In our Japan trip with bamboo bike we visited this company and interviewed them for some hours, they are professional bamboo craftsmen, honor of Japanese craftsmanship. Takashi 2010/11/2 @St.Louis

11/1 @St.Louis

2010-11-01T20:51:00.000-07:00

11/1 Fine day, @St.Louis

I woke up 6:00a.m. Outside I saw squirrels moving on the branch of tree.
It was a little chilly. I felt the wounded parts of left leg and face were getting better than yesterday.

Today I took great rest.

Morning, ate breakfast, pancakes, banana, coffee.
After that I went to REI with Deno to buy some bike wears and check prices of equipments needed again, riding on Crossfire, Deno's stylish sports car!
(I like sports car, I like speed. I felt very good)
Some equipments were broken in a traffic accident. So I must prepare some bike wears / bottoms / warm leg / warm arm / glove.
Furthermore I need light / pannier / cooking stove / diesel can / cooking set / water bottle holder / watch / compass / track jacket / shoes / fix tool / bike lock chain.
I will talk to insurance company about the expense soon.

After that we went to lunch, ate sandwitch, soup, coffee.
Very good taste! At the restaurant we talked a lot about business, travel, bike, hobby, dream, and farming. He was also used to be a business student, and loving biking, Nature. I felt very intimate sense with him. He has sense of humor, intelligence, always gentleman, and big Chicago Cubs fan. I like him very much. I want to be such a smart gentleman. I promise I will sure to present Deno a Bamboo Samurai's bamboo bike.
"Bike is free" "Travel gives us 2 things, one is a notice, the another is a thought."

In the evening, I moved to motel in St.Louis near airport.
I will stay here for a couple of days and wait for arriving bamboo bike, preparing for next trip. (re-planning the schedule, practice walking, some arrangements for traveling)
I am helped by Patrick, Jessica, Deno, Manita, Lucy. Thank you so much. I said bye-bye to Patrick and Jessica.
I saw many brick built house in St.Louis. Those were beautiful and let me feel old ages, exotic, nostalgia. Here St.Louise, famouse for bricks and Budwiser. And I will keep thinking about my company, next step as business, step by step, it is like a uphill biking.
"Bike is free" , " Business is New"

Takashi 2010/11/1@St.Louis

10/31 St.Louis ~Happy Halloween~

2010-11-01T19:06:00.000-07:00

10/31 Fine day, from Marion to St.Louis, 0mile (by Greyhound bus) Halloween!

Today was Halloween.
I home-stayed at warmful house in St.Louis. Pretty kids often visited this house, they good jorked to us, we laughed much, we enjoyed Halloween much. I also enjoyed Halloween much for the first time.

My condition was getting better than yesterday. Now I thought my plan and route. I will continue to travel with bamboo bike.

This morning,
I remembered that nurse came to my room at 3a.m. and 5a.m. But I could not remember the other things. I got good sleep yesterday, I woke up 6a.m.
I ate breakfast and some energy bars.

After breakfat I called a nurse and aks her whether I could leave hospital today and said that I was afraid of my brain. The nurse responsed at once for me. The doctor came, and said to me that my brain was OK and you could leave, and go to St.Louis. I received some medicines, investigation paper, CD from hospital. Thank you so much, doctor, nurse, hospital in Marion!

I went to St.Louis by Greyhoud bus. In the bus, I felt asleep, sometimes thought about route, my condition. Sometimes I moved my legs.
In St.Louis I met Patrick, and his fiance Jessica, and her family. They were very friendly and warm. I stayed at her family's house today. Somewhere / anywhere I often saw strange / pretty dolls, monsters, decorations, and funny pumpkins. Yes, today was Halloween,

I ate dinner, pizza and pumpkin pie drank local beer with Patrick, Jessica, Deno, Manita and pretty Lucy. Sometimes pretty costumed strangers knock the door, joked. Very pretty, funny.
I enjoyed Halloween for the first time very much. If I stayed outside or camped, maybe I could not get such this great experiences. Whole of my life, today's memory has been my treasure. Valuable experiences! Thank you so much!

Though we watched movie, I felt sleepy, maybe I was tired both in mental / physical, because it was the first time to face such this traffic accident, and there were many stress in Missouri, dogs, crazy big truck / truck driver, coldness, no one to talk. But in recently I felt great relief to meet such these good persons, Ben, Lew, nurses, doctors, Patrick, Jessica, Deno, Manira, Lucy, warm family.
And tonight I received letters and candy from my friends in San Francisco and Stanford. I was very happy. Thank you so much! Now I am feeling the joy of living. I fell asleep in the bed. Happy Halloween.

Beer blog " Schlafly"
It is a Missouri local beer, it was like a darker beer. It tasted very strange. First tasting was like a darker beer, after that it was very light taste, for some time continued light taste and after that it tasted darker beer again. it was strange and new sense for me. I like this beer.

Takashi 2010/10/31@St.Louis

Bamboo particle

2010-10-31T20:23:00.000-07:00

Today I want to introduce about one the way to use bamboo, this way is on going activity in Japan.
In Japan, there are bamboo forests, the area is about 16,000ha, about 1% of total forests in Japan.
You may feel it is little area, but now it is spreading, encoroaching the other plantations. Some of bamboo forests are neglected and causes some harms.
That is a social problem, "Neglected bamboo forests",
I want to contribute to raise awareness and to solve this problem.

Well,
bamboo is strong, but cut into particles, now in Japan bamboo can be uset in many cases. Bamboo has many good effects for us. I think it is possibility including secret effect whihc is not yet founded by anyone.
Maybe panda already knows!

And bamboo grows very fast, it takes about 3 ～ 5 years to grow up throughly. So we use bamboo product, we will contribute to Nature, Environmental, build sustainable society, green society.

1. Bamboo Fiber; it is used to make bamboo paper, bamboo wear.
   Kagoshima-prefecture, Tyuetsu pulp and paper.co, ,i-bamboo
2. Bamboo supplement: it is used to some supplement for human beings, it includes some minerals, and vitamins.
   Marudai iron factory (Marudai Tekkoh)
3. Bamboo fertilizer: it is used to as a fertilizer to feed some vegetables, egg plants, tomatoes, or something.
   Nagaokakyo-city

Takashi 2010/10/30@Heartland Regional Medical Center

10/30 @Hospital in Marion

2010-10-31T20:10:00.000-07:00

10/30 Fine day at Heartland Regional Medical Center, Marion, Omile

I stayed in Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion today. Now it is still difficult to walk at an usual speed but the conditon is getting better than yesterday. I practiced to walk and bend left knee for some hours in hospital.
And I prepared for going to St.Louis. Ben Strong who is my best friend contacted his friend, Patrick, who is visiting to St.Louis now. If I can, I will go to St.Louis from here tomorrow and meet him, stay there, take rest, recover condition, and prepare for the next trip.

Today was one of "The Happiest Day" for me!
This was happy surprise!
Ben Walker and Lew Legacy visited my room to meet me whom we met in Marshville, Missouri. In Marshville, at that time, they helped me to search a shelter to protect from Tornado and Thunderstorm together. Today agian, I was helped by them, I got great power from them, and felt very happy.
And they gave me a warmful letter and trail mix. Oh, I could not forget this moment in the future of my life! I was almost crying.
Thank you so much Ben! Thank you so much Lew! To my heart I felt strong emotion! I never forget your kindness. Forever friends!

And today I met a car driver. I was happy to meet and talk to her. Still now I can remember her big and beautiful voice which I heard in an ambulance car, "I am sorry,Takashi!". Since that time to hear those words of her, I already have known that she has been always a good person.

No problem. I am fine. I feel good.

Don't feel any responsibility for me. Don't worry. It is OK.

I respect her very much to meet me in hospital after such accident.

She is kind and honesty. I was helped by her much. Thank you so much! Next time I will be happy to meet her again not in such this case, but in other cases, anywhere / anytime! God helps us.

At night I catched some calls from some friends, and heard their warmful words. I felt so happy, I was glad to hear thier voice. I got a lot of energy, power from them. Thank you so much, my friends!

In night, I asked the nurse to give me some medicine to paste on the scraped places, on left leg and face. She was so kind that she brought some ointments and helped to paste those on the scraped places. I was helped, and I hope earlier recovery.

Tomorrow is Halloween. The doctor gave me a sweet snack. In the white board of this room, the monster of pumpkin was drawn. In Japan such a festival does not exist, so I am looking forward to seeing how the Halloween is. It will be the first time for me. The monster of bamboo bike may appear in front of me tomorrow....Oops!

Takashi 2010/10/30 @Room 312, Heartland Regional Medical Center, Marion

10/29 @Hospital in Marion

2010-10-31T14:41:00.000-07:00

10/29
Fine day, from Goreville to hospital in Marion, ??mile

Oh my god.
Now I am laying on the bed at a Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion city, Illinois.
I am sorry for everyone...who I met, supported us, hosted us in home, talked to us, invited lunch, dinner us / blog frieds, followers.
I am so sorry.
I am sorry for bamboo bike...
We were hit by a car on the road near Goreville where we stayed yesterday.
I was injured 2 parts of left legs, right side of my face, felt pain of neck and bamboo bike was almost broken,

(Left leg)
Now it was difficult to walk at an usual speed and to bend knee of left leg because of pain. I felt mustle ache under knee. One of the injured parts was almost scraped at large area. It was always painful.

(Right face)
The right side of my face was injured a little by a hit into the soft ground. When I bite some foods I felt some pain in the right side of my face. I am afraid of the conditon of my brain, and blood was left inside my head.

(Bamboo bike)
There were no possibilities for bamboo bike to run more further. Almost broken. I have 2 broken parts of bamboo bike. Sorry, bamboo bike...

We were both injured by a traffic accident.
But don't worry.
I could walk alone and bone was not broken. This was a lucky in unlucky.
And I don't lose challenging spirit yet to continue this trip. I had 2 broken parts of bamboo bike as memorial records of this trip. Oh...bamboo bike, I am sorry.

About accident, I could remember only that I have departed from State park in Goreville at 7:20a.m. and seen big sun between the trees, and turrned right to Tunnel hill road. But I could not remember the instance of traffic accident. I lost memory. When I recovered myself I already lay on the bed in a hospital in Marion. Because a bike lane in Tunnel hill road was very narrow, and sun was big and bright, so car driver could not see bamboo bike and me.
3 of 4 panniers were broken, and stove, diesel can, cooking can watch and some equipments were broken, and wear gears were torn. The left side of panniers were broken more than right side ones, so car maybe hit from the left side of us. Panniers helped me. Maybe because of the impact of crash I jumped in the field, and hit my right side of my face, and injured. I was lucky that I jumped into the soft field, not cliff, not tree, not concrete, not steel guard.

Hi,my friends / followers!
I never give up.
I will continue to travel with bamboo bike.
Though I need a few days to check my conditions of body, left leg, mustle, brain, and face. And I need time to parepare for some equipments, panniers.
But I never want to give up my trip with bamboo bike. I have a passion.
Because I am Bamboo Samurai.
Even if I will not be able to continue this trip this time, I will sure to come back on the road again with bamboo bike. And next time I will travel with the bamboo bike which I (Bamboo Samurai) make by myself by using only Japanese bamboo. Never give up.
This is my dream.

In hospital, though I could not yet take a shower, I took some rest and ate nice foods. Every 3 hours a nurse brought medicines to me, checked my blood pressure and body temperature.
Outside of the big window of room in this hospital, I could see a big flag of United States swinging by wind like a sea wave.
I said to myself, " I was very lucky" , " I am survive now". "Thank you so much". Though I did not realize to whom I should say thank you unconsciously I said to myself, "thank you so mcuh".

Good sleep. Takashi 2010/10/29 @Room 312, Heartland Regional Medical Center, Marion

Feedback about adjustments of saddle

2010-10-31T14:29:00.000-07:00

10/28
Since I have adjusted the angle of saddle on both 24 Oct / 25 Oct, I felt very good for riding.

I have hardly felt a pain of hand. Very good.
Thank you so much, Fred!
Thank you so much, Bill!
I was very helped by you, one physical stress was disappeared. I will continue to ride on this angle, on saddle. This was amazing thing for me who was a beginner of biking. Such a small adjustment helps me so much, Unbelievable. Thank you so much!

Takashi 2010/10/28 @Goreville