DAY 19: Niigata Cruisin'

As the sun dawns behind the mountains, I begin to see the sea. The friendly cat is nowhere to be seen. I pack as usual. I slept like a baby last night. I leave at a record-breaking 5:45am.

Combini O' Combini, Where Art Thou:
A combini is any good old convenience store, Japan has millions of them. For some reason this part of the country does not get the memo, and I feel The Hunger. Along with Kaze (Wind), Ame (Rain), and Yama (Mountain), these four horsemen of the apocalypse are my sworn enemies. Hunger, being the one I detest the most. But I do not fret, thee beautiful coast slowly lights up as the sun finally shows itself. The temperature, perfect. The roads, straight, but no damn combini though.

I bike until 11am without my having my daily snacks, but at that time I find a 7-11, and with lack of better words, I raid the place. Never go food shopping when hungry....

The Outskirts of a Small City:
Niigata is not an enormous city. Somehow, however, its outskirts go on forever. At the beginning of the day, I fear that yesterday's strength has left me, but it hasn't. Warm up takes two hours today, but once the body is ready, I am feeling strong again. I ride through the streets playfully evading the grass patches that grow on them. I feel like a cheetah in the savannah, I say to myself jokingly, Roar.

Niigata's outskirts are pretty, just like 99% of Japan. Unfortunately, yesterday's music time is today's picture time, or lack there of actually. I cannot even use the gps for more than a minute at a time. I should have brought a car battery and stuck it on the back if the bike....

After feasting at a restaurant, I look for the camp-site. By the way...not knowing Japanese, pointing at a random item on the menu is always a fun way to try something new. It has yet to fail me.

The Camp-Jo in the Sky:
It is beginning to get late. Google maps (or the 10 seconds I have of it working) sends me on a wild goose chase, my 130km run leads to someone's driveway. After cycling for almost 10 straight hours, the last thing you want is to have a stupid computer send you to the wrong place. I manage to ask around, and find out that the camp-jo is near. But it is found high, perched at the top of a small mountain. As I climb, I am reciting my prayers. It has to be one of those. A forest with a shack. An empty raggedy parking lot. As I reach it, I find: bathrooms, showers, plugs, nice staff, and even a personal onsen! Jackpot! The works!

Inside a Japanese Home:
I am invited to dinner by Moe (pronounced moh-eh), one of the employees there. Her papa and mama treat me kindly. A ton of delicious Japanese food is served, and although communication is almost impossible, we all have a great time. They wish me good luck on my travels but only after they ask me to stay with them for an entire week. I regretfully decline the offer. Cape Sata is still very far.

Moe brings me back to the camp-jo and I crash. Another great day. I have reached 1500km today, and I am almost halfway. Now, if I can get to Tokyo by the 1st of October, I can see a ton of my friends. Between me and them....are the Japanese Alps. That's on tomorrow's menu.
Nite!

130km

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