I leave the hotel Yuki got me a bit earlier. Almost on time! No way I am getting caught on a mountain at night again. The air is extremely cold and the mist covers the quiet countryside. It is the coldest day yet on my journey.
Endless expanses of flat country fill my better half of this day. I need to reach a town near Nara, where Mika, a couchsurfer will host me for the night.
Mountains
Damn them all. Damn the small ones, but especially damn the tall ones. I walk most of the way up. My body is exhausted. It is only my third day back on my bike but my body is wrecked.
Cars rush past me. I have about a couple of feet's worth of space for me and my jitensha. I curse at the mountain: "Do we always have to go up?! Huh?!! Who do you think you are....mount Everest?! Well....you're not. You suck as a mountain, you pile of dirt! ......I wish you were a hill!"
Down Down Down
Usually letting gravity do the work is fun, but after my accident I have been super cautious about taking on too much speed. I can't afford a fall right now. My caution is right. The roots of trees make the road uneven, and I almost lose my balance at the slow speed I am going at. Close call.
Lady Luck Strikes Once Again
She's back. My least favorite of abstract representations of collections of natural occurrences. The wench makes her presence known to me when my right foot slips off. I am perplexed. I stop and realize.........wait for it............my right pedal is falling apart. Mother f......... I curse away, using all my imagination until I even make the clouds drop some rain down. I sit on the side somewherein and try to fix the pedal. Overall, a day full of bad words.
What I Should Write to Shimano
Shimano, I am glad (this is coming straight from the heart), that I spent almost 100$ on these pedals you sold to me. I hope that your managers are enjoying their luxurious lifestyles with my cash I earned with my student-salary because I, thanks to you, am now stuck on a freezing mountain because your products SUCK ASS. I just want you to know, that when I get back, I am going to buy pedals from whoever your biggest competitor is and that I wish many many bad things upon you and your children's children. You suck. Your's truly.....guy stuck on freezing mountain forest.
Missed Opportunity
The stinking pedals are too complex and so I give up. But strangely.....it works again! What?! I took the pieces off as to avoid losing them, how can this be? It seems that the pedal has two sides where the cleat clips. Had not a clue! Good enough for now! Great news! I continue on, with the hope of finding a bike shop one of these days. My pedal is half in pieces, my highest gears are all skipping around, and my handlebar is stiff. I'm not the only one who got busted up because of the accident. My jitensha has seen better days.
I give up on reaching Mika unfortunately. I look for the next town, find a hotel, eat, shower, do laundry, and pass the heck out! Goooood night! Tomorrow I should reach Wakayama.....but, I think there are more mountains to come.
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78km
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