Yesterday's train ride brought me back to Fujinomiya, the place of my accident. I arrived there at night. I recognized the streets. Found my way back. I saw Mount Fuji's large silhouette slightly visible in the background. Gave it a little bow....saluted the mountain. I reached Natalie's place and saw my disassembled bike. How happy I was to see my Jitensha again! I gave it a kiss! Then I went up the stairs and knocked on Natalie's door. She opened it and saw me! But she already knew I was coming!! Oh no! Seems a little bird could not keep her beak shut. Drama doesn't make you important...it just makes you a nuisance to people...you know who you are. Regardless, me and Natalie hugged each other and were super happy to meet again. I went inside what was my unexpected home for a month, and we caught up.
Dinner and Light-Show
We meet up with Pin, a good friend of ours from California, and go out to eat the next day. We eat these massive deliciously juicy (getting hungry) burgers at a local restaurant. We have ourselves our usual good time. We are all easy-going, so there's little that can go wrong when we get together. Unfortunately, Pin is sick and so has to go home soon after. We drop him off and head to Gotenma, a town I passed right before my accident where there is an awesome Christmas light display. I love catching up with Natalie. Out of all the people in Japan, she is the greatest friend I have made here.
The light show is wonderful. A whole area has been set up with lights, fountain shows and food stands. The air is chilly and I finally realize it's almost Christmas. I have been away for so long! It was still summer when I started!
Me and Natalie enjoy the lights until around 10pm. On our way back I try and look for the spot where I fell, but in the darkness of the countryside, I cannot not recognize much.
Staying One More Day
I was supposed to leave by today, the 15th of November, but instead decide to stick around one more day. I don't know when I will see Natalie and Fujinomiya again, so I don't mind sticking around at all. It also helps that I haven't packed up anything either. My plan now is to take the shortest fastest route south, forgoing all sites and cities, to reach Sata in time. No baggage either. I talked to Jeremy, one of the crazy American cyclists who did the length of Japan in only 2 weeks, and he told me it is possible, but that you can't carry more than a couple of essentials with you. So, my bags will get shipped to Tokyo, to get picked up at the airport when I leave from Miyazaki airport, nearby Cape Sata, while me and my bike and maybe one bag's-worth of stuff are going to cycle the remainder of Japan.
There are only two weeks left until my departure. I need to be extremely careful. My collar bone is not done healing yet. Too much strain, and I may find myself in trouble. One fall, even a simple one, and I will have to give up. I am going to give this one last try. I am not sure what will happen. But in the event my body can't take it anymore, I will finally admit to being defeated, and just go to Miyazaki to catch my flight back. No Cape Sata in that case. But, there is a chance that my body can hold all the way to the end for the next two weeks. I have not tested out my cycling abilities until I actually got here and assembled my bike back. So, I don't know. But if there is a small chance, I am going to take it.
I feel like this adventure has been the most amazing time of my life. But it needs to come to an end. I have seen enough, met enough people, learned enough and suffered enough. Now I want my prize. I don't want to see anymore sites. There is only one thing left on my to-do list. Cape Sata is the only destination remaining. The only thing on my mind.
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