Perspective

This monring I couldn't sleep real well so I woke up made some eggs and decided to go for a bike ride. It was about 5:30. I still have some jet lag and just overwhelmed still with living in an apartment I hit my head everytime I turn around. My bike is awesome....it is a 21 speed bike with a basket on the front - what more could a guy ask for? I went for quite a while just enjoying riding around the lake I live right next to. As I was riding around the lake for about 20 minutes I turned around to look at where my place was because I am directionally challenged and didn't want to get lost. When I looked back the view I saw was amazing. My apartment has one block between it and the lake. Looking back on the lake though are these buildings overshadowed by huge mountains behind them. It is really quite impressive.

So today I learned a lot about perspective. First I learned about the perspective of being in my apartment in Japan and being discouraged at the close view and the way it smells awful in my apartment. When I rode my bike just 15 minutes and looked back it was an impressive sight. The apartment and hotel next to it were right behind the lake and then the mountains painted the landscape behind them.

Then I looked across the lake and it was foggy that morning so I couldn't see the buildings all the way across but they seemed to look pretty sweet. I decided I was going to do a bike sprint workout up this side of the lake until I found a way to get across. I was doing bike sprints for about 45 minutes. I had crossed the bridge and started down the other side of the lake. What I learned about perspective is that "fog" that caused me not to be able to see the buildings on the other side was not "fog." I think the scientific term for it is a long friggin way away. I had been riding for about an hour down the other side of the lake and already passed where my apartment was and the hotel that has a bright blue-green roof. I was traveling further down and figured there had to be a bridge eventually to get across and it would be quicker than going back. I travelled for quite a while and then finally found a bridge.

This is where I found another problem. The bridge was a toll. I didn't have any money with me. Just my camera, my ipod, and my Japanese cell phone that I still can't quite figure out. I rode up to the bridge and decided that I will just try to make it through. Luckily I just drove around the toll on the left that didn't have a gate down and went over the bridge anyway. The bridge ended up being a huge incline and tough to get around. I was 1 of 3 bikers and the only one still riding when I got to the top. At the top I tried to find my landmark hotel and had no luck whatsoever. The "fog" was in the way again. (Note to self - when you are not good with directions, exploring in a foreign country is a bad idea...it was about here that I realized that)

So I decide now that I am on the correct side of the lake I will return back up that side. It worked well....for about 2 minutes. I tried to stay close to the water because it was my only landmark on which direction I was heading. I ended up in some small, small town. I tried everything. I tried to turn left to stay close to the water. Then I tried to turn right to get to a main road. Then I went straight and ended up going down an alley that I had to keep my knees closer to my back to miss hitting the houses on each side. This is when I realized. I have been riding for nearly 2 hours now and am officially lost in Japan.

Well, now I should suck up my pride and ask for directions. O yeah that's right I'm in Japan and only know hello and thank you in Japanese. Ok well maybe I can just say where I live and ask which direction for them to point. Nevermind, I don't know the name of where I live other than the Michigan House and I don't think that means anything to anyone. Ok, well I have my phone and could call Coach. That'll go well. Hey coach, I'm lost. Where are you at. Well I'm between the rice field and the bamboo house on the street that has a character like a child scribbled on the sign. So I decide my only option is to go all the way back on the road I came on. Luckily I was really taking in the scenes and was able to navigate my way back (I did have to get my camera out a couple of times to look at pictures and make sure I was going the right way). So finally I made it back. I drank 2 liters of some sports drink when I got back. I ended up riding for almost 4 hours and not sure of the mileage yet, but I was moving for sure. I think I am going to stay in the rest of the day. Tomorrow I go get my health insurance. I should've gotten that first before exploring Japan.

Thanks for reading and thanks for all of you that have sent messages via facebook or email of encouragement for being here or the engagement to my princess Hope!!!! I really really appreciate it and your friendship!!