u/kuridono

The sun remembered it existed and I went camping. I found a site that promised nice views in a woody area and I brought the big tarp/tent combo again. It sits on top of the rest of my stuff and it takes a bit longer to set up, but man, it is just great.

It took some three hours evading people driving like they’re drunk yet probably aren’t, but once I arrived I had the whole site for myself. The only other company I had was a bunch of crickets and jays foraging for acorns.

After an afternoon of food and drink and playing with the fire, I went into my tent and dozed off with the tent flap open, watching the city lights in the distance, listening to insects chirping.

I guess the pictures speak for themselves—it was pretty, pretty great.

This year’s Triumph National Rally was unfortunately rather wet and cold. Glad we arrived a day early to ride around Nagano.
There were a bunch of events and contests planned this year, like a hill climb challenge and riding courses. Alas attendance was low. Even we left early. Maybe next year will be better.

This was two weeks ago, at a place famous for its panorama. One could still see some of it at around noon of the first day, but after a heavy thunderstorm had passed through, everything was swallowed by thick and persistent fog. Which was pretty cool, as all around me was just milky darkness, with bear bells ringing in the fog. They had passed them out to those who wanted one at check-in, as there had been sightings lately and there is a bear scare since last year. Although the fog didn’t help me finding my way back to my tent, and going to the toilet or getting some additional firewood out of the lockers made me get friendly with some big puddles and a tangle of guy lines. At 2AM everybody’s earthquake alarm went off. Everybody appeared to be wide awake for about an hour after the shaking had subsided, which wasn’t that pronounced on my air mattress. The fog stayed until after I had packed up and left. All in all, A+.

I was finally able to break out my new Hexa Ease and go to the lakes. The Snow Peak stuff packs down larger than my usual gear but it fit on the bike all the same.
Very relaxed evening, good food and beers, no mosquitoes or bears, and the tarp is great.

Wanted a new tarp and found the hexa ease 1 from Snow Peak on sale. So I threw it on my bike and drove two hours to one of my favorite camping spots. The bag for the tent/tarp combo is biggish, but strapping it on top of my rear bag worked pretty well. The ivory colored fabric lets through more light than my usual greenish one, but I had to get up early anyway. Had a hot sandwich and a coffee come morning and raced home, rain clouds in tow.

Wanted a new tarp and found the hexa ease 1 on sale. So I threw it on my bike and drove two hours to one of my favorite camping spots. Easy to pitch, maybe not the roomiest tent for someone of my height (6’5, 195cm), but pretty pleased all in all. Might pair it with my other tent, as the tarp would work for two. The ivory colored fabric lets through more light than my usual greenish one, but I had to get up early anyway. Had a hot sandwich and a coffee come morning and raced home, rain clouds in tow.

One nighter some two and a half hours north of Tokyo.
I set up camp on a small hill, all the way in the back of the campsite, next to some dense vegetation that would be very active and noisy come night. The sun was intense for the first three hours or so until a thunderstorm passed through. I slept through that until 5pm. Then very heavy fog settled in that would linger until the next morning. It was definable memorable, walking to the toilet at night, or getting some more firewood from the lockers, headlamp not being of much use, wandering around in the murky darkness, trying to find my own tent, stepping in puddles and tripping over paracord. Also apparently there were lots of bear sightings around here lately, so they handed out small bells to those that wanted one, and one frequently would hear a faint tinkle from inside the fog, that would then slowly fade away.
At 2am every camper’s phone’s earthquake alert went off and the campsite’s own pa system broadcasted a warning about a big earthquake that followed shortly. After the shaking subsided, everybody was awake again for an hour or so and then I dozed off, too. My bike’s anti theft alarm was set off by a curious raccoon dog at 4am. Or at least something of that size, the headlamp did not reach very far in the fog. So I made breakfast.
All in all a very fun outing, but I need to go there again when the weather is a bit friendlier, to actually appreciate the panorama it is popular for.

Simply a fantastic drink for hot days.

Soaked forest roads, deer in fog, bike on Fuji, plums in belly. What a great Sunday.

Bit of riding highway, forest roads, some dirt and even got a free wash at the end.

Off to a rainy and chilly early start at 2 AM. Following a quick stop at a service area for some much needed coffee, I arrive somewhere at the coast to watch the sunrise. 4:33, the time the sun rises in Shizuoka, marks the start of the rally. Goal is a beach on the Noto Peninsula, where I arrive after around 800km, 14hrs of riding, a bit of sightseeing and collecting points. After that follow 7hrs of much needed sleep in a hotel and the drive back home via Nagano with a buddy. Got a pin, some miles, a sore butt and a few pictures out of it. Would go again.