Category: Life

  • The Reopened “Michi-no-Eki Uzushio”

    The Reopened “Michi-no-Eki Uzushio”

    道の駅うずしお | 南あわじ市

    October 19th marked the grand reopening of Michi-no-Eki Uzushio, and I had a chance to check it out …. by bicycle, together with a few friends.

    Even from a distance, the place looks amazing. The whole area has been redesigned with open decks, and unbeatable view of the Ōnaruto Bridge stretching over the bubbly Naruto Strait. The weather was perfect for cycling, and arriving there on two wheels somehow made the burgers taste even better, and we were able to avoid the traffic jams 🙂

    Burgers and Happy Noise

    Despite the crowds (and there were plenty), we managed to get our hamburgers in about 20 minutes!!! pretty impressive considering it had just opened. We grabbed a spot outside and enjoyed the atmosphere while kids danced nearby and a woman started playing the violin.

    Everything just clicked…… good food, good company, and that Awaji Island vibe.

    And yes… apologies for my photo of the hamburger. It doesn’t do justice to how tasty it was. Local onions, juicy meat , honestly a great burger….. Oh and the Awaji Cola! Wow it was something else …. spicy

    Looking Ahead

    From the terrace you can see not only the bridge but also the future — literally. In a few years, they’re planning to open the Naruto Bridge for cyclists, which will finally let you ride all the way between Awaji Island and Shikoku. It’s going to take around three years to complete, but when it happens, this place will be the perfect starting (or ending) point for that trip.

  • And 2024 ends

    And 2024 ends

    And a with new wordpress install…

    The year 2024 was full of significant events. In March, I welcomed my third grandchild into the world. Then, in July, my mother embarked on a trip to Japan to spend time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Unfortunately, in September, I was involved in a motor scooter accident, which left me on the ground but thankfully with no major injuries. Since then, I have taken up cycling as my preferred mode of getting around.

    2024年は大きな出来事がたくさんありました。3月に、3人目の孫が生まれました。そして7月には、母が来日し、孫とひ孫たちと過ごしました。9月には、ビッグスクーターの事故にあいましたが、大きなけがはなくて安心しました。それからは、自転車を使うようになりました。

    There are two types of people who own motorcycles,Those who have crashed, and those who will..

    – motorcycle riders

    After riding my scooter all over Japan for six years with almost no problems, I was involved in my 3rd accident. (The first two were super minor and like this one, zero fault on my part.)

    A 70-year-old man in a white car hit me while I was stationary. I was extremely lucky to have been able to fall gracefully off the bike, avoiding serious injury.

    My foot and hip were injured, but thankfully, there were no broken bones.

    Unfortunately, my bike was significantly damaged; the frame was bent, though it didn’t look so bad at first glance. Fortunately, both I and the car in front of me had a dashcam, which was crucial because the driver accused me of stopping too suddenly.

    Personally, I think he was on his phone or something because the way he hit me, there is no excuse for that. He paid for the damages, but since he wasn’t insured with non-compulsory insurance, I didn’t get as much money as I would have if he had been insured properly.

    6年間、ほぼ問題なく西日本をスクーターで走っていましたが、ついに事故に遭いました。

    停車中に、70歳くらいのおじが白い車でぶつかってきました。luckyなことに、うまくバイクから受け身を取ることができ、大きなけがは避けられました。

    足と腰を痛めましたが、骨折はありませんでした。残念ながら、バイクはもうダメでした。フレームが歪んでいて、見た目以上にひどい状態でした。自分と前の車の両方にドライブレコーダーがついていて助かりました。というのも、その運転手が「私が急に止まった」と主張してきたからです。

    正直に言うと、彼はスマホを見ていたのではないかと思います。あのぶつかり方には言い訳のしようがありませんでした。

    彼が修理費を払ってくれましたが、任意保険に入っていなかったため、きちんと保険に入っていればもらえたはずのお金は受け取れませんでした。