journal features

kamakura by bicycle

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Tokyo, 2010.04.30

At some point over the interminable Winter, I picked up a rather excellent little guide book for bicycle tours in Kamakura.

Today I took Geoff and Ken, both visiting from Canada, on a modified version of the principle tour. The cycle rental went smoothly, and the guide's choice in first site to visit was perfect: a bamboo forest. We took in a small selection of sites that ended with the big Buddha. It was a beautiful day and a great outing. At the last stop before the big Buddha, we set some incense burning for our friend Jan.

I strongly recommend the book for anyone visiting Tokyo: you can make a lot more out of a visit to Kamakura with this book than on your own. The book is called "10 temples on 2 wheels : exploring Kamakura by bicycle or on foot" by Vicki Beyer. The ISBN is 9780646489834. I haven't found a website for it, yet, but I picked up my copy in Hiroo's "National Azabu Market", the unreasonably-priced gajin supermarket. The book itself is reasonably priced.

Three good things that happened today:

1. the first sunburn of the season was mercifully light

2. perfect weather for the planned activity

3. made a prayer for a friend who needs some support

rand()m quote

I believe you find life such a problem because you think there are good people and bad people. You're wrong, of course. There are, always and only, the bad people, but some of them are on opposite sides.

—Terry Pratchett (as Lord Vetinari)