a fine cycle day in May
the journal of Michael Werneburg
twenty-seven years and one million words
Today we went on a day-long cycle outing.
From our home in North Shinagawa, we headed south west to and through Ota City to the Tana river that divides Tokyo from Kanagawa prefecture. It wasn't a terribly long or challenging ride, but it took us through a new area of the city which is always fun. I can recommend the route along Ikegami Avenue as an easy ride and one dotted with plenty of shopping side-streets and the occasional temple and shrine.
We made our way to the Tama river near the giant Canon complex, and had a traditional Japanese picnic of burgers. From there we ambled down the river, making a stop where some fellows were flying large kites. These kites went into wingspans measurable in meters, and their fliers had taken to using sawed-off fishing rods and reels to manage the lines.
From there we crossed into Kanagawa, and went to a shopping mall that's got a giant "Akachan Honpo". It's essentially a one-stop place for anything you could imaginably need for babies and toddlers. Except compassion, which I found a bit lacking as I watched a woman really savage a child, refusing to let the little boy even touch her until she'd gotten a military-like 'hai' and stiff bow of the head in acknowledgment of her sternly-dictated orders. I dunno, maybe Mari and I are spoiling our kid, but wow!
Our shopping finished, we returned along the old "Tokaido", the eastern highway that followed the old shoreline (before the advent of man-made islands). It's a surprisingly straight road that connects our neighbourhood with Kanagawa, and was another example of a route that took us through a string of interesting local districts.
It was just before five when we finally got in. A good ride under great weather conditions!
Three good things that happened today:
1. fine weather
2. a great cycle trip
3. a new area of the city explored