• Daily Life

    Yakuza Battle! 多摩川での仁義なき戦い!

    My normal morning ride was rudely interrupted today when I had to stop at a set of traffic lights I usually only use for reference because there were dozens of cops loitering there. Japanese authorities have a tendency to over-react, so even though there were at least 30 officers, several patrol cars, an ambulance, paramedics and firefighters hanging around the Hino Bridge area, I didn’t think too much of it. I did think it a little strange that the bike path was roped off and cops mounting guard and patrolling on foot. It was only after discovering news on Facebook…

  • Daily Life

    Oops, I Did It Again!

    After having repeatedly vowed to myself that I would post content with substance that may be interesting for anybody who ever stumbled across it, I’ve gone ahead and posted more sunrise cycling pics because Mother Nature just keeps turning on the stunning starts to the day. After another near-sleepless night I was sorely tempted to take a real camera out with me on the morning’s ride, but I eventually talked myself out of it again as sweat began pouring out of me the more coffee I drank. Hurtling down the Kamakura Kaido and noticing the sky was bereft of the…

  • Daily Life

    Simply Spectacular Cycling Sunrise

    I’ve got nothing to write about, other than being extraordinarily lucky to get consecutive days of glorious sunrises over the Tama River. I’d take a decent camera to get better photos except it’s still hot and the sweat would destroy the DSLR’s parts as happened with my other cameras. So I have to be satisfied with just the mobile phone, which doesn’t take good shots, so what’s visible here is not a patch on what I get to see with my own eyes.

  • Daily Life

    Glimpses of Gloriousness

    For a few seconds this morning, I got to have a couple of glimpses of gloriousness. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve noticed Tokyo’s outer suburbs have had some amazing sunrises and sunsets. The old sayings about red skies in the morning and night seem to have been put to bed as we’ve had many days with both and rain either turning up or not falling in contrast to the conventional wisdom. Due to timing, I’m lucky enough to be out on my bike on most days now as the sun appears in the sky. This morning I was…

  • Daily Life

    Life Gets In The Way

    I’ve never been good at dealing with life on life’s terms, and being a selfish and spoiled type, easily get down when I don’t get what I want. I got to experience that side of me again this week. My boss finally pushed through the severe pay cut she has been aiming at for the past couple of years. I’m now down to about 60% of the wage I was hired at a decade ago, with less than half the paid vacation, a much-reduced medical plan, no allowances and footing the bill for the company to produce the work it…

  • Daily Life

    Lady of the Lake and More Lucky Rides

    Not much has happened, certainly nothing to really write about, but I have been very fortunate to get some amazing skies that make tremendous backdrops for bicycle photos, including these shots of La Cangura beside a little pond near the Tama River, which evoked an image of the Lady of the Lake from the Arthurian legend (at least for me). Futile attempts to revive the fertilizer-burned lawn have caused greater frustration. And so has taking care of the bird, which is going through a hormonal stage. Of course, my boss at work is somewhat similar, so I never know which…

  • Daily Life

    A Pheasant Start to the Morning

    I got a delightful start to the morning with a not-quite-chance encounter with a beautiful green pheasant near the Tama River. Over the past few weeks, I’ve been fortunate enough to cross tracks with pheasants in a few places. They’re beautiful birds, the males are at least, and I loved being able to catch a glimpse of them, sometimes up close. And being a photography aficionado, I was keen on getting a good shot. I’d tried with my mobile phone camera, but the photos weren’t much chop. They were grainy and out of focus, and it was hard to get…

  • Daily Life - Strine Sports

    The Rising Sun Just Stole My Heart Away

    With only mildly sincere apologies to perhaps the ultimate bogan band, Cold Chisel, this morning’s rising sun just stole my heart away. Although Jimmy Barnes and the Chisels had their girl stolen, I had mistakenly believed it was their heart. But the title was too good to throw away, so I had to tie them into this in some way. It’s been a somewhat lousy week, mainly because I have been flat out and it has stopped me from riding regularly. Mrs. Kangaeroo was on night shift last night. As always when alone, sleep didn’t come easily. I got to…

  • Daily Life

    Glorious In Nearly Every Direction

    This morning was an absolute ripper, with a fantastic full moon setting on the ride upstream and the rising sun resplendent in its glory as it came up over the Tama River when heading downstream. In-between, mists formed over the river, making it feel like I was cycling above the clouds at times. It was truly breathtaking, yet again. The day was also reasonably pleasant, cool rather than cold. It was truly a morning to savor. Of course, things are never that easy. I woke in the middle of the night, full of anxiety and fear yet again. I’m in…

  • Daily Life

    The Inspirers

    Actions by many people give Kangaeroo to give life a go, and they almost certainly don’t know it, and Kangaeroo doesn’t even know nearly any of them. One of the benefits of the dark period of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the gift of being able to go for a bike ride, usually along the Tama River in the western suburbs of Tokyo, and nearly every morning. These rides are a crucial part of Kangaeroo’s life because they provide routine. Kangaeroo has been able to learn that routine is essential for his wellbeing and the pandemic threatened that when his…