So, just to make sure we were a bit acclimatized to the time change, we arrived a few days early. Bridger was so correct to point out the cultural advantages,

But there is more……

So, in an effort to conserve water and get essential minerals/salts, the Japanese have pioneered Pocari Sweat, derived from, well, the title says it all. As does Bridger’s expression, as he chokes down a bottle. Numnumnum, tasty!

And what could be better than the world famous Angry Chef Sushi restaurant? We dared not enter, as the consequences portend a Tums fueled aftermath.

Angry Chef aside, we did find a kick-ass noodle restaurant where Bridger loaded up on pre-ride carbs and I loaded up on sake …. or i got loaded on sake?

Finally starting fell well rested, we got ambitious in the morning by planning a day trip to nearby Kyoto. A 90-minute train ride from our hotel at Kansai Airport (south of Osaka), Kyoto is considered the cultural hub of Japan and it features more temples and shrines than could realistically be visited in a lifetime. If you have designs of seeing Japan, allocate several days here. We did our best with the 8 hours we had, including getting some steps in at the famous Fushimi Inari Shrine and walking along the Philosopher’s Path. The highlight of the day was meeting up with Bridger’s college friend, Alex, and his girlfriend, Rachel. Bridger and Alex didn’t know the other was in Japan until after we started our respective vacations (shoutout to Evan, another friend in Bridger and Alex’s fraternity pledge class for connecting the dots!). Luckily, our travels overlapped on this day for a fun reuniting in a foreign land.

Meeting of the (Wake Forest) minds – Bridger and Alex:

Still adjusting to the 15-hour forward leap in time, we woke up with plenty of time to catch a morning flight to Osaka, the county’s second largest city. Dubbed “Japan’s Kitchen,” it is celebrated for its culinary prowess and experimentation. It is also said to be the Manchester of Japan, given its industrial history in textiles. For us, though, it was an eye-opener to the vastness of Japan’s urban centers. Every square foot of land is utilized in what feels like endless industry and neighborhoods when observing from local trains between the Kansai Airport (on its own island) and the city center. Highlights of the day included the Osaka Castle, the neon-lit commercial hub of Dotonbori, and udon bowls large enough to sit in.

Who woulda thought those skimpy biking tights took up so much room???!! OK, OK, there is more, like our pedals, bike shoes, helmets, bike seats and a whole bunch of Recovery Drinks and Percussion Therapy tools. And that is just for the 13 hour plane ride!

Oh, look! Bridger is blogging the old fashioned way! I think he is planning to write all his deep thoughts down, then take a picture and post it. Mixing traditional and modern – ??

And looky here, I have discovered yet another Recovery Drink! Too bad it is served as a single serving, though.

AAAAANNNDDD, we made it. Well, sort of. Had to stay up, no naps, getting used to a 15 hour delay. So, Bridger suggested we go burn incense at the local temple in the nearby city of Narita. I’d like to say that helped, but I thought a beer and food would work better

So it did! This place was 9 feet wide and 24 feet long,. The only item on the menu was raw lamb, which they cooked over bean sprouts at the table. Beer was good, lamb better.

so, this is a test of the blogging. Better to figure it out now than later!