12th Sept Marathon Training

It's the end of week 4 of the training and it's going really well.
Doing the run / walk thing. Friday was my long run of 8km.
Saturday rode 70km on the roadie down to the light house. Awesome weather for riding.
Sunday 12th Sept - REST - hooray.
Off to the SUMO wrestling tournament. Pics soon.

Sept 3,4,5 - Ohshima Island weekend

On the ferry at 11pm. Arrive at Ohshima Island (the big island) at 5.30am.
A fantastic weekend of diving.
Great marine life, 20 meters viz, water not that cold.
Saturday night red sea turtles hatching (not great pics) - awesome to see them scuttling to the sea.
Thanks Jim and Steve. A great bunch of people.






Overnight ferry Fri, 5 dives, food, accommodation, fast (2 hour) ferry home on Sunday 48,000yen (AUD $600)

28th August 2010

Yukata river cruise with 1500 other people!!!
It was beautiful to be out on the water, meeting new people, chatting, sharing stories of the summer.
Great moon, lovely city lights.
Thanks Angela.

15th August - Back to Japan

Summer has arrived in Japan and it's absolutely gorgeous 35 degrees C, humid and clear blue skies, loving it.
The Yokohama pool is open - hooray.


Wow, what an amazing summer.
Welcome back to Yokohama.
Excited to be here for the next year and beyond.
Have selected my training program - Jeff Galloway's walk run.
Surprisingly several of my friends have also signed up to run the Marathon and the 10km event.
We all have to wait until early November to find out if we are in. Over 270,000 people have registered to run. There will be a lottery to select 30,000. Expats do have a chance.
Start training!!!!
NOW

Aug - Thailand - Crazy idea

Whilst in Thailand in this beautiful relaxing place I had this crazy idea.
On the 12th August I signed up for the Tokyo Marathon - yep to run 42 km. It's on 27th Feb 2011.
What me!!!!
I'm not a runner but there's 6 months to train. I have numerous programs and will select the one that best suits me.
For now back to relaxing.

August - Thailand Amazing Friends

Celebrating in a style that has become customary when ever we get together!!!!














Congratulations on your 25th Wedding Anniversary my darling Paul and Fi xxx

August - Thailand resort

I stayed in a stunning resort whilst at Surin Beach.
Heaven.......gosh a girl could really get used to this lifestyle.

What a contrast to my beloved tent.

July - Family

Gosh wonderful family we spent all that time together and we barely took any pics!!!!

July Australia - Old Friends

Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Bendigo

Day 32 Tues 13th July 2010 Almost home

As we sail along I stand outside on the deck and marvel at how amazing my journey has been. I'm so lucky to be me.

Whilst on the ferry I decided I would find the 'Black Cat' company once I get to Oarai. This company will take my tent and panniers to the house and I will take the bike on the train.
Yahoo - I find a 'Black Cat' van driver that speaks english and they take the gear 1370 yen (AUD $17). This is fantastic and will make my trip a lot easier on the trains.
I cycle off in search of the Oarai train station. Change trains at Mito, On the JR train to Ueno.
At Ueno change lines to Tokyo-Metro- Hibiya line. It's great without the panniers.
Change trains at Nake Meguro. It's really packed around 6pm and the guards won't let me take the express train, that's fair enough, so I get on the local (or the super slow). The guards really want my bike to fold but it just won't!!!
Finally reach Motomachi - Chukagi - hooray almost home.
Fantastic.
An absolutely amazing journey that has enriched my life. Thank you to all the wonderful Japanese people who showed me such great kindness and endlessly offered me friendship and food.
I'm so lucky to have the opportunity to see part of your wonderful country. I loved Hokkaido. Great camping. Stunning scenery. A glorious summer. 2000km

ps I tried to keep these notes brief. Many stories haven't been told. I took over 1000 pictures.
Thanks for reading my blog.
Next - on the plane to Australia in a few days!!!!
Time to wash and clean all my cycling stuff and head to oz for the winter.

Evening 31

Inside the Ferry each person gets a little plot which includes a mattress, a pillow, a sheet and a blanket.
Everyone is very respectful and keeps to their spot. For this trip I was in the 'Women's Only' room. There were 4 of us.

Day 31 - Monday 12th July Sunflower Ferry

Thinking my tent is a little smelly from living it for the last month!!!
Off to Tomokami in search of the ferry terminal, I don't have a ticket yet and I'd like to sail tonight.
Arrive at the ferry terminal absolutely drenched!!!
The lovely lady at the counter, even though it was closed reserved me a ticket 10,400 (AUD $130). A 19 hour ferry ride back to within coooeee of Tokyo. We dock at Oarai about 140km from Yokohama.
I spend the next 2 hours cleaning the dirt, grim and filth off the bike. Finally I'm done. I then get out of my stinky wet cycling clothes and clean myself up.
Close to boarding time there's about 100 motorbikes and me!!!
As we set sail there's spectacular cloud action.