The Week #218

by
  • 🌀 Last week we had a typhoon that looked as if it was going to come quickly to the kanto area. But the path shifted further and further west to land in Kyushu and then basically go up the Japan landmass. It was perhaps the slowest moving storm, moving at around 4kmh at times. It moved so slow it never fully made it up to Kanto before giving up the gusto.
  • 🚲 I rode bikes with Leo over to the local Ito Yokado again – he only needed a 2 short breaks going, and that's even with riding up hill. Riding bikes is perhaps the one sport/physical activity he has confidence in himself to do well (that he's said himself).
  • 🚴‍♂️ Which gets me thinking: I want to encourage this. To do this, I want to ride longer distances with him on the bicycle paths along the river, not just in the neighborhood. Along the river is flatter, zero cars, and there's fun way points along the way (ice cream!).  Problem is, while I might be able to squeeze Leo's bike into my car (with a seat down), there's no way my bicycle is fitting in there.

    Solution: get the folding bicycle I've been thinking about for a while. Problem is, the one that folds the smallest and is the best, is also quite expensive. Quality bicycles cost real money, no matter if they fold or not. But hmmm. To tide me over for a bit, I bought a Brompton Field Guide.

    Long-term, a folding bike fits into what I'd like to do personally and with the family. I'd like to take start rinkou (traveling with bicycles). With a folding bike like the Brompton, the barrier to entry is much lower. They're easy to transport. No disassembly to get it on the train and reassembly when you get back off. It feels like a more approachable way into the activity. And I could even fit 3 in the back of our tiny kei-car.
  • 🚗 Speaking of cars, while driving back from the in-laws along our usual route someone ran a stop sign nearly causing us to get into an collision. Thankfully I was able to stop in time (with just a bit of tire screeching). Rather than lay on the horn (as I imagine most drivers in Japan would), I just looked at them and wave them on in front of me. Laying on the horn solves nothing and maybe they'll pay it forward. Letting them continue ahead of me also makes it so they can't (almost) run into me again.
Interactions
3