OkayKonnichiwa

It's adventure o'clock  Test packing, training, map studying, new to do lists everyday, finishing up in Izu, goodbye goodbye goodbye and hello hello hello. So much to occupy my mind with in last days prior to departure. Now I'm three days in the journey and spending the time resting before some big days. This weekend's weather is forecast to be in my favour. Today's and yesterday have definitely not been in my favour. Almost 30 hours of rain and winds between 10-12 m/s accompanied by strong gusts. Pretty hard-core to paddle in, break down camp and set up. But finally now things seem to look better. Test packing in Izu Training; 25 kilometre  Finished studying and translating maps Goodbye okonomiyaki and sashimi party; fish delivered by Masashisan and Nabesan!

Prepping to rock and float around Kyushu I'm about to be homeless in the best possible way. Not on the road, but on the coast. Not in a backpack nor on some sort of wheels, but in a kayak. The perfect mix between camping, exploring and endurance.  The shores of Kyushu will be my new home. The preparations for two months living outdoor has begun. I've spent one month's sallery on gear. The rest of my earnings is earmarked for supplies during my trip, backup and train tickets to the mountains afterwards. I've been packing and training specific kayak skills such as landing in the surf and rolling. I've translated points of interest on my japanese map. I'm finishing my time in Minamiizu with Masashisan and friends... As the sun shines and my excitement for the journey grows it causes a bit of melancholy too. Such is life. One chapter finishes, the next begins. Half of my maps laid out for notes and translation Keeping it simple is part of

THIS IS JAPAN Alone. Or not. I'm with Masashisan and every now and then his friends. It's japanese and japanese only. Japanese food, language, manners, traditions, dedication and whatever kind of artifacts that's easy to point out. Masashisan is kind enough to help me engage with the new environment. He build his english skills from a year in Canada in his early twenties. Back then he ventured out to explore the world class freeriding in the rocky mountains on skies. Now, he gives back to the west what he received back then; hospitality and openness. I'm representing the west - he's representing the east.  Learning some katana-skills The Jedi Master-Padawan relationship In a country far, far away I now dedicate my powers faithfully to the allegiance of Team Surface and Friends. My loyalty will be with the japanese people and I will do my best to learn your language, culture and kayaking skills.  I was reborn. Imagine yourself back in school in