My First Bicycle Ride Since Returning to Japan

Today is the second day after completing my quarantine time.  Quarantine is an interesting experience.  Sometimes, it is so nice that I just get to stay home, but I'm just itching to get out at other times.  I tackled jet lag well and just took some time to reflect and focus on devotions and do some more intentional connecting with people online.  I wouldn't recommend always doing a two-week quarantine, but certainly, taking time to refocus and adjust isn't always a bad thing.  

Having written that, I'm glad I'm finished quarantine and can again go out and about.  My first day was spent at school with an interview, giving a tour to the family, connecting with the principals, and doing some other paperwork.  I also went to pick up a colleague and his son from the airport in the evening. So it was a full day. 

Today, I decided that it was time to hop on that bicycle and go for a bit of a ride. So I pumped up the tires and went for a bit of a ride.  Here are some pictures I took as I rode along.  

It's pretty green along the rivers.

This is the Yanesegawa

Many people go to the river to cool off. 

Well, hello there.

This could be an advantage when the waters rise high.  

This flower bed looks like it's a bit wilder than it was a few months ago.

I noticed this shrine and temple on one of the roads I regularly ride along. So I thought I would stop and walk through it, taking some pictures. 

Lantern on the right.

Lantern on the left

Cleansing area

Temple

Some wood is ready for use.

My view from the bench I was sitting. 

Certainly wasn't a terribly long ride at only 21 km and not terribly speedy at 15.9 km an hour.  I certainly did some running back and forth a bit, but it was a nice ride.  The temperature was somewhere between 35 and 39C, although there was a bit of a breeze.  

Japan is a country with very few Christians (less than 1%), and there are several temples and shrines to be found.  These do remind me of why I am here in Japan working at Christian Academy in Japan. So with that, you certainly can see God's beautiful handwork everywhere.