Today was a day to find a bike shop, because I needed a new pump. It’s recommended to deflate your tires when it’s put on an airplane, and yesterday was a disaster when trying to pump up my tires at the Kyoto station to ride off into the sunset. Luckily a bike rental place nearby let me use theirs.
I’m staying about 45 minutes by bike from the centre of Kyoto and there are two main rules to follow. One, when on the road, stay on the left side and two, don’t stray onto streets where bicycles are forbidden, even on the sidewalks. Except for those particular streets, like the busy ones downtown, riding on the sidewalk is fair game, in either direction. Unlike in China, where riding a bike was accompanied by a cacophony of ringing bells, I haven’t heard anyone ringing their bicycle bell.
It helps to recognize the Chinese characters but even so, I made a number of blunders, followed by numerous remonstrations of “sumimasen” and “gomenasai”.
It’s not only the fog of jet lag, mixed with the euphoria of riding through the streets, but I can’t help be preoccupied by thoughts of what’s happening in Gaza and Israel. Passing the huge Nishi Hongan Temple complex on the way to bike shop a saying on the temple walls sums it up.
Grateful I can return to my peaceful place for a nap.
Crickets sing at dusk
The sun is still warm all day
Winter waits beyond the hills
