São Jorge: Life at the Tropical Fruit Garden
Ruth: José, our host at the The Tropical Fruit Garden, says that he does go to the store for a few things like sugar, salt ... Read More
Faial: Back in the Saddle Again
Ruth: We are back on Faial for three days before we go home on Monday. Reunited with our bikes, we headed out with them this ... Read More
Faial: Beach day
Ruth: Gord has never really understood the purpose of a beach. Perhaps he is just prejudiced against anything that falls below an alpine elevation. Although ... Read More
Time to head home
Ruth: We took our last ride today before packing our bikes for the flight home tomorrow. The wind was calm, an unusual occurrence in the ... Read More
Japan: First Impressions
Gordon: We arrived at Kansai airport around midday yesterday. This is one of several airports that service Ōsaka, but it is notable for being located ... Read More
Making our way to Shikoku to do the 88 Temple Pilgrimage
Waiting for the train with my bike in its suitcase. Ruth: Our travel day from our guest house near Kansai airport to Shikoku was seamless ... Read More
First day as Pilgrims: Temples 1-5
Gordon: We had beautiful weather for our first day on the Shikoku 88 Temple pilgrimage. We made our way to Temple 1 under our own ... Read More
The Heart Sutra: Temples 6-11
Ruth: We diligently recite the Heart Sutra at every temple. Our guide book provides the Sutra in phonetic Japanese, but I think I stand a ... Read More
“Where a Pilgrim Falls Down” : Temple 12
Gordon: An elevation profile of the Shikoku pilgrimage looks like the ECG of the last few moments of a person’s life: mostly flat, but with ... Read More
Best Birthday Ever: Temples 13-16
Ruth: Today might just be my favourite birthday and it isn’t even noon yet. Not the manic, hyper-happy of some birthdays when I was young, ... Read More