It’s remarkable how unexpected connections occur sometimes. During the COVID pandemic, when we were still living in Kamakura, I was hiking in the hills above the coast and ran into an older American who turned out to be a Catholic nun. She’d had a fascinating life in Japan working for the Maryknoll Sisters, who devote their lives to charitable service around the world.| Randomwire
I’ve now been back in Munich for a few weeks, feeling much better and appreciating the comforts of home: warm showers, a proper bed, and home cooking at the top of the list.| Randomwire
On a positive note, I realised last night that I’d just passed the 500 km mark—a big milestone and something I’m proud of. Unfortunately, I didn’t sleep much. The heat and humidity were unbearable, and by morning I could tell something in my body was wrong. I forced down some tea and an energy bar, […]| Randomwire
The morning broke under an overcast sky, the tent heavy with condensation. I allowed myself a slow start—brewing tea in the vestibule and enjoying an energy bar alongside a perfectly ripe nectarine. Today’s trail followed the Doubs river for nearly 35 km, winding along the Franco-Swiss border between Villers-le-Lac and the canton of Jura. The […]| Randomwire
This morning, I realised I was right on the Franco-Swiss border—technically, I’d probably slept in Switzerland last night. As I walked, I noticed several boundary stones marking the border with both French and Swiss insignia. I passed the ruined Batterie de la Roche Jella, a 19th-century artillery post built after the Franco-Prussian War to guard […]| Randomwire
Whether it was the movie or the sudden drop in physical activity, I didn’t sleep all that well last night—waking once or twice, momentarily confused about where I was. In the morning, I pulled myself out of bed, made a simple breakfast, and caught a bus heading south from Belfort to rejoin the HexaTrek at […]| Randomwire
Waking up at 5 am and simply turning over to go back to sleep was deliriously satisfying. Thru-hikers call it a “zero day”—a rest day with no trail walking—and while I didn’t lie in bed all day, I certainly didn’t put on the backpack.| Randomwire
After yesterday’s long traverse, today was mostly a descent—much of it along rather monotonous forestry paths. Worried about being asked to move from where I’d slept, I woke early at 5 am and was walking by 6. I noticed someone else sleeping in their car nearby, which looked decidedly uncomfortable. A couple of kilometres down […]| Randomwire
Having slept like a log in a proper bed, I woke feeling reenergised for the day’s walk. On my mind was the idea of walking as part of an ongoing historical practice (like the Shikoku Pilgrimage or the Camino de Santiago), versus walking through or past history (as I am on this trail). Both have […]| Randomwire
Last night was another tiring stretch of interruptions, this time from the wind, which battered my tent to the point I worried it might collapse. The only consolation was that today would be a transit day—from a mountain peak down to a town, where the joys of civilisation waited tantalisingly for me. That peak was […]| Randomwire
Yesterday’s campsite was pretty nice and we had a fairly leisurely start, leaving by 8:30 am.| Randomwire
On our first return trip to Japan since leaving a year ago, we wanted to spend some time outside, but we didn’t want to carry a full complement of hiking/camping gear. Instead, we settled for a unique cycle route that connects Japan’s main island of Honshu to the island of Shikoku, passing over six smaller islands in the Seto Inland Sea.| Randomwire
In the mind’s eye of many people, Japan is a land of tranquil Zen gardens, serene temples, and exquisite tea ceremonies. Both traditional and contemporary Japanese architecture, books and magazines are the envy of designers worldwide. Yet for some reason, practically none of this mastery has been translated into digital products, in particular websites, most of which look like they hail from around 1998.| Randomwire
