Frank Bennett 🇯🇵@fgbjr@indieweb.social

Biking to Sakushima again today, I met a Kuroneko van at a blind corner near the ferry terminal that I approached too quickly. Stopped just fine, but I locked the back wheel and blew out a tire. I laughed and waved the all-clear to the driver, who seemed utterly disinterested and trundled on his way. A sew-up puncture sounds like a shot, and a couple came out of their house to see what was up. Had a nice chat with the husband while setting a spare, and made the ferry on time!
#Japan #bikeTooter

A bicycle in the cargo area of a tiny ferry, with various notices in Japanese on the wall behind.
ALT
Jul 3, 2026, 02:36 UTCen
Frank Bennett 🇯🇵@fgbjr@indieweb.social

Replying to @fgbjr@indieweb.social

Moving along … at an expressway junction, an elderly man with a road bike was shuffling through a U-turn in the underpass as I flew past. I stopped the bike and walked back to check on him. 大丈夫? (Are you OK?) and he says yes, OK, then indicating himself, 私のこと気にしている? (Are you worried about *me*?) with an expression that spoke of gratitude. Then he explained that he would ride a little and walk a little (sensible, given his shuffling gait). I said I often did the same, and we parted with smiles.