More Biwa Beauty...Day 2...

Day two, Lake Biwa Bike Bonanza...

Men and their kids...  This dog didn't budge from it's cradled hold.  I even saw the man wipe his dog's little mouth clean...

Gathering to leave in the morning.  The guy in the gray shirt, Stein, put this whole trip together...

My dinner after day one, an udon noodle with curry.  What a life saver.  Before dinner, we got to go soak our tired bones (and butts!!) in the onsen, or hotspring.  That was pure heaven...

Our hostel for the night... a cool little place called BB Dylan.  The owner is a real Dylan fan.  A great place to rest our weary bones, and right on a BEAUTIFUL swimming beach!

Me and my new friend Kristin...

Sunflowers...

More new friends!!!

This is a flower that grows during rice harvest season and blankets the sides of the roads.  It's beautiful, but the root is deadly poisonous!

A gorgeous floating torrai...

This is how they dry the rice after harvest...

Lake Biwa Bike Bonanza!!!

So, here's the crew.  26 random people who chose to join me on this 112 mile ride around Lake Biwa.  A great bunch of people from all over the world.

Here's my not-so-trusty steed.  A one-speed mamachari bike that hurt my knees and was like hauling a mule up hill.  But she sure looks good.

The riding was mostly flat, but there were a few nasty hills intermingled.  There is a bike path that goes around most of the lake, minus a few parts where we had to carefully ride on the shoulder of the road.

The sights were incredible.  Beautiful weather, flowers and gardens still in bloom, many cranes and heron...

Incredible views...

Ray's new hobby...

I have spoken to some of you quite extensively about my husband's desire to become a full-fledged "hunter and gatherer".  Well, the other day we made it official.

This required taking a long bike ride up into the hills behind our house, chopping down a long bamboo pole, fastening the pole to his bike, making sure he didn't clothesline a passerby on the ride back to the apartment, and fashioning a new fishing set up with bamboo rod, hooks, bait and the like...

...and down to the lake we went to catch bluegill, a species here which is invasive to the lake and are meant to be discarded after catching.  We had a little heron friend who was waiting for our catch...

We caught 8 that night, and one can usually find Ray trying his luck out on any given night since...

Not a bad way to pass the time...

Pre-season game vs. Toyama Grouses...

Yesterday was Ray's first big pre-season game vs. BJ League's Toyama Grouses (ps: "BJ" means Basketball Japan).  The game was close until the last quarter when the Lake Stars were able to drop a bunch and win 85-72!

Ray played really well, starting the game and hitting all of his free throws.  After the game, his team captain told him that he thinks he's the core of the team and is eager to see Ray take even more of a leadership role.  A high compliment.

I tried to load his best highlights, but there were many.  Enjoy!  

Tip off... (#1 for Toyama was a big dude!!)

Dropping his free throws in...

Cool new uniforms, eh?

This is "Magnee" the mascot... a sort of catfish??...

This is why Ray wears padded shorts!  Watch him get back up, get the rebound over three other guys, and put it in!

At the buzzer!!!

Two blocks and a forced turnover- yeah!!!

Doing what he does best...

Before the game yesterday, Ray's team hosted a clinic for kids, to teach basic basketball skills and drills.  He's so good at this, that his coach usually asks him to help before asking his teammates.  He's a natural with kids...

whirlwind in Korea...

Ray just got back from a week tour in Korea, playing four games in five days.  Though we don't have any photos or video from the games, Ray came out playing incredibly well, averaging a team high 24 points and nearly a 90% free throw percentage. I know that if he were writing this blog he wouldn't mention the huge dunks and 3 point shots, but he's not writing this blog...:)

They spent half the time in Seoul, and the other half in Buson.  BIG city, huge urban sprawl, good basketball.  Ray's favorite part were the HUGE buffets in their hotel.  Squids not included...

This was the view from Ray's room.  Concrete for miles...

Ray and his teammates got suits tailored for them while they were there!  Ray has never had one that fits him well, and now he has a very sharp, silk suit... for only $200!!!  A suit like this would go for easily over $1200 in the U.S.!

Ray said he felt like he was in New York most of the time.  Tons of lights, huge markets, SO many people...

I can't express how happy I am to have him back, though I know that a week alone was good for me.  It's pretty cool to see the opportunities that basketball has brought to Ray, and the places he has been able to see!!

Feels like home again...

Rice harvest season has come upon us, here in Japan, and with it comes the month-long celebratory festival that is Yamauto.  My rice farmer friend Mako, invited Ray and I out for an afternoon of dancing, dreadlocks, organic food and a bit of home.  He picked us up from the train station and drove us nearly 1.5 hours up into the mountains.  Finally out of the city!  

Rice, ready for harvest...

An old rice barn... notice the beautiful thatched roof...

Burrito anyone??

Dancing and music...

Thai curry anyone?  Many of these "vendors" set up camp for the whole month of festival.  Some get very creative, with elaborate teepees, dome structures, tents....

This is about as cute as you can get!...

Staying updated...

You can stay up to date with Ray's team and their travels through Korea by checking in to his team website @ www.lakestars.net.  If you go to: www.babelfish.com, the entire site can be translated to English.  It is definitely a rough translation, but it's better than nothing!!

A week alone...

So.... Ray's out of town all week playing in a tournament in Korea.  I'm all by my lonesome, trying with all my might to stay inspired with things to do... to not get stuck in the rut of wishing I were home in the States.  God's been teaching me a lot this week about living in the moment and not for the uncertain future.  I could stay in bed all day or get depressed and lonely because I don't have anyone to talk to, OR I could get out of bed, try new things and see new sights, because Today is all I have.  This happens to come with a bit of a challenge as we have reached the point of being a bit homesick, but there is always gold on the other side!

On another note, next weekend I will be joining a group of about 25 other foreigners (who I have not met!) to bike 120 miles around Lake Biwa.  I am very eager for the challenge, however disappointed I am that Ray can't join us.  We will be doing about 50+ miles per day, with a rest overnight at a little pension hotspring to rest our weary bones.  To NOTE: I will be doing this ride on a cruiser bike, called a "mamachari" over here in Japan, seen below.  Three gears is all I'll have!  I'm ready for an adventure!  Wish me luck...

Since Ray has the camera this week, stay tuned for many make-up posts when he returns!

Katie's leavin' on a jet plane...

Ray's beautiful sister, Katie, just arrived Italy today, and met the family who she will be working for as a nanny!  We are so excited to see her flourish in this role as a "family member" to this Italian family.  We know how valuable family is to her!  

Please check out her blog to the right, and make sure to say hello every now and then!  

We are so proud of you, Katie!