I heard that putting Vaseline in your nose helps with hay fever this year, so I tried it, but it didn't really work for me.
This is Yuya, still in the thick of hay fever season.
I hope it's gone by Golden Week...
Now, about Golden Week, a 10-day holiday has been created this year due to the Crown Prince's accession to the throne.
Have you made your plans yet?
If you haven't, or if you're actually coming to Nagoya and find yourself with a free day and nothing to do, why not join our daily ride tours organized by the Circles staff? We have a ride scheduled that might be just right for you.
My ride will be a visit to the workshop of ceramic artist Kenichi Oe.
He was kind enough to offer us a pottery-making experience, too!
BIKE to Pottery
Destination: Kenichi Oe's Workshop
Meeting Point: Pine Fields Market
Departure
Time: 4/30 (Tue) 8:00
End: Around 16:00 (Dismissal at the destination: The nearest station is JR Chuo Main Line Toki-shi Station)
Participation Fee: 5,000 yen (Includes pottery experience fee, and I'll also hand out Acchan's energy cake on the day.)
Capacity: 5 people
PFM opens at 7:00 on the day, so we'll grab some delicious koppepan and coffee to fuel up before heading to Toki City.
Wearing a helmet is mandatory. Please bring your own drinks. Also, we are planning for participants to use public transport (rinko) for the return trip, so if you plan to return that way, don't forget your bike bag!
Mr. Oe's specialty dish is gyoza, he's a fishing lover, and he's such a master of play that he can't focus on his work once the mountain stream fishing season begins.
I'd love to organize a "BIKE to Fishing" trip eventually too.
I first met Mr. Oe in Tokyo.
Then, after I moved to Aichi, I was able to meet him again at Circles.
It’s been a year since then, during which I’ve been thinking I’d love to visit his workshop.
Finally, I get to go.
And I get to try my hand at pottery, too.
I got a quick sneak peek at the process, and turning a lump of clay into the shape of a bowl is so difficult that I think I might get hooked.
As for the route, I'm anticipating a leisurely four-hour ride.
It's about 40km from Nagoya to Toki City.
I'm planning a route that heads upstream along the Shonai River.
Naturally, we'll be heading into the mountains in the second half, so there are some challenging parts.
Like a 15% grade hill.
Don't worry, it's not some hidden remote wilderness where you have to cross fields and mountains, pedaling breathlessly until you drop just to seek wisdom from a master in the deep mountains! Let's ride together!
Let's climb to the top and enjoy a great lunch and pottery!!
There are still a few spots left, so please get in touch!!
As of April 27th, we have reached capacity, so applications are now closed.
We apologize to those who were hoping to join, but we will accept applications again if another opportunity arises.