Bicycle Bicycle Bicycle

Last night, after a simple dinner, Tim and I went to a sento ("public bathhouse") about a five minute walk from his house. It was a cute little place with the hugest koi I have ever seen, swimming around in a small rock-walled pond set in front of the entrance doorways. Though the establishment was small, there were three hot tubs, a cold pool, and a sauna, and the decor in the tub area was colorful and inviting. It was good to relax so deeply in my body, and afterwards I was ready for a restful sleep.

This morning, I had decided to accompany Tim to Yasushi's hand balancing workshop at Studio Yoggy. As we left the house, Tim said, "We'll take the bikes." I thought he meant for the short ride to Matsugasaki station, where we could catch the subway to downtown. As we got underway, Tim immediately set off in the opposite direction. When I questioned him, he replied, "No, we're riding all the way to the studio." What a treat! I haven't been on a bike in almost six years, and it was delightful to feel the wind flow around me as we sped towards Shijo Dori, Kyoto's main shopping street. As we rode, Tim shared that he enjoys exploring the many ways to bike from his place to downtown. I was treated to an idyllic ride through the narrow back streets crammed with quaint little homes, and a nice bit along the Kamogawa, one of the main rivers in Kyoto. I felt like a kid on vacation. 

Mark with his trusty jitensha in the park encompassing the Shimogamo-jinja. Tim informed me that a jinja ("shrine") is always surrounded by forests, but a temple doesn't have to be.

At Studio Yoggy, there were many reunions with teachers and students I had seen in June, and Yasushi's workshop was fun. He is charismatic, and has a deep appreciation for his students that shows in his teaching.

After the workshop, we all chatted for a bit in the lounge, then Tim and I set out for a snack before biking home. Tim guided me to a tiny little homemade onigiri (rice balls wrapped in seaweed with various fillings) stand not far from the studio. We each bought two of the hefty snacks, and sat in a nearby temple to eat them. They were tasty and filling, perfect fuel after the class we had done. 

By the time we returned home though, we were both hungry again, so we took a short walk to Les bles d'or, a lovely little pastry and bread shop, then stopped at the Kyoto Co-op to shop for dinner. Once home, we snacked on chai and strawberry tarts. A couple of hours later Tim prepared a fantastic meal of mashed potatoes with a touch of horseradish, salmon, komatsu ("little pine", a thin leafy green with a sharp tang to it), and shiitake in an onion-mushroom-white wine sauce. The fresh loaf of sesame bread we had picked up from the bakery was perfect for sopping the sauce up with.

The clouds have been offering light sprinklings here and there throughout the day, but have just now decided to unleash a full on rain. The sound of the drops plip-plopping in the garden is creating a melodic rhythm that is very soothing. I'm off for some meditation and well-earned sleep.