Sean > Biking In Matsuyama

As many of my students know, I love riding my bicycle anywhere and everywhere. Recently though it has been too hot to enjoy any bike riding.

So, Sunday night I was reading a book, watching TV and relaxing in my room. Since I took a nap Sunday afternoon I wasn't sleepy at all. So...before I knew it, time flew and it was already 5:30 AM. I decided this was the perfect time to ride- it was comfortable, quiet and there were few cars. After a quick shower, I started my ride towards Ishite river with a plan to see Owls (梟) I had heard about in student weekend news. Too bad! I couldn't find them! It was around 6:00- plenty of time to keep going before it got hot. I decided to continue traveling south- I'd never been there before by bike.


I soon saw a sign that told me I was in Iyo. I decided to continue south-east toward the ocean to see the water near Iyo. On my way, I passed a lot of fields with many different things. One had many sunflowers (向日葵), while another had many white herons (さぎ). It was still very early so many of the animals were awake getting their breakfast before any humans were around. Around 7:00 I began to smell a lot of different breakfast smells- some I knew, like bacon- some I had no idea about but I imagine they were fish or soup. Unfortunately at this time I realized my last meal was the night before, around 7 or 8 PM... I very quickly got really really hungry.

Somewhere in Iyo, near the main street with the pachinko shops and book stores, I found a convenience store and grabbed a bite to eat. I took my food and headed East, coming to Iyo city port.



It had been a long time since I saw the ocean, so it was nice to eat my breakfast while listening to the water and watching the boats get ready to fish for the day.

So, that was my morning. I finished up and was back at my apartment before 9 AM.



With all of this, I have one question for you all. I've been to many beaches, but only in Japan have I seen the tons of insects all over the waterside... what the heck are those things? Here's a picture of one- I always see them all over the concrete barriers. Leave me a message here so I can get it!


Vocabulary: Owl (梟), Sunflower (向日葵), Heron (さぎ )

Thanks Michito for some advice on editing!