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Post by rocky on Mar 21, 2008 5:02:49 GMT 8
Hi. My name is Silver Trekkie. I am the hardtail querida of FaFaRocky since 2004. I have given PaPiRock boundless happiness for 12,571 kms. I have thrown PaPi off my thudbuster too that broke his right clavicle. I am very excited. PaPiRock chose me instead of Trek Fuel 80 and Ibis Mojo as his companion to tour Tokyo from April 1 up to May 5. PppSsst...tomorrow, I will be stored in a box as cargo. I am a little apprehensive. I don't know how to speak and read Japanese. I don't know how to navigate Tokyo alleyways, boulevards, backstreets. Tokyo Culture is alien to me. If I commit boo-boo blunders, if I prove to be syaning (country) to Tokyo's glitter, advancement, richness, efficiency, cleanliness, and sophistication, please bear with me. I am only familiar kasi with dirt off-road country trails of Sta Rosa, Makiling, Bataan, San Pablo, Muntinlupa, Licao Licao, Veterans, Antipolo, Tanay, Abuyod Lagundi, Puray, Wawa, Maarat, and PeYups Ikot2. Taralets. Join me in moi journey.
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Post by yukon on Mar 21, 2008 6:18:36 GMT 8
Hi Yo Silver Away!!! 12k km of mileage I guess wont hurt the Japanese a lil Papa Rock. Have fun in the Land of the Rising Sun! We are going to miss you...so another Tsing Tao welcome ride for you in May sir?
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Post by rocky on Mar 21, 2008 8:13:38 GMT 8
Thanks Yukon for wishing "Hi Yo Silver Trekkie away!!!" Silver Trekkie and I will sure have fun riding aimlessly during Cherry Blossom Spring month of April. I intend to take pictures of interest daily with some narration of our misadventures to boot (ala Wandie1024 and charlie_b_barkin_vista). As you can see, Japanese Bicycle Registration Sticker (Okinawa circa early 90's) is in silver's frame. I peeled orange reflective sticker off my 92 Miyata Ridge Runner rigid frame that I used while stationed in Okinawa 1990-1997. Bikes are required to be registered to nearest lespu station in Japan kasi. She is all prep up, fine tuned, and ready to give me ear to ear smiles in Tokyo. Note the teng-teng bell, compass, cyclocomputer on handlebar and red reflectors on seatstays.
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Ti-bar
XC Rider
dont be alarmed at the avatar, i didnt get it from mtbiking!
Posts: 136
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Post by Ti-bar on Mar 21, 2008 22:23:38 GMT 8
Capt. Kirk and the USS Enterprise is at it again... destination... planet cherry blossoms.... to blaze the trails in the land of sake, tempura, sushi/sashimi, fugu, mt. fuji, toyota mitsubishi, sony, toshiba, voltes 5, geishas, sumo... and of course samurais.
heres a toast to your upcoming voyage with your Silver (STAR) Trek SIr, may you bring countless delightful memories that will surely be imprinted in your mind and heart and which for sure you will be gleefully share to us through your accounts.
in spirit, we will be with you in your journey, so beam me up scottie.... err... trekkie. ;D
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Post by nell7806 on Mar 22, 2008 12:42:44 GMT 8
another great adventure for the "PinoyMTBiker Idol"... if there would be another well utilized thing that PapiRocky has on his things, for sure it would be a digital camera. we'll be expecting those pictures from your adventures sir... hope when you return in May, the weather here in the Philippines would be like last 02/20/08... ...part two of reverse reverse pasyal pace...hehehe - without the helmet crashing...
GODSPEED sir...
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Post by rocky on Mar 23, 2008 13:07:44 GMT 8
Before undertaking this upcoming voyage to planet cherry blossoms...sir Ti-bar, allow me to show my gratitude to Upeng (d'mechanic) for being gentle inserting me into this cargo bicycle box that John Wilkies@Concepcion provided for free. For the meantime sir Nell7806, I will just be biding my time inside this box waiting for date of departure on May 31.
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joemf
Lurker
Slow down!... Life is too short to go faster!
Posts: 19
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Post by joemf on Mar 23, 2008 21:21:35 GMT 8
paparocky, so why don't we do a little ride with the newly formed group of friends who are united by the love of riding bikes into unpaved roads...by the way sir this is joe's account...it's me... -nell7806
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Post by rocky on Mar 24, 2008 6:30:56 GMT 8
Ah ok...joemf. No. nell7806 pala.
Surely, after May 5 on returning, I will be so gigil na gigil (maniacal) for any trail that will have semblance of unpaved roads.
Yes. Riding together with group of friends will be most welcome after riding solo on land of (to quote Ti-bar) sake, tempura, sushi/sashimi, fugu, mt fuji, toyota, mitsuibishi, sony, toshiba, voltes 5, geishas, sumo...samurais.
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Post by rocky on Mar 25, 2008 6:33:09 GMT 8
PaPiRock had to shorten length of cargo bicycle box from 58 to 42 inches. Reason being airport limousine service from Narita to Shinjuku will be less inclined to accept boxes longer than 54 inches to fit its cargo bay. So not only was my front wheel removed as was originally done by Upeng on 58 inches bicycle box, PaPiRock removed my rear wheel also to fit moi inside 42 inches long box. Todate I am disassembled to four pieces: a. front wheel b. rear wheel c. seat post with saddle d. main Trekkie frame with handlebar turned sideways. I am clear to go... I guess. PaPiRock. Let us fly today na. I am lonely, impatient, and bored all cramped inside this dark box. Why go on vacation this week of March 24 - 30 with your family at SBMA and Anvaya Cove pa? I like to explore City of Tokyo na.
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Post by gadgets88 on Mar 25, 2008 17:51:48 GMT 8
Bon Voyage. Happy Trip. May the Force be with you. We are, Papi... watching you all the time!
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Post by rocky on Apr 1, 2008 9:05:45 GMT 8
Day 1 I am here at tokyo na...Gadgets88. I touched down 2300 last night at Narita...took 90 minutes airport shuttlebus ride to Shinjuku...and bbrrrr...blast of colder Tokyo draft made me shiver uncontrollably after coming nga naman from hotsie hot Manila summer. I welcomed the coldness though. Just like I always welcomed that initial whiff of Baguio coldness after arriving fresh from hot lowland weather. Silver Trekkie is still all boxed in. I know she is excited to explore tokyo na. But I am tired pa eh from four days of incessant beachcombing and swimming I did while billeted at Anvaya Cove, and gruelling mtbiking climbs I did at SBMA forest trails. I intend to lie down, take it easy, and recover this first day muna. Perhaps later, have sumptious lunch of my favorite Japanese beef curry on rice. - Just came back from perky brunch of Japanese Beef curry on rice. Being a foreigner to this Land where they see things right to left instead of we reading left to right, I stood out as stranger to several other male diners when I called the cook's attention and pointed to the picture where bowl of beef curry on rice was displayed. What I should have done instead as I learned later on was to drop some bills on this vendo machine where tiny picture of menu was displayed, press the botton on viand chosen, out goes some change plus ticket, give ticket to waiter, and your order will be served soon. - Almost failed to enter son's 11 story apartment when after punching in correct number combination, door of bldg didn't automatically open. What am I doing wrong again? So I called up my son, asked for instructions why bldg door does not open, and learned I have to press farther this key where some Japanese characters are scribbled. Viola, sliding doors opened. -I don't know. Overall, I have this sense of hesitancy to exploring by walking outside. It seems, I am developing this paranoid that all the eyes of the city are on me for Not knowing any better. What more if I assemble Silver Trekkie and we explore outside na. Surely by the third street corner, we will both be Lost! -Oh gee. The airport shuttle bus ride from Narita to Shinjuku impressed me most last night after passing speedily thru layers and layers of overpasses and underpasses and tunnels and cloverleafs and what-have-you bypasses, sometimes four to five mazes deep...work of civil engineering marvel indeed. It sure beats Bayani Fernando's U-Turn slots idea aggravating Katipunan and Commonwealth traffic even worse. -Likewise, I was truly inspired after witnessing throngs of young men and women (tokyo's workforce) crossing efficiently street corners like robots and on cue whenever pedestrian crossing lights turn red to green. Such dynamism. Such enthusiasm. So disciplined. A very happy contented well paid working force indeed turning tokyo economy to grander heights. -HhhMmm. Makes me wonder? How my querida Silver Trekkie will encounter culture shock herself when she rolls over concrete after concrete and concrete of roadways and sidewalks and alleyways. Is there any piece of ground or soil or dirt road or offroad ever to be found in this City of Sake and Sushi? By golly, did I choose the wrong city for Silver Trekie to tour? Last thing I would like to happen is for her to make kaliwa me and for her to look for better rider lover who would offer her off road dirt trails (unlike tokyo's 1st class smooth as glass paved concrete highways). Silver Trekkie is an offroad btch afterall. Not a roadie bike. Airbus Silver Trekkie flew in from NAIA to Narita Look silver trekkie. Sign says "Welcome to Japan". You are in the Land of Cherry Blossoms. Guess who is inside the box?
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Post by rocky on Apr 2, 2008 7:59:57 GMT 8
Day 2 Silver Trekkie is assembled and ready to rock and roll. I will attempt to visit Imperial Palace from Shinjuku. Wish me luck. I say 'attempt' because it is so easy to get lost this being my first try. Temperature outside is 55F. Wind blowing at steady 24km/h. I will rely on 3 maps and a 20 petot compass mounted on silver trekkies handlebar to guide me around the city. Silver trekkie in front of apmt entrance - all dressed up, fine tuned, and rarin to explore land of cherry blossoms. Outstanding. Silver trekkie hasn't reached first street corner yet, and look what greeted her. Cherry Blossom of Shinjuku National Garden park fronting apmt fully abloom. 200 meters more going east towards direction of Imperial Palace, Silver trekkie has just to stop and gaze up in bewilderment. Blue lona spread out on ground is where residents gather, drink, eat, party while reveling under cherry blossoms. Businessmen strolling casually under umbrella of cherry blossom's glory while birds are singing their manificent songs of praise and bees can be heard busily buzzing from nectar sap to nectar sap.
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Post by arcireyes on Apr 2, 2008 8:06:43 GMT 8
Godspeed brad and i wish you'll enjoy tokyo as you have enjoyed your licao2 playground I'm eagerly following your Golden Trekkie tokyonovela
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kukai
Free Rider
Posts: 325
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Post by kukai on Apr 2, 2008 8:22:23 GMT 8
I love the way our idols document their international adventures 3 Thumbs up to you Papi Rock Looking forward to more servings of the episodes of your silver Trek in the land of the Cherry Blossoms! Take a lot of take care!
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Post by rocky on Apr 2, 2008 16:30:35 GMT 8
Godspeed brad and i wish you'll enjoy tokyo as you have enjoyed your licao2 playground I'm eagerly following your Golden Trekkie tokyonovela Honga po Sir Arci. Naman. Naman. Who wouldn't enjoy if mother nature is fully abloom? Can't help but be stirred and shed a tear or two. Truly humbling. Ang Sarap Mabuhay...tatz. I really have to kiss silver trekkie (mwaaah) for making this all happen. I don't know what Upeng (d'mechanic) did to her? But is running like a Masseratti. RapSa. Nice na the bike. Nice pa mother nature. Haneps! Can I repeat an often abused phrase here in PinoyMTBikers? "Haaay. Ang Sarap Mabuhay!" See how business executives are partying under cherry blossom trees. Drinking sake, nipping on grilled meat. swallowing sushi whole. Smell, the aroma of booze and meat filling the air, it is a day of celebration indeed.
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Post by rocky on Apr 2, 2008 17:19:47 GMT 8
I love the way our idols document their international adventures 3 Thumbs up to you Papi Rock Looking forward to more servings of the episodes of your silver Trek in the land of the Cherry Blossoms! Take a lot of take care! Ours is a lifestyle...Kuks. Just sharing po. Silver trekkie reached Imperial Palace 5 kms away. Portal to their Highness. Majestic noh...Kuks? Cherry Blossoms manifesting all over the Palace. Sigh. Why ain't I bloodline of Kings and Queens? So I will own several Mountain Bikes. Cherry Blossoms are namamaga ( reaching its fullest bloom). Fellow US Marine veteran recognized a fellow brother-in-arms and unselfishly offered to take a snap shot of moi. Thanks goodness.
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Post by rocky on Apr 2, 2008 17:22:06 GMT 8
Last but not least, what PinoyMTBiker ride goes without chow after 15.85 kms tour? This pork katsu curry with rice is my favorite in Japan. Level of spiciness is 2 (spicy-spicy). It is specialty of CoCoICHIBANya. After finishing the plate, your nose gets giddy hot, your brain enlarges and flies like a balloon, your eyebrows perspire, and asking permission to Sir Arci's tokyonovela tales...all bouncy tokyo females you see turn sexy and naked. OooPs. OT. OT. This is Silver Trekkies thread. She is not attracted to sex tokyonobelas. Only dirty trails.
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Post by arcireyes on Apr 2, 2008 18:00:05 GMT 8
streets canopied by cherry blossoms.........majestic shinjuku palace.........and a final touch of pork katsu curry........................ ;D ;D ANG SARAP MABUHAY!!!!!! ;D ;D (trans: mabuhay ka kuya rocky hehehe)
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Ti-bar
XC Rider
dont be alarmed at the avatar, i didnt get it from mtbiking!
Posts: 136
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Post by Ti-bar on Apr 2, 2008 20:29:50 GMT 8
Nice accounting of your travel Sir Rocky, cherry blossoms in full bloom and warm sake, i wish i can experience "hanami" party during my lifetime. got to check luneta this weekend (is the japanese garden still there? is there a cherry bloosoms tree there? i hope)
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Post by rocky on Apr 3, 2008 8:37:32 GMT 8
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timotz
All-Mountain Rider
Keep going!! Its not yet your time.
Posts: 187
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Post by timotz on Apr 3, 2008 18:00:00 GMT 8
wow Im dying of envy Sir Rocky, I wish I can give my dear Trekkie same pleasure as your Trekkie is experiencing right now. How fortunate your Trekkie is :-)
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Post by rocky on Apr 3, 2008 21:18:50 GMT 8
Honga eh. Silver trekkie is obviously grinning from ear to ear. She deserves the cherry blossom tour after serving me for some 12500+ kms. She has been through Hell keeping up with PinoyMTBiker's fun rides, barok trails, and halimaws. She is battle scarred. She needs to take a breather.
And how mayabang and pasikat (asteeg and showoff) she is strutting her mileage here in tokyo. Imagine while all other bikes here are mostly roadie ordinary, and some fancy and fashionable, Silver trekkie looks like she has just done Upak. OverKill nga eh. But giving me outmost comfort, best performance, and maximum safety.
Using Maxxis Larsen Oriflamme 2.1 tire is right choice. Knowing how smooth tokyo streets are, Oriflamme's semi slick slides through it like as if I were skating on ice.
Bottomline. I feel powerful riding Silver trekkie here. What more if I brought over our Trek Fuel 80? I think I will feel dyahe ( ashamed) riding our fulsus.
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Post by rocky on Apr 4, 2008 8:39:57 GMT 8
Day 4 57F. Wind 5km/h Another glorious day in my life as full retiree. Silver trekkie will tour me to Minami-Azabu where I will visit US Naval Joint Services Activity - New Sanno. I heard New Sanno has an indoor heated swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna, and fitness center. After working out, I will treat myself to serving of thickest and largest porterhouse steak hotel's dining facility offers. Might as well take advantage and avail of full privileges my US Military Retired I.D. commands. Can't flash my military I.D. back in P.I. anymore as US Military Installations the likes of Subic and Clark are long gone. Back to the roots...thanks goodness. And New Sanno is only 6.75 kms of sweetest biking away. The Lounge Area Heated swimming pool. But again, I can't hide the fact that I enjoyed swimming more at Anvaya Cove's outdoor pool last week. The Philippines is just much much warmer and closest to the heart Fitness Center Package Store. Am in a dilemna. Which to choose? Enzo's favorite pasalubong to us of Remy Martin Fine Champagne Cognac X.O. Excellence? or Johnny Walker Black Label! My favorite. Darn. Can't take both home. Silver trekkie is not equipped like a tour bike with basket rack Back to the crib right up there by 11th floor. Total distance: 14.17kms
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sire_andre
All-Mountain Rider
KAIZRE and DAD
Posts: 179
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Post by sire_andre on Apr 4, 2008 14:21:14 GMT 8
sir rocky....
nice pictures and way to go silver trekkie!...
those cherry blossom trees are great!...i'm just painting my imagination about "me" under that tree..relaxing...
sir rocky...more pictures pa po.... ;D
take care po....it's still cold parin diyan po diba?.....
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Post by rocky on Apr 4, 2008 14:41:30 GMT 8
sire andre,
We Philippine based Pinoys consider 50F as cold na. I don't know about our US based PinoyMTBiker counterparts what they will consider as cold?
I look at it like this. After I have done several penetencia summer rides under scorching sun with you guys, I can't help but grin with joy everytime I am out biking Silver trekkie overhere. Grabe. Just imagine making padyak at the ballroom of Diamond Hotel Manila. Fresco diba? It is like that.
OA (overacting) ba? To borrow sdny's famous "Har. Har. Har."
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Post by Kevin on Apr 4, 2008 15:25:51 GMT 8
Papa Rocky! Thanks for sharing your Silver Trekkie Tokyo Adventure. Shinjuku really looks nice. The only Shinjuku I know is in Makati, but that is a different story. ;D
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Post by rocky on Apr 4, 2008 16:36:29 GMT 8
Come to think of it Kevin. I've been here 4 days, and I still have to ride on shinjuku trains yet. Silver trekkie gets the job done. So many shinjuku station entrance/exit outlets Silver trekkie has bypassed already. Silver trekkie in short span of 4 days has combed and covered a good 3/4 part of tokyo.
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dv1kwh
Bike Commuter
failure to plan is planning to fail
Posts: 66
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Post by dv1kwh on Apr 4, 2008 18:06:21 GMT 8
Wow Fafa, truly you are enjoying your Tokyo ride with your Silver Trekkie,
When can I experience that chery blossom? can you tranform me to a silver trekkie?
Take care Pop, We miss riding with you na......I'll be checking your story from time to time and I will imagine that I'm also riding with you.
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Post by rocky on Apr 4, 2008 20:14:05 GMT 8
Oh that is so nice of you ...dv1kwh. You know what makes PinoyMTBiker rides special is the company. Even while touring solo here daily, seeing different sights, sounds, progress, and grandeur, I know I have you to talk to and to share unique experiences that are simply baffling. For keeping me company (just like on our backyard barok trails)...thanks Mike.
Tomorrow, I will be riding train from Shinjuku to Yokosuka Naval Base 65 miles away. I am afraid Silver trekkie won't be able to take me that far. Besides, I will be shopping at bases commissary and will be going home carrying heavy loads. I doubt also if I will be allowed to bring my camera inside military installation? No pictures to share tomorrow...perhaps?
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Post by rocky on Apr 5, 2008 10:07:22 GMT 8
Day 5 52F. Wind 8km/h Good morning PMTBerks. Rise and shine. I won't be taking out silver trekkie today. I will go to Yokosuka Naval Base to shop at commissary. But before I took the train for Yokosuka Naval Station, I visited shinjuku garden right across where silver trekkie lives on the 11th floor apmt. Yes. At topmost right of bldg under #22 is where silver trekkie rests and parked at the balcony. How spoiled she is. She has commanding view of vast expanse of Shinjuku Garden. See? Right smack across the park, silver trekkie sees top of garden canopy. "Trekkie! Can you see me taking pictures of you down here inside park grounds? Sorry I have to leave you behind. Bikes are forbidden in Shinjuku Gardens." How big the grounds inside Shinjuku Gardens...noh? Look at Cherry Blossoms at their peak. Today, April 5, is last day Cherry Blossoms will bloom. Allow me to share with you more pictures. Sayang eh. Tomorrow they will start falling down and will be gone. NTT Building. Pretty famous landmark in Tokyo because of its height. Shinjuku is really heart of Tokyo Japan. Shinjuku is famous for its shopping, restaurants, night life, and popular tokyo hotels. Pakistani national who speaks English was kind enough to snap me. Lookie at reflection of NTT Bldg on window pane of building next to trekkie's crib. NTT DoCoMo Bldg backdrops Cherry Blossoms I wonder how many cherry blossom seasons old tree has witnessed? Deeper unto garden I strayed. Then I captured this tenderness. Girls Boys Group of friends. Sakura spellbounds All. Up closer. And even closer. Thanks for viewing po.
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