bm5er
All-Mountain Rider
Posts: 168
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Post by bm5er on Apr 16, 2008 10:02:21 GMT 8
Rocky, nice pics and swell holiday.
Tell us, do you need to lock your bike whenever you leave them parked, like by the church or or mess halls, or shopping malls?
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katipzrider
Free Rider
SIGE SMITE PA! BIBISITAHIN KITA!
Posts: 231
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Post by katipzrider on Apr 16, 2008 10:21:33 GMT 8
paparocks! i really feel being toured around in sushitown! its like watching "Oh Tokyo!" (if anyone remember this TV program hosted by a Filipina who is fluent in Japanese) in WINS channel which no longer exists in SkyCable. Thanks for sharing your silver trekkie shots! Pasalubong ha! hehehe! more pics huh! hehe!
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MIG
Free Rider
smack that...
Posts: 234
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Post by MIG on Apr 16, 2008 11:22:39 GMT 8
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Post by rocky on Apr 17, 2008 3:04:26 GMT 8
bm5er,
I see lots of bikes left unlocked on parking designated slots like inside secured buildings and malls, outside shrines, and 7-11 stores.. But along train stations where owner obviously left his bike behind to ride the train to go to work and come back for his bike later on after work, bikes are locked. Flimsy lock types. But being Manileno as I am street smart, I wrap my cable around the thudbuster, both front and rear tires, frame and the other end of cable is solidly attached to permanent structure. Padlock I use is heavy duty Master. I even take my cyclometer with me as PinoyMTBiker habit.
wandie1024,
It is my pleasure sharing with you pictures Silver trekkie saw and experienced.
MIG,
In complying with food criteria of this thread, I include what I carboload on during or after riding. Hehehe. But really, Tokyo is food lovers delight as all cuisine imaginable are available here.
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mojo
Newbie
"to bike or not to bike, that is the question!"
Posts: 33
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Post by mojo on Apr 17, 2008 8:26:36 GMT 8
great urban adventure sir rocky! very well documented! there's really nothing like travelling on your own and discovering new paths and sights as you go! truly a world class adventurer! hope to ride with you when you get back! ride safe!
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rainbow63
XC Rider
burn rubber not ur soul!
Posts: 130
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Post by rainbow63 on Apr 17, 2008 23:52:19 GMT 8
Padi how are you na?
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Post by rocky on Apr 18, 2008 4:49:36 GMT 8
Mojo sir,
Hopefully, after five weeks of riding Tokyo's flat urban landscape that are as smooth as glass, it will only take me a day or two to return back to form conquering ruggedness of Licao-Licao barok trails. Silver trekkie will rest of course. Ibis Mojo or Trek Fuel 80 will take over silver trekkies place. Once I gain confidence I have what it takes to be following you and your Ibis Mojo SL, count me in to be riding with you.
Rainbow63,
Silver trekkie and I can't bike out. It was raining hard whole day yesterday (Day 15). It will rain pretty hard whole day today also (Day 16).
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Post by rocky on Apr 19, 2008 8:06:10 GMT 8
Day 17 50 F Wind 31 km/h Cloudy Light rain showers Call of outdoors beckons after being cooped up indoors for two days due to heavy rain and strong winds encountered Day 15 and Day 16. 8 km W I don't bother using map anymore now that I am on the 2nd half of Silver trekkies Tokyo tour. I can't read Kanji anyway so consulting the map just slows Silver trekkie down and is more confusing. 13 km SE AaaH. Nothing beats being able to bike out and exercise. Takes away all the numbness and restlessness that accumulates in the body. More so when the wind is blowing at 30 km/h and gusting strong enough at times to the point Silver trekkie is blown sideways or is stopped by the shere force of the wind. It seems my wearing 4 layers of cycling jerseys ain't sufficient to stay warm. 13.5 km NW So nice to be retired and done. Drifting endlessly with nowhere to go but to St. Peter's gate...I guess. 17.3 km E Lions guarding the gates of a great warrior circa 1850. Total distance: 22.54 km
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Post by rocky on Apr 20, 2008 5:32:48 GMT 8
Day 18 59 F Wind: 30km/h cloudy with light showers I will be biking up north to join Arakawa Cycling Course, a gathering of folding and recumbent bikers, who gather on 3rd Sunday of each month. Bike course will start at Ukimafunado Park heading downstream along Arakawa River to Kasai Rinkai Park for total riding distance of 30 kms. Considering the strong 30 km/h winds gusting at times to dangerous levels like yesterday, this cycling event may be cancelled. If it does, oh well, I will be riding solo again. More I wish I were back to Tiendesitas to join 10th Tour Of Fireflies which are gathering as I speak and will take off soon. Ho. Ho. Ho. Lucky...Lucky me. Arakawa folding and recumbent bikers showed up full force numbering 28. Lookie at how Arakawa bikes fold. Have you heard of this brandname - Brompton? Sounds British to me and it says it is made in England. This recumbent bike beats them all. And this recumbent bike kicked my behind speeding down a bridge at good 55 km/h clip. Cool as it gets. Poor Silver trekkie. Felt insecure for the first time as a mountain bike for socializing with recumbent and folding bikes. And this type. And this with blind biker being assisted by partner. How neat the bike folds. Am I going OT by showing these bikes? And these? Plus these. Just say so because mountain bikes here rule. There were 29 of us who biked downstream for 30 kms. Colorful flowers abloom never fail to cheer bikers day. PaPi Rocky and Silver trekkie obviously enjoying tour of Tokyo. We have reached Kansai Rinkai Park at the mouth of Arakawa River overlooking Tokyo Bay. View of tallest ferris wheel at Kansai Rinkai Park. Last view of wacko recumbent bike. Total distance: 67.98 kms
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rainbow63
XC Rider
burn rubber not ur soul!
Posts: 130
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Post by rainbow63 on Apr 20, 2008 20:11:25 GMT 8
Wow those are nice folding bikes padi rocky , can you bring one back when you go home ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by rocky on Apr 20, 2008 20:28:44 GMT 8
rainbow63,
Nice folding bikes...noh? And they travel fast too.
So easy to fold, store to backseat of your car, and handcarry wherever you go.
But I am PinoyMTBiker. Paka on trailhead of Licao-Licao only, folding bike will go ocho-ocho (twisted) na.
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Post by rocky on Apr 22, 2008 4:06:45 GMT 8
Day 19
54 F Wind 15-20 km/h Cloudy
Silver trekkie's rear derailleur was shifting kinda funky yesterday Day 18. So I cleaned and lubed her moving parts, and fine tuned her rear derailleur as per bongjumper and shuzz's "how to tune your derailleur" instruction.
I noticed that all folding and recumbent bikes yesterday were on clipless pedals. It was a pityful that Silver trekkie was on platform pedals throughout the Arakawa Riverbank 30 kms downstream stretch. Platform is inefficient compared to clipless pedals. Enough of platform! I have biked around Tokyo designated biking lanes long enough to know that I can avoid bumping pedestrians using clipless pedals as well. So I swapped Silver trekkies platform to clipless pedals today.
Not having fully recovered from 68 kms Arakawa River course yesterday, I elected to spin around neighborhood of Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Roppongi only. Oh what big difference riding on clipless made. Somehow, I weaved in and out of traffic better. Just more control and power and distance with spinning rather than mashing pedals.
And rear derailleur shifted flawlessly again. Silver trekkie's cables were new kasi so it stretched and misaligned and needed to be readjusted.
Total Distance: 14.63 km
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Post by rocky on Apr 22, 2008 6:32:48 GMT 8
Day 20 53 F Wind 11 km/h cloudy to sunny AaaHhh. Get up the rack. Get up the rack...PMTBerks. This day promises to be Nice to bike out there. Not so cold. Not so windy. And promises to be sunny. But where to go? Where to go? So many choices. Too little time left. So beautiful and captivating to tour Tokyo by bike kasi. Teka...teka. The 30 kms route Silver trekkie took last Sunday following flow of Arakawa River downstream as it empties to Tokyo Bay is a must repeat experience(Part 2). I will be riding solo this time however. At my own pace and leisure. If I like to speed, Silver trekkie can speed up. More so now that her clipless pedals are on. If I elect to ride slow and stop as often to view wild ducks and assorted seabirds take flight...I am as free. What is so attractive about biking along Arakawa Riverbanks is motorised vehicles are forbidden there. Imagine biking for 30 kms like today (working day) along the riverbanks where Silver trekkie will have exclusive use of the biking lane - unhampered, uncluttered, with zero pedestrian traffic! Later. 3.46 km N Hay naku. What difference does clipless pedal on clipless shoe with carbon sole versus platform pedal on jogging shoe with rubber sole make!. Power transfer of clipless pedals on clipless shoe is 100% instant versus loss of power generated by platform pedal on rubber soles. During my first three weeks tour of tokyo, I was afraid, uncertain and lack the confidence that I may hit pedestrians while on bike designated lanes if I were using clipless. For better control and bailing out, I chose to use platform pedals instead. But for the last several days, I followed Warlock's advise to bike on leftmost side of the street and tried to avoid bike designated lanes I shared with pedestrians if possible. Since I was biking mostly on leftmostside of the road weaving in and out of car traffic, clipless pedal was the better choice. No. No. No. My wearing red PinoyMTBiker socks didn't make my ride go better...ok? Only clipless pedal on clipless shoes. 11.24 km NW I took off windbreaker as it was getting warmer at this point. I was left wearing black PinoyMTBiker jersey with sando underneath only and arm warmers. I don't know. Silver trekkie needs all the blessings she can get. I clapped twice on her behalf. Do you know that Silver trekkie was blessed by Our Lady of Antipolo circa 2005? And Silver trekkie was blessed also by parish priest of Neopolitan circa 2006. 15.39 km NE Silver trekkie arrives at Ukimafunado Park. I carboloaded on 3 servings of ome-rice and the usual PinoyMTBiker trail recipes while at Ukimafunado Park. This was my breakfast come to think of it. I carboloaded on same bench where Arakawa folding and recumbent bikers and Silver trekkie gathered last Sunday. 16.70 km SE Looks like Silver trekkie has the riverbanks by her lonesome self. 30 kms of free zone unlike last sunday when riverbanks were full of soccer and baseball and golf players crowding open fields. 18.48 km SE Do you see Arakawa River flowing downstream at the distance? Silver trekkie will gallivant alongside her banks. 21.87 km SE Not only does Silver trekkie roll on smoothest of pavement. I can't believe the opportunity myself. Silver trekkie is given the option to try 4.5 kms of single track as well. The choice which track she prefers is obvious 24.84 kms SE Will Silver trekkie break 4.5 kms of single track monotony and bomb downhill? Sekwet. 27.21 km SE I promised myself moment I retire, I will engage full time fishing- fishing na lang. Aba. aba. I ended up mountain biking instead. 28.30 KM SE Time to sit down and take 5 minute break. 29.58 km SE Now Silver trekkie views two rivers as she continues on her tour of tokyo. Not bad. She feels on top of the world. So do I with cool river breeze gently caressing my face as if whispering sweet refrains. I can't help but Smile when it is as sunny as today. 32.95 km SE Riverbanks offer its own share of marshyness too. Free mud...anyone?
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leflea
Free Rider
...
Posts: 327
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Post by leflea on Apr 22, 2008 11:44:33 GMT 8
i love the pics and the stories sir rocky. thanks for sharing your journey with us? been a lurker on this thread for a while...
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isteb
Free Rider
Posts: 239
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Post by isteb on Apr 22, 2008 12:58:29 GMT 8
it seems that we have the same Trek frame but different color scheme... enjoyed your posts.. Semper Fi! oorah!!!
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rainbow63
XC Rider
burn rubber not ur soul!
Posts: 130
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Post by rainbow63 on Apr 22, 2008 18:27:01 GMT 8
Padi Rocky hows your ride today? I miss your ibis na padi ;D ride safe, Godspeed. keep on posting padi, i love that pink gloves of yours padi ;D
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Post by arcireyes on Apr 22, 2008 18:41:32 GMT 8
is that a sachet of extra joss i saw there hehehe (nippon edition ba yan brad? ) its always great to see and read your tokyologue brad, always a whiff of fresh air sa forum. its TOFX for us here while its a bike fest of folding and recumbent bikes at your end. shall we call it even-steven har har har. oi just 2 weeks more ha..........hehehe enjoy and ride safe brad
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Post by rocky on Apr 22, 2008 19:57:31 GMT 8
i love the pics and the stories sir rocky. thanks for sharing your journey with us? been a lurker on this thread for a while... Thanks a lot...theflea. There are occasions I wonder if I have overextended Silver Trekkie Tours Tokyo kasi. Comments like yours reassure me I am doing fine. As I mentioned previously, I just like you to keep me company by viewing pictures and stories of silver trekkie tours. 35.9 km SE Silver trekkie celebrates Children's Day (Boy's Day). I have to pose silver trekkie again like I did last Sunday on bed of flowers ...theflea. I just like to impart the message: Life is good. Health is wealth.
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Post by rocky on Apr 22, 2008 21:15:59 GMT 8
it seems that we have the same Trek frame but different color scheme... enjoyed your posts.. Semper Fi! oorah!!! Hi Isteb, Yes. Something about this Trek hardtail frame that made me press the "I believe" botton. At the rate Silver trekkie keeps on serving me for more than 12.5K kms, the more I fall for her, the less I look at other hardtail frames. Well, I will continue on sharing today's ride...Ok Isteb? 42.33 km S As I am getting nearer to Tokyo Bay, seabirds are plentiful. Too bad all I have is Canon A530. If only I invested on more powerful camera with telescopic lens, I wouldn't be limited and would have captured lots of seabird shots flying or swimming at the distance. Common now. Let me take this shot. Don't fly away. I won't hurt you. Oh well. Birds are birds. 48.23 km S That bridge at the distance. That is the landmark I am closing in to Kasai Rinkai Park. 51.69 km S See what I mean..Isteb. I like to take a closer shot of those seabirds. No can do. What you see instead is a close up look of Silver trekkie 2003 frame.
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Post by rocky on Apr 22, 2008 21:34:40 GMT 8
Padi Rocky hows your ride today? I miss your ibis na padi ;D ride safe, Godspeed. keep on posting padi, i love that pink gloves of yours padi ;D Padi rainbow63, My ride today was blessed by not so strong winds, clear skies, and sun keeping landscape warm (60F) the whole day thru. Perfect Spring weather. You are OT. Don't mention Ibis Mojo in the presence of Silver trekkie thread. She might get jealous and throw me off her thudbuster again 58.68 km S At last. Silver trekkie reached mouth of Arakawa River. Tokyo Bay can be viewed at the distance. Kasai coast and view of tallest ferris wheel in Japan Exhausted and hungry as I am after 58 kms, I carboloaded on this bento. It was gone in matter of minutes. I have to bike to shinjuku pa from the southern coast of Tokyo. There goes PaPi Rock's trademark pinkie Troy Lee gloves...padi.
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Post by nell7806 on Apr 22, 2008 21:57:54 GMT 8
what an adventure your having there Papi... still can't help but recall the day we plan on goin to Paligawan but the weather is so good so we decided to go more further...
nice pictures by the way sir... keep 'em coming...
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Post by rocky on Apr 22, 2008 22:07:00 GMT 8
is that a sachet of extra joss i saw there hehehe (nippon edition ba yan brad? ) its always great to see and read your tokyologue brad, always a whiff of fresh air sa forum. its TOFX for us here while its a bike fest of folding and recumbent bikes at your end. shall we call it even-steven har har har. oi just 2 weeks more ha..........hehehe enjoy and ride safe brad Sir Arci, No kuya. That sachet of Extra Joss was purchased at SM Fairview. Henry See version. 59.44 km NW Bay of Tokyo 63.62 km W Landmark bridge near Kasai Rinkai Park 72.95 km W Piece of cake weaving in and out of Tokyo traffic after Day 20. I am employing my pitik-pitik tutok techniques that I mastered surviving FEU Morayta going to UST Espana rush hour traffic. Tokyo drivers are so well behaved following rules of traffic to the tee. MetroManila drivers are...ewan? Ergo, how I enjoyed speeding home to Shinjuku crib from Kasai Rinkai Park. Total Distnce: 78 kms You know sir Arci, the 71 kms total travel distance you did doing TOF-X plus from/to our Farview abode covered touring majority of metroManila...right? So is it with the city of tokyo. 60-70 kms touring central city of Tokyo cover majority of it as well. Even talaga tayo pards. ;D
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Post by rocky on Apr 24, 2008 10:15:17 GMT 8
what an adventure your having there Papi... still can't help but recall the day we plan on goin to Paligawan but the weather is so good so we decided to go more further... nice pictures by the way sir... keep 'em coming... Nell7806, Yesterday, Day 21, I burnt-out. Hard for me to get out of the rack. So for the whole day, I ended up lying down and watching downloaded version of American Idol and dozing off from time to time. It is to be expected. 150 kms of back to back tour following Arakawa River downstream exacted it toll on moi senior citizen body Today however, Day 22, weather is uncooperative as it is raining and windy outside at 54 F. Sana if temperature were not 54 F like during our ride last time after Paligawan, we decided to continue on to Palace Up The Sky even though raining, foggy (as in zero visibility), and at lower 80F. When it is raining and temperature is 80's, it is bikeable. Refreshing and stimulating pa nga to bike under that condtion. But if temperature is at lower 60's and worse lower 50's and raining, it is Not nice and leisurely to be biking out anymore.
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rainbow63
XC Rider
burn rubber not ur soul!
Posts: 130
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Post by rainbow63 on Apr 24, 2008 10:24:56 GMT 8
Padi rocky how are you na?
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Post by gadgets88 on Apr 24, 2008 10:55:36 GMT 8
Papi Rocky,
How about some cross-training like swimming? I'm sure some bikini shots taken will be much appreciated!
Oops!!! This is an MTB forum! OT! OT! ;D
I love this thread! Sarap ng pictures! (trans: eye-candy photos!)
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Post by nikonographer on Apr 25, 2008 0:37:55 GMT 8
Excellent documentary Rock! More...more...more!!!
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katipzrider
Free Rider
SIGE SMITE PA! BIBISITAHIN KITA!
Posts: 231
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Post by katipzrider on Apr 25, 2008 3:06:56 GMT 8
WOW!! AISHTERU!!!! all i can say is! Tokyo is such a haven for bike enthusiasts and bike commuters not unlike here in Manila where some people tend to look down at you if you are a bike commuter, a Critical Mass Ride is not necessary in such a place like this, not unlike in Manila where lotsa arrogant motorists especially those d***head public FX and jeepney drivers who feel that they own the roads and they would love to hit on innocent Pinoy bikers (based on TOFX marshaling experience). Seems that Tokyo is an every bikers dream destination. Kudos to the Japanese people!!!!! i feel motivated more to commute by bike and i am actually considering getting a cruiser bike (still thinking about it) so that i can rest my whitie vision. ;D
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Post by rocky on Apr 25, 2008 4:38:57 GMT 8
Padi rocky how are you na? Do you like me to be brutally frank with you...rainbow63 sir? I meez home na. Bites and pangs of homesickness are gradually being felt amidst the languor of Silver trekkie tours.
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Post by rocky on Apr 25, 2008 5:23:10 GMT 8
gadgets88, Wish ko lang that young and lovely Tokyo dolls of today won't take offense if I take their pictures freely ala paparazzi style and share them with you? Really. Tokyo women today look stunning. To realize they are same generation as my daughter. They evolve into the most lovely, vivacious, avant garde, beautiful ladies year 2008 produced. My eyes pop out and my heart melts each time I come across one strolling down sidewalks. Oops! You are correct. OT. OT. Now back to the topic. Day 23. high of 64 F in the afternoon. Low of 53 F this morning. wind 24 km/h. Cloudy to sunny Since I just about covered most major neighborhoods of Tokyo, I will rely on webpage "Cycle Tokyo" to guide me how to approach touring Tokyo today. I found "Asakusa-Aoyama Ride" as challenging in the way it snakes through very bowels of the city. Hope I will be able to follow route directions? I will be relying on compass again and not on street names as I can't read kanji eniweys. Later... 0.0 km E Oh how cold it is outside the crib. Low 50's. Wind 24km/h. Slightly drizzling. My ears numb. My cheeks as rosy as Igorots. Lips chapped dry. Silver trekkie insists to do Asakusa-Aoyama sightseeing rider course covering central tokyo and circling the Imperial Palace. 2.5 km E Before PinoyMTBiker hits the trail, prayers are in order asking for steady hands and motherly protection so we return back safely to mama and our little darlings. 5.95 km ESE Imperial Palace Asakusa-Aoyama Rider Course starts here. On reaching Imperial Palace grounds after biking 6 kms, I feel perky and invigorated . Even though it is cold, windy, and slightly drizzling, it is so nice to be biking out pa rin. Addict kasi. Look! Who wouldn't be addicted to mountain biking when you see a graceful swan gliding elegantly on moat of Imperial Palace? 7.47 km ESE 2nd destination of Tokyo Cycle Tour is world famous Ginza. Ginza is still where Tokyoites, mostly women, head for top-notch department stores like Mitsukoshi,, Matsuya, and Wako. Common Silver trekkie. What do you think you are doing? You are not allowed to enter and watch kabuki plays on Japan's finest kabuki theatre, Kabuki-za.
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Post by BrusKO on Apr 25, 2008 7:40:19 GMT 8
Papa Rocks, can you send me pics of school girls in skirts? PLEASE???
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