Some months (or even years) ago I noticed an activity that Kazuyoshi had done on Strava called ‘Ramen Ride’. The photos of said ramen were so enticing that I made a comment on his activity to the effect that I’d love to try that out someday. One of the great qualities of at least some Japanese is that they have excellent memories and they have a built-in penchant for thinking of others. And so, Kazuyoshi never forgot my comment (I had) and this is the result.

The ramen was heavenly and as nice to look at as it was to eat.

Fortified by noodles, our ramen ride (this meal was half-way through the ride – something I’m learning that is de rigeur for these guys) took us to Enoshima, a small island off the coast, where people fish squid in the shadow of Enoshima Lighthouse. We just hung out and talked about hometowns…after I re-remembered the Japanese name for ‘hometown’, which took some time.

On the way home, Kazuyoshi pulled us off Route 134 for a perfect view of Mount Fuji, even if my camera’s zoom function was no so perfect.

After dropping off Yukio in Hiratsuka, we rode on towards home, but at one point Kazuyoshi turns to me and asks, ‘Gerry-san, ice cream tabetakunai?’ And who doesn’t on a sunny ride? He then proceeded to take me a good 10km out of the way to a new gelateria that is part of a local dairy farm.

I’m not going to dis my ride-finishing kebab back home in France, but other than the time investment (I think it took us a total of 5.5. hours to ride less than 80km), I could get used to eating my way through a bike ride.