2015 Tokyo Toy Run

Every year, our motorcycle club does a toy run. We collect toys, and deliver them via our bad-ass bikes to some orphanages.

So many toys! Thank you for the donations. Some people gave me toys in person, some sent them to me, and others donated cash.

Well, the 2015 Tokyo Toy Run has come and gone. The weather was dicey, but the morning showers let up into an on and off drizzle. Not even enough to damage my leopard print Santa suit.

Santa Cee, coming at you from the north side, ya digg?

A fan of the site sent in this brand new XL-size Duffy. Those are like $100! Solid!

This year there were around 60-70 riders taking part. The look on the kid's faces when we unleashed a furry of rad presents is what this is all about. 

Well, can't really post photos from the event, so here's a photo of some dude's custom Honda NM4. Is that an Iron Man theme? Yes, yes it is. There was another guy, his friend, on a matte black / carbon fiber NM4. Strange bike, but I'm into it.

Speaking of matte black. Any given Sunday at the Ebina parking area.

Yep, a pink Aston Martin DB9.

This was a first. Four BMW i8s were meeting up. The drivers were the oldest of the super car lot there. I asked them their opinions of their expensive rides. They looked over at the Ferraris and said, "Ours are silent."

Enough cars already!

How about some pictures of the kids?

Seriously, though, I'm thankful for this opportunity. Not only because the expat rider scene in Japan is here to put together events like this, but because of their all-around awesomeness. For 9 years now I've ridden with a lot of these guys. If I have a problem, one of them is there for me. Apart from general bike issues, when I had my accident a few years ago, these were the guys who were visiting me in the hospital more than anyone else, a gesture which resonates with me until this day.

See you guys next year!

November 2015

Movember



Strange.



Risque.



Artistic.



Decadent.



Poisonous.



Hilarious.



Tranquil.



International.



Ancient.



Equal.



Questionable.



Privileged.



Iconic.



Tokyo.

Donate to the 2015 Tokyo Toy Run!

I'm super psyched to be able to take part in the 2015 Tokyo Toy run. What is the Toy Run you ask?



Basically, my motorcycle buddies and I collect toys and donations, load up our motorcycles with said awesome things, and ride to a local-ish orphanage to give the kids an awesome day. Oh, and we are all dressed as Santa. On bikes.



I've written about it a few times, check the links below if you want to see more:

2014
2011
2010
2009

This is event is very special to us, and any donations would be gladly accepted. If you live in Tokyo and are my friend, you can give me things like stuffed animals or toys. New things only please. If you would like to donate money, you can send it via PayPal to my address at macduckston@gmail.com.

I'll probably spend everything on Star Wars toys!

Thanks in advance for your donations everyone!

Okinawa Ramen Riding

沖縄- Okinawa



I had work on a Saturday down in Okinawa. Of course, I took a few days off to get down there early for some R&R. R&R, isn't that what the military guys say? Seriously, there is a big, scary military presence down in Okinawa. But was I down there for the burgers and Filipino girly bars that line the roads outside the ominous barbed wire fences surrounding our service men? No way, I'm here to eat noodles and ride bikes.



This was my first time to Okinawa, and now I've been to all 47 prefectures of Japan. I think, for the traveler, Okinawa has a lot to offer if you have the time. Apart from the main island and Naha, accounts of amazing seaside villages and tranquility abound. But, I didn't have the time. A quick, two day blast on a rented Kawasaku Z800 would have to do.



But first, airport sushi! The sushi at Terminal 1 is much better than this one at Terminal 2.



A rental from Rental 819, the country-wide bike rental company we know and love. I was thinking of a cruiser, maybe a Honda Shadow 400, but this sporty beast was the same price. How was the ride? Maybe if you are more of a Japanese-sized guy, you'd enjoy it more. That seat felt small, and it was rock hard to boot. But the power to weight was awesome, and the torque was there at any speed. I wonder how it compares to a KTM Duke 690?

Anyways, if you are interested in getting a Z800, make sure you test ride it for a day first. I couldn't do more than 80km before my ass was sore.



Ramen! I hit up 1 ramen shop and 2 sokisoba (Okinawan style noodles) shops this trip. The reviews will be up later at www.ramenadventures.com.



My pension for the night. $40 and I woke up to this view. Not bad, except the Motobu area was completely dead. I managed to find the only friendly looking place to drink on the other side of that bridge.



Okinawan Awomori (泡盛) is prevalent.



The, one full day of riding and sightseeing.



I'd say skip the Okinawa aquarium. Yeah, it is super famous, but apart from the whale sharks, it was kind of small. Actually, I had just recently visited the Atlanta aquarium, which supplanted the Okinawan one as the biggest tank in the world. I think. The Atlanta one had jellyfish and a dolphin show that was more of an off-broadway production.

The above photo is from Okinawa, and below is from Atlanta. I think the same company built the massive acrylic windows.



Almost everything with a sign seems touristy. I veered off the main road to check out a waterfall, but they wanted 500 yen to see it. Further north, a cliff with a view was charging 870 yen for a look. I don't even know what this Okinawa Fruits Land is, but it was another 1000 yen.



Motobu is known as THE place to go for sokisoba, the Okinawan cousin to ramen.



山原そば.



Great soup and noodles. The meat was a little tough, but you can't beat the above bowl for 600 yen.



Another famous spot. きしもと食堂.



Their toppings were amazing, but the noodles were on the soft side. Everyone's a critic!



What a place. The north side had plenty of positively empty roads. I only passed one driver in about an hour, who just so happened to be the drunkest drunk driver I had ever seen in my life. This was at noon on a Friday. I contemplated being a snitch and telling a cop, but there were also no buildings for an hour.



I guess November is the off season. Though it was almost 30 degrees out, I had this resort beach all to myself for the sunset.



And I didn't even get kicked out for my tattoos! Also, what is that guy's ink of? A tribal butterfly crab?



See you again, next time my work sends me down.

October, 2015

水始涸, 鴻雁来, 菊花開, 蟋蟀在戸, 霜始降



That crisp autumn air!



That fresh white-fleshed sushi in Niigata.



That foreboding hell-sky. Must be October!



This train in Niigata has an entire car that is a bar. Yes, you cruise ocean-side all day drinking local sake and enjoying the view. What you can't see is me cheersing this dude back with my one cup.



I'm on a hunt!



A few kinds of hunts.







Stickers!





Super awesome craft beer bar I randomly found in Sendai. Street-side seating, about 40 taps, and a menu of Italian bites that looked great. He recommended a local Hoya-smoked ale. Craftsman is the name.










Shinuya on Halloween . . .



. . . is . . .



. . . bonkers.







Gnight!