Wild Ride

For many, many years I have traveled and ridden in and on almost every imaginable type of vehicle in various nations. Being in modern Japan in the middle of Nara and Osaka, you would think that the roads would be nice highways or at least two lanes.

Recently my friend Ruth Ann and I flew to Osaka and then took an express train near to a place between Nara and Osaka. We were met by a couple who would be our host family for that first night. We loaded our small bags into their trunk and then got acquainted. As far as we knew, we were going to be staying in a suburb of the big city Osaka. Don't you love it when you get surprised and everything is opposite of what you think? Smile!

They began to tell us about the area where we had arrived and where we were going. We noticed the incline seemed to get steeper and steeper. As it seemed we were leaving civilization, I rushed in my mind to make sure I had brought everything I might need for that first night stay.

Amazingly enough, we finally arrived at their house near the top of a very high mountain. They told us that Nara was on one side of this mountain and Osaka was on the other side. You couldn't have proven it by us because we could see nothing but trees and weeds. Smile!!!

We had a very nice visit and nice rest, sleeping on the floor on top of the Japanese futons. I did forget to take a picture of their bathroom, where you take your bath or shower. One wall is only window, so that you can be 'one with nature'(which was some weeds out in the yard), while bathing. I certainly didn't concentrate on the weeds or nature, but hurriedly showered in the morning, while I could see and make sure no one else was "seeing me". Smile!!! Perhaps I am just "old fashion" but I am what I am. SMILE!!!

I felt that no one in the whole wide world would believe me if I tried to explain what the road was like where they lived, so I sat in the front seat of the car the morning we left for the women's meetings and attempted to take a video. Hope you enjoy the ride - Wild Ride Video