Originally posted to ydnar.vox.com in July 2006.

This one time in Japan, I was caught in a blizzard on top of a volcano in Kyushu, abandoned on a 70 mile bridge between Shikoku and Honshu and caught Scarlet Fever.

sure, it’s just a few more miles

closer

Had I died it might have been a worse vacation. If you ever go to Japan, never try to simultaneously tour the country on a 1) bicycle 2) whilst camping and 3) doing it in the [spring]. Pick one.

Edit: OK, so between these particularly traumatic events, I was caught in:

• Three tunnels in the middle of the night trying to find a tiny mountain onsen town.
• A torrential spring downpour, utterly soaking myself and everything I owned.
• A half dozen notable fights with my girlfriend (we broke up halfway through this trip).

symbolism