Simply Wonderful

It starts like this... you wake up one morning and you realize that you want to live the rest of your life with someone special. This happened to me 30 years ago and life has been simply wonderful ever since.

She's my everything

We recently attended the wedding of our niece.

Weddings make everyone happy.

Weddings make everyone look good too!

The women in our lives. They're strong when we're weak. They navigate when we're lost. They make us think we're incredibly sharp and mature when in reality we're not. One should never take the women in our lives for granted.

Dearly beloved,
we are gathered here today
To get through this thing called life
-- Prince

Husband and wife - just looking at them makes me feel so happy.

Happy couples are everywhere. In my everyday walks I see couples hand-in-hand enjoying simply being together.

Yamashita Park was built just so that couples would have a place to walk. It's a true story!

A view to a lifetime of happiness.

Call me a romantic old fool if you like, but I see love and happiness wherever I look.

I could go on showing pictures of couples but I see other stuff too. So, here's some of that stuff!

I can't walk past the skating rink without snapping a few pictures.

We cheer for the speedy skaters and we send out subliminal messages of support to the weaker ones.

Wide open space.

When I say "meet me at the tree" I mean this tree.

Another example of a four story building.

Look and ye shall see

Look closer and ye shall see more!

I like red bricks. So long as nobody is throwing them at me that is.

I like light bulbs too!

Consider the neck tie. It adds a dash of color, a touch of class, a bit of distinction; makes me wonder why most men tend to avoid wearing them.

No respect.

A mighty tugboat returning to port.

Hanging out in the local record shop.

My old friend Nicky.

I live in a country that truly embraces tassels.

The red tassel. It holds the curtain away from the window so that we can gaze out the window on the world. It's simply wonderful!

This post is dedicated to all the happy couples in the world. Couples like Ken & Sara!

Thanks for stopping by!
Mike

The Mighty Ookagawa River

I walked the Ookagawa river from Kamiooka train station to where it finally empties itself into the ocean. Why did I do this? Because it had to be done! And, after gaining some weight over the holidays, I needed the exercise.

The trek begins as I depart Kamiooka station and head to the mighty Ookagawa river! I have a song in my heart, a big smile on my face and a camera in my hand. This is going to be fun!

One block from the station and I encounter the Mighty Ookagawa! Hmmm... looks more like a ditch. None the less, toward the ocean I go following the Mighty Ookagawa!

The river twists and turns through the town of Kamiooka.

It's a beautiful day for this journey.

The seagulls have flown several kilometers inland just to great me; or perhaps to see what kind of fool would do what I'm doing.

The river makes it's first big turn just outside of town.

Not to wide, not to deep... calling the Ookagawa a river seems to be an inside joke or something. Perhaps the Japanese language doesn't have a word for creek, stream of drainage ditch.

Makes no matter, I am undeterred,  I continue to go with the flow.

Well, well, well, this is interesting, the river flows under a covered shopping street.

Take me to the river, drop me in the water
 Push me in the water, drop me in the river
Washing me down, washing me down
--Talking Heads

People along the river live in some nice houses.

Nice wide promenade lined with cherry blossom trees.

Moving along the river gets wider and deeper.

Passing under expressways I hear the sound of cars and trucks roaring down the road.

Another curious onlooker.

I should have started counting the bridges that cross over the Ookagawa. There certainly are a lot of them and no two are alike.

Now on the opposite side of the river the the Keikyu train line starts to run parallel to it.

The top of this bridge post is adorned with bronze rings ( at least I think they're bronze) and when one gives them a shove they klang (is klang a word?) like church bells.

One of the really nice things about the Ookagawa river is the availability of public toilets. Small but clean, what more could one ask for?

Recreation! Water sports! Yeehaw!

Not only can one enjoy playing in the river, there are plenty of watering holes along the way too!

As I get closer to the ocean the number of observers increases.

As the river widens and deepens the size of the bridges that cross it also increases in size. This train has just departed Sakuragicho station, Yokohama.

Heck, I'm thinking that Proud Mary ought to be rollin' down the river at any moment.

Now the "Mighty" Ookagawa is in it's final stretch as it flows past the Landmark Tower.

Leaving the Landmark Tower in the rear view mirror the Ookagawa makes the final push into...

...the ocean! Yeah baby! This is it! I got sore feet and tired legs; and, I've also got a big grin on my face along with a feeling of satisfaction. I think it's time to break out the beer and celebrate!

As always, thanks for stopping by!
Mike