May 8
I’m at the airport, PDX, Portland International, and it’s May 8th at last. All the preparation is done, for better or worse. I’ve checked in with Air Canada, deposited my bag, gone through the ritual humiliation that is TSA, and have trekked to the furthest end of Concourse E.
Two hours until my flight. One hour and forty-five, actually. That’s the thing about time: it just keeps ticking away. What was months will soon be an hour. In three short weeks, I’ll be preparing to leave Japan. But that is then; this is now.
I can’t decide if I’m excited or not. Even though I’ve spent all this money and am now sitting here in an airport lounge with a boarding pass to Vancouver, BC, where I’ll catch my flight to Tokyo, it does not seem real. I hope this is because I have learned, to some degree, to live in the present moment. Not to run to the future but to just stay put. Right here, right now. This is not the most exciting time or place, but it is where I am. In about fifteen or sixteen hours, I’ll be in Japan.
But not yet. I am in an uncomfortable chair in Concourse E at Portland International Airport. Exactly where I am supposed to be.
The last few days at work, people asked if I was packed and were somewhat horrified when I said No. I was confident I could take care of it the day before I left.
Lesson learned.
That said, I’m not sure I could have done much more than what I did yesterday. I think the net result would have been the same. I’d just have had a lot less to do. I was able to keep busy all day and into the night, waiting for my ride to the airport at 3:30 am.
The Osprey Farpoint pack I bought for this trip proved to be too small for my needs. The larger version would have been, too. It’s a great pack – for someone not planning on camping as part of their trip. When I realized I was not going to get everything I needed into it, I spent a few minutes considering a non-camping trip.
finding lodging each night
eating out for every meal
making the six days of hiking the MCT quite problematic
So after those few minutes considering this possibility – and it might have been a single minute – I realized I would have to abandon the Farpoint and get down the “real” backpack and use it. My only issue with that is that the straps, and it has a lot, dangle and offer themselves to get caught as the baggage is moved from place to place.
But it was my only choice, so I got it packed (barely). Hallelujah, it meets all the weight and size criteria for my flights. Once I get to Japan, I can repack it with things like the tent strapped to the outside. After all, I’ll need to stash my carry-on bag in it much of the time.
Honestly, the idea of a non-camping trip still sounds attractive, but I also know I’m going to enjoy hiking and camping. The extra hassle will be worth it.
May 9
Almost the end of a very long day. I’ve not slept in something like forty-three hours, four or five brief naps over the Pacific not withstanding. Here is what’s happened since I got up at 8am on Tuesday, May 7th
spent the day preparing
and some cleaning
May 8th
3:15 am, went to airport
flew to Vancouver
flew to Tokyo
May 9th
arrived in Tokyo
train to Tokyo Station
shinkansen to Omiya
got hotel room
got ¥20,000
had ramen
walked around manga shop
and after I finish with these quick notes, I’m going to head up to the spa on the 14th floor of this hotel and soak. Hopefully I won’t fall asleep and drown.
The ramen was only ¥580, about $3.70. A big bowl, and it was good. Not “gourmet” but I’d happily eat a bowl of that kind of ramen for $4 multiple times a week. Ramen, a piece of kaarage, and a large bottle of Asahi: ¥1,320, or $8.50. No one in Portland makes this kind of ramen, the kind working people and students can drop in for, spend under five bucks, and be done in about 15 minutes.
I’m exhausted. My head is not happy. Let’s go see what soaking in the spa of a good hotel does for me.