#shredgnar

[matinjapan]

Day trippin’

Controversial, maybe slightly provocative opinion, but travelling can kind of suck.

There are a few big caveats to this opinion though. And it’s massively contrived. This post is basically just an extension of a half thought I had while in Yokohama today (actually now yesterday).

So yeah, Yokohama. Again. I made the decision to head down on the morning of (the day trip). Just for something to do. It was Sunday morning. I’d already gone for a quick run. Didn’t have any other plans, and so after quickly mulling a few options, I thought heading back to Yokohama would be an alright use of time.

I could’ve just hung out at home. Even just to do something as pedestrian as read (I’ve a massive backlog), or maybe even write, like I’m trying to do now at 10pm. But there’s this thing within my psyche that makes me feel guilty if I stay at home on a day off. Guilt booted me out the door at around noon.

It was super sunny. Cold though, with a pretty icy, substantial wind. But I learnt my lesson from the last trip and wore an appropriate amount of clothes. Jumper, and crucially, jacket.

Yokohama was cool on first visit, but the decision to go back wasn’t driven by any great desire to do anything (nothing specific anyway). If all options were on the table, I would’ve definitely preferred to go climbing. But I’ve done something to my elbow, and so, I’m trying to rest it. I’ve had a month off, and It’s not really getting better like I had hoped. Hence, I have to scrape the barrel in terms of organising non-descript day trips.

Which I don’t normally do. For the past year, a lot of my venturing has been tied to climbing. A bit of surfing, far less snow, and a few mountain bike ventures, too. Since arriving in Japan, all my activity-based travels have fallen to close to zero. Tokyo just ain’t as conducive, though a big part is me being (kind of) injured.

Anyway, this non-descript day tip led me to the thought bubble about travel. Travelling is, like I said, kind of shit. Main caveat: it’s shit if you don’t attach it to something you want to be doing.

Food, skateboarding, giant Sequoia’s, nouveau impressionists, taking photos of cobblestones, whatever. If something you’re keen on is the impetus for the travelling, then it typically makes for a fun time. But if you just go and aimlessly traipse around, it’s not necessarily that fun. As cool as I found Yokohama the first time, there’s nothing really there that I was going back for.

Continuing the thought bubble, there’s another caveat: I guess even without travelling somewhere to do something that you want to be doing, travelling can also be good if it’s to spend time with people you want to spend time with. Yeah, you can do that back home (depending on where your friends are), but the solid chunk of time that accompanies a trip can be great for dedicated time spend’age (with the peoples).

Travelling is also great if you’re genuinely adventuring (yes, another caveat; this whole theory is turning to mush). This is the type of travelling I daydream about, but don’t actually ever do. It’s hard though. To get off the beaten path, and properly trail blaze. To do something that not many others are doing requires some pretty dedicated planning. I’m thinking on, or in, the order of walking/travelling between some stupidly remote destinations. The type of trip where you can properly get away from it all. And risk dying while you’re at it.

Not to everyone’s liking, and polar opposite to the standard pool and cocktail type trip that a lot of people froth on. If you’re anywhere near a Starbucks, then you’re probably not adventuring. Needless to say, Yokohama has more than a few Starbucks; I wasn’t adventuring yesterday.

I think Starbucks is what contributed to my initial thought bubble. Walking along the street, seeing a few people holding coffee, ambling around Yokohama with no real intention, just seemed a bit shit. Maybe they really fucking loved Starbucks, and were mid-worldwide-taste-testing-tour. But more likely, they were probably just in Yokohama for something to do; being lame like me.

Continuing on with the whole Starbucks thing, I didn’t partake. Instead, I grabbed one of the Family Mart machine-made coffees for 100 yen. Cheap skates’ delight.

Aside from a coffee and accompanying rice-triangle thing (I believe they’re called Onigiri), all I did in Yokohama was walk. Past the marooned cruise liner filled with novel coronavirus, and a fair way through and around the coastal suburbs, which kind of reminded me of Sydney’s north shore. Less greenery and foliage but pretty similar geographical vibe.

I also skirted China town, but thought better of heading too far in, lest I expose myself to a virus laden package.

Anyway, I think I’ll be a bit more diligent with my travelling (does a day trip even count as travelling?). Hopefully the elbow improves, because I’d really like to go bouldering and/or climbing around Japan. Admittedly, climbing is almost as arbitrary and meaningless/meaningful as going somewhere, just because. But the ‘almost’ part gives it the edge. 

In non-Yokohama’ing news, a friend made it to Japan last week, and we ended up shredding the gnar for a few days at Nozawaonsen. That was a cool trip (ticked all the above mentioned boxes), even though it has been the worst season for decades. We were lucky. When we arrived, we were greeted by a couple of consecutive days of 30cm of fresh. The base that the snow was falling on could’ve been more substantial (a lot of small twigged bushes to plow through), but it was still pretty sweet.  

I’m actually thinking about booking again this weekend. It’s apparently amazing right now. Around 2 metres of fresh in the last 10 days. But it’s supposed to warm up on Wednesday and rain all the way through Friday/Saturday. Not really worth it if that’s the case. Goddamn. Maybe a weekend in instead, reading. And lamenting that I didn’t get out. Ha.

Photos are from the last few weeks of Yokohama, Nozawaonsen, Tokyo and potentially other forgettable day trip places.

Adios

[livingthatwhiskeylife]

#wcw snow buns. #fullmoon #shredgnar https://www.instagram.com/p/BuZwEVAn6_9/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=19uslc7jxppf6

[grizzlydogs]

Grizzly Dogs will be at Hilltop Ski Area for the Solstice Tuesday. Fireworks and fresh snow. Shred right to your favorite food truck. We love serving all the shredders out there. You never sausage a food truck. #foodtruck #alaska @hilltop907 #sausage #shredgnar #prayforsnow #snowboarding (at Hilltop Ski Area) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXu_Cz-r_6W/?utm_medium=tumblr

[tanfer35-blog]

#tanfergerman #Repost @brendandubs with @get_repost ・・・ I hope you can see the happiness expressed in the flying. We did this run after struggling on a different line for a few days that was too steep in the hopes that a flatter traverse would yield more success. If you watch closely, you can see @freeflawed give the abort symbol with his hands, and if you watch closer you can see me take a quick peek over the shoulder just before that to get a sense for where we're at. @gregoryinoonan crushing it on the 📷 #BaseBeta #BlindTrust #trust #teamwork #communication #commitment #FriendshipGoals #humanflight #love #passion #dreams #shredgnar #happiness #switzerland #lavidaesbella #basejumping #wingsuit #courage (Randa, Switzerland) https://www.instagram.com/p/BmDITJCA9Tc/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=cj686okxi3u8

[biggstattoos]

Sometimes you go to denver on a whim and stay at an old friends house. They he shoots photos of you doing the only trick left in your bag. Most thankful to my homie @nicksmithbmx for the hospitality and unnecessary picture taking haha. Lets do it again soon!!! #gobiggsorgohome #bmx #4130 #denver #bicyclemotocross #downsidefastplant #fatguyonalittlebike #shred #shredgnar #limber #greyhairdontcare

[r2dc-jedhpg-blog]

A couple snow days ago, finally was able to get back to my roots. I love the cold, I love the snow, I hate the lines for the damn ski lift though. Oh well made the best of whatever and got some runs in, that's all that matters. #nycphotographer #lovewhatyoudo #clouds #dusk #hittheslopes #dowhatyoulove #gooutside #goexplore #mountains #skihill #boarding #shredgnar #winter #snow #sports #jedhpg #gosomewhereelse #behappy #bebetternotbitter (at Campgaw Ski Area)

[100percentbitter]

Long Post Sry: Life has been, interesting. And as difficult as the trials have become, I've been blessed. God has put me in a position to where I am a child of his kingdom. And for 2 years God has made the role of "Fish Camp Counselor" apart of my life. Regardless of tomorrow I thank God everyday for the silliest of little moments, and the two amazing men I have got to honor as a counselor, and the two families I have been apart of. If I get to go back once more, it'll be amazing. If not, I cannot wait to hear everyone's experience and Se how they impact the next class. Congratulations to anyone who will get to experience that tomorrow, and for the rest of your life. Thank you Rusty Thompson'85. Thank you Michael Ebanks'03. Thank you Fish Camp'53. But above all Thank you God for everything you have done in my life. #ShredGnar #SkateSkateThirtyEight

[clawandtalontattoo-blog]

#shred #gnar #shredgnar @vbachert #shredgnarpow #knuckletattoos #toestattoo #toeknuckles #toeknuckletats #tattoo #tattoos #boulder #bouldertattoo #bouldertattoos #bouldertattooer #bouldertattooers #bouldertattoostudio #bouldertattoostudios #bouldercolorado #colorado #coloradotattoo #coloradotattoos #coloradotattooer #coloradotattooers #coloradotattoostudio #coloradotattoostudios #thebesttattoos #thebesttattooers #radtattoos #instatattoo #tattoosofinstagram (at Claw and Talon Tattoo)

[akphotovideo]

Let's play a game. Tag the correct resort in the comments and win my admiration! ⛷ 🏂 ⛷ 🏂 #highonpowder #powderday #loveskiing #aerialphoto #aerialpic #aerialphotography #upintheair #earthfromabove #landscapehunters #earthpix #skiresort #skiresorts #ski #powder #shredgnar #mountain #winterscenes #winterlandscape #powdertothepeople @powdermagazine #skimagazine @skimagazine @powderchasers #snowcountry #skiing #neversummer #downhillski #skiingisfun #skiing⛷ #skitrip #mountaintowns #themountainsarecalling #enjoyoutdoors — view on Instagram http://bit.ly/31cMq0Y

[nyccraigslistfraudblog]

Ready to cash out- easy money online (manhattan)

Want to make money online with no hassle? Are you ready to cash out? Not a scam and even get 25$ for referring a friend http://paidviewpoint.com/?r=Shredgnar <- click and start earning today from Craigslist http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/cpg/5987749964.html Fraud Bloggs made possible by: http://circuitgenie.wix.com/techsupport

[livingthatwhiskeylife]

Glow in the dark stickers coming soon. #woth #gh #2ndbaseforlife #shredgnar #letsgetspooky (at Golden Hill, San Diego) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs1IKWAHeya/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1wm3fxw1s8yvl

[rivardart]

Stoked to get out and support some ski movie and Brewery buds! Donated a board for climate change, and this young shredder won the raffle... let's go skiing! #shredgnar #rivardart #doradthings #ablebrewing #ablebrewery (at Able Seedhouse & Brewery)

[biggstattoos]

Fastplant table #gobiggsorgohome #shredgnar #bmx #bikes #fatbmx #flyfatassfly #terribleone #sponsoredbytwinkies

[prinzitravels-blog]

Nearly a Year Later: Re-visiting our Road Trip to Canada- Jackson Hole

Nearly a Year Later: Re-visiting our Road Trip to Canada- Jackson Hole

January 12, 2016 Jackson Hole: Day two This mountain lived up to the hype we’ve heard about it! Although we would both agree that it’s not unlike anything we’ve ridden, it was a tough mountain full of steep runs, cliffs and tons of moguls (yum!). Here are the highlights of our day: -free breakfast at the hotel…yum! -a full day of mogul runs..yum! -riding the JH tram, which has a max capacity of…

[twofeetandclassy-blog]

Can you shred gnar in Alabama? #twofeetandclassy #shredgnar #follybeachtoplayalasaladita #doepicshit @nectar @theinertia (at Florida / Alabama State Line On i10)

[ian-christopher-blog]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ian.💈 (@_ianstagrams)

some footy of me tryin' out the fun new board through a gnarly path me and @raymond_kinsey made through a fuckton of rocks that came down the mountain from the rain #shredgnar (at Poway, California)