Anyone who knows me will tell you that summer is my favorite season.  Read the stories below to see why.

This is the scene from my boat during a cruiser yacht (26 feet and up) race I was in a few weeks ago.  Out of nearly 60 boats my boat placed 5th.  Not bad for my first real race.  I liked the quote my skipper had, "Those spinnakers (bright colorful sails in the picture above) look great from the front, but they're depressing to see from behind," meaning, it's fun to be in the lead.

July 20 was Ocean Day so Takako and the kids played on the beach while Peter, Olivia, and I played on my little boat.  The picture above is of Peter and I playing.  It was a perfect day for it.  Warm, sunny, and pretty windy with about a foot and a half waves.  Perfect for enjoying a small boat.  Here are some more pictures from that day.  Click Alex's picture for a slide show.

On top of all that, on July 27 the family and I went to the Okin festival.  It's our town's summer festival.  In Japan nearly every town has a local festival during this time.  It started early in the afternoon and lasted until late at night.  At the festival there was a parade with people carrying Mikoshi, portable Shrines,  (I had done this once however but then I realized the disadvantage of being much taller than everyone else when you're carrying something heavy on your shoulders.  LOL) a lottery, booths selling many kinds of foods, booths with traditional Japanese games such as catching goldfish or turtles, traditional Japanese dancing, and a fireworks show.  Many people like to dress up in traditional Japanese robes for these events and we were no exception.  Click below to see us.

One last note about summer is that it's the time when I can do my favorite hobby, snorkeling.  Some friends and I went to Kiinagashima last Monday morning before work to go snorkeling.  The water was a bit rough because of a typhoon passing on the other side of Japan but we still had a good time.  The picture below is of Peter and I.  Click it for a terrifying effect.  Warning:  May cause heart stress.  LOL

One last thing.  On July 28, Olivia and I took a wind surfing class.  It was great!  Now I can really appreciate what the pros are doing.  Of course it would have been better if the 20 mph winds and 3 foot waves had let us get our sails up without falling off all the time.  LOL  The weather was really rough that day and of 21 students only I and two other guys were able to get our boards to run.  Just one time in my case.  I knew we were in trouble when my instructor gave up on us and started surfing instead.  But I can't wait for my next chance to try again.  With better conditions I'm sure I'll be able to learn.  The pictures below are of the class I was in and of me practicing on a board.  It certainly was a lot easier to do on the beach.  LOL.

Sad News

I'm sad to say that one of my best friends over here, Paul Cranch, is going home to Australia.  Paul and I have been friends since I first got here 9 years ago.  At that time we were roommates in Osaka.  After 11 years in Japan he has decided to head back home.  Luckily he could come and visit us for a short time before he left.  Here's a picture of us sailing last Saturday.  The other picture is from a few years ago.  Just us having fun on swing.  Best of luck Paul, you Poofter. LOL We can't wait to go to your wedding.

That's all for this  newsletter.  If you have any comments please e-mail us or sign our guest book.