AM20: The Japan Journals

Day 70

June 9th

This week is coming to a close with some unexpected news. As I alluded to the other day, I was playing phone tag with Jinshu. We were finally able to connect this morning and boy, did he have a proposition.

Ayden, one of our riders suffered a collarbone injury at the last race and we need a fill-in rider for the final round of the series. Would you please come aboard and fill in for the final race of the season?

I know that you have limited track time on a Supermoto, but we are confident that you'll be able to compete. We don't have a contender in this series, but we'd like to field all possible bikes and salvage points for the manufacturer's standings. These standings may be insignificant to the American Motocross community, but in our series, we consider it to be a big deal.

So, can we count on you to finish the series? One race could lead to something more prosperous. Please think it over and get back to me in the morning with an answer.

Needless to say, I was a little surprised. They've done so much for me already. Why do they feel obligated to give me this chance? My heart wants to jump at this opportunity, but my competitive mind is hesitant. Jumping onto a factory bike and racing, with virtually no experience on said series, is unheard of.

Regardless of how competitive the series may be, this just isn't something you see done in any motorsport. Perhaps the final round is more dirt-focused, lending itself to my MX tendencies. While my heart wants to scream a resounding yes, I have to think this one over.

As for today, I'm meeting up with a travel buddy to walk through some of the Shikoku Pilgrimage. It's a trail of 88 Temples, connected on a loop. I didn't know much about the trail, other than that it takes weeks to complete. For obvious reasons, we're not going to traverse the entire route. Today will consist of an afternoon hike through a chunk of the trail, with some booze-laden shenanigans after.

It appeared that the 52nd temple on the loop is closest to the Onsen, so that's where I'll meet Wan. We met in Tokyo a few weeks back. His capsule bunk was right above mine and to my delight, was a hard sleeper. He's from Australia and on a work holiday, taking in the sights of Japan. Amongst many things, he was fascinated by my trip and was curious to get every morsel of details.

I had more than enough time to dish it out, seeing as the Pilgrammage can only be traversed via foot (and is hundreds of miles long). Despite our nights of debauchery under the neon lights of Tokyo, we didn't spend a ton of time talking about our personal lives.

Wan is an engineer back in Brisbane, with an established and lucrative lifestyle. He went on to describe his hobbies, relationships, etc. Even the details of his house were shown during our walk. Despite the immense amount of personal achievement, he still felt unfulfilled. Before a holiday break, he booked a one-way ticket to Japan and gave himself the license to wanderlust. He knew that he had weeks to travel, so he's essentially been shooting an itinerary from the hip.

It's an odd dichotomy. A guy with such a regimented, successful lifestyle back home opts for a chaotic adventure abroad. On one hand, I can understand the sentiment. When you feel like life has you on the wheel, you'll eventually look for a way to get off. Nobody is immune from the fatigue of a routine, so something sporadic is needed (in moderation). What surprises me about Wan is how he threw everything out the window, when the plane took off from Brisbane.

I suppose he could be the Ying, to my Yang. As much as I have enjoyed the structure of this trip, I've had anything but that back home. The last year has been one fraught with personal strife. It's been a year of loss, growth, and in a sense, a rebirth. This trip was symbolic of the latter, as it seemed like escape was the only way to keep living. Of course, I didn't want to give Wan those dire details.

Instead, I talked about my upbringing, what brought me here (thanks) and what I wanted to achieve in the future. Before I could elaborate on my goals, Wan stopped me in my tracks. In the middle of a dirt trail, he gave me a stern, direct look. It wasn't one of anger, but rather, of conviction.

Ayden, you can't over-analyze your mishaps. Going backward never brings forth the new leap. You're a man of many interests and therefore, have many irons in the fire. In order to achieve the goals you want to achieve, you have to take one of their irons when they're hot.

It may not be the iron you want to use right now, but that steaming metal could lead you to something prosperous with another in the future. Don't be afraid to take the opportunity in front of you. If not, your life will be spent in paralysis by analysis.

I don't know what it is with people from Commonwealth countries, but damn do they have a way of channeling a message lol. I've been fortunate to achieve many goals in my life, but there's plenty that I've left on the table. It's as if Wan could read my thoughts, as the saying "paralysis by analysis" has been a recurring theme in my life. Sometimes, your mind can be your biggest obstacle. Even when the logic is clear, your ability to be decisive is muddled.

As we continued along the trail, we began learning more about its history. The loop was inspired by a legendary Monk (named Kukai) who came back from China and spread his Buddhist teachings all over the region. One way or another, he impacted every one of the 88 Temples on the trail. Kukai brought a brand of Buddhism to this region that inspired many to live by his beliefs, to this day.

Perhaps the coolest aspect of this trail is that Kukai inspired countless people to hike the Pilgrammage. Everyone had their one reason to do so, but the spirit was the same. Many people underwent this pilgrimage to find clarity in life. In a way, this trail parallels my adventure throughout the entire country.

Sometimes, you have to ride a new path. My achievements back home have led me to this spot today, showing that I was willing to veer off of the paved road. While I have made my share of missteps, the road in front of me is a byproduct of my better judgment. My best decisions were made off of instinct and my next will be no different.

We finished the day by steering off the trail and having some brews at the nearest village. Wan has been one of the best travel buddies I could have asked for. Fun, insightful, and hilarious. Gotta love some of the Australian lingoes. He plans on going to Okinawa, so hopefully, I'll have the opportunity to introduce you two very soon.

This Pilgrammage couldn't have been a better reminder of what I needed to do. It was in the moments after Wan's advice that I suddenly picked a new route. I'm going to suit up and be Jinshu's fill-in rider. I don't consider myself to be a pro-level rider (especially in Supermoto), but the experience alone can't be denied. I have to take this opportunity by the handlebars and take it to the rev limiter.

Hopefully, that doesn't interfere with your itinerary but if it does, I'm sure you'll understand. This newfound opportunity won't derail my plans to see you in Okinawa. If anything, it gives me added motivation to make it there (just in a better fashion).

Thanks again and I'll see you soon!

-Ayden