I just found that I've never mentioned why I came up this idea; bike around the world.

きずかなかったけど、今まで「自転車世界一周」を思い立った理由を書いてなかったな。

The first I start desiring to travel around the world is when I study in the U.S. We had a lot of international students at college, and I had many opportunity to interact with other culture.
I though "I should see other part of the world", but no idea what bike tour is.

世界を見たくなった発端は、アメリカで学生をしてた時。いろんな国の学生達と交流する中で、こりゃ「世界を見ないといかん」と思うようになったわけ。この時は自転車旅行は頭に全然なかった。

At that time, I was a student and had a goal of my stay in the U.S, improved my English skill and graduate from college. So I did study first.

でもその時は、英語習得の為に、大学を卒業するという大義名分があったから、勉強に集中。

Normally, international students could get one quarter off after taking 3 quarter which is about 3 month. My second year, I took summer off. At that time, i had more courage to travel because my English is good enough to do things by myself.

そんな中でも、休みはあって、留学生は、年間1クォータだけ長期で休めるルールがあった。北米にいるんだから、見なきゃ尊。これは利用しないとでしょ！って事で、2年目にグレイハウンドという大陸横断バスでこの国を見て周ろうと、2ヶ月間パッパーした事があった。

I purchased greyhound, a cross country bus company, 2 month pass and took a road trip. I traveled around the U.S and it was fun. However, I felt little bit busy and wanted to see more things between town and town.

周遊旅行は本当楽しかったけど、少し忙しく感じたのと、移動中の通り過ぎる場所を「もっとゆっくりと見たい」っていうフラストレーションがすごく溜まっていた。

My third year spring, I was also planning to take summer off. The destination was Alaska and Canada, but i didn't decide how how I travel. then suddenly came up this idea, by bicycle. I purchased a cheep mountain bike to do short bike tour as experiment. My first experiment was from Red Wood N.P to Washington state. Since I didn't know much about bike tour, I had a lot if problems; got bad bad knee, easy puncture and etc.
However, I liked it and it was very enjoyable.

3年目の春くらいから夏にアラスカ、カナダを旅する計画をしてたんだけど、でもどうやって？っと毎日考えるうちに、パッ！と"自転車の旅を"っていうアイデアが思い浮かんできた。こん時の事は鮮明に覚えてるな。何か、天から差し込んだ一筋の光みたいな感じ（笑）
これだ！早速やってみよう！って事で、安いマウンテンバイクを購入して、その年の春休み(2週間)に実験的な感じでアメリカ西海岸を850km走ってみた。結果は膝は痛いし、パンクは多発するしでボロボロ。でも、何かすごい自由があって、下り坂のすがすがしさとか、走り終わった後のビールの味は格別、最高に楽しかった。

In that summer, I crossed Alaska and Canada and traveled 7,200km total. Saw many many beautiful scenery and wild life and met a lo of nice people.
Compare to traveling by a bus or A car, I felt seeings better view and felt better taste of meals and meet more interesting people.

そんで、その年の夏に北米大陸を縦断に挑戦。アラスカからワシントン州まで7,200km 走ったわけ。雄大な景色の中を毎日走って、沢山の野生動物とか、面白い人達と沢山会って、チャリ旅の魅力にどっぷりとハマる（笑）

After this trip, I decided to travel by bicycle around the world.

この旅の後「世界一周チャリ旅行」を硬く誓い、今に至るって道のり(完)

When I was a student in Japan, I was more conservative and thought I would like to build up my career. I cannot still believe how my stay in the U.S changes my perspective of the life.

自分自身、日本で学生してた時はもっと保守的で、自分のキャリアを積み上げる事を考えてたけど、アメリカ留学がきっかけで本当人生観変わったよな～