This blog almost didn’t happen.
Last Saturday, I took what I thought would be a simple ride out to Ako – about 90 minutes from home. The plan was loose: maybe grab some fresh seafood, check out the area, enjoy the ride. I wasn’t documenting anything. No camera, no notes, just riding.
Then I bought oysters. Fresh, beautiful oysters that absolutely needed to stay cold. Armed with only a couple of bags of ice stuffed in my saddlebags, I suddenly realized I was in a race against time and the November sun.
All those vague plans to “check out the area”? Gone. The DragStar and I headed straight home, oysters packed in melting ice, me hoping they’d stay fresh enough for dinner.
It was on that ride home that it hit me: these are exactly the kind of stories worth sharing. The mishaps, the improvisations, the moments when fresh seafood dictates your entire route. Real motorcycle touring isn’t always about perfect scenic overlooks and carefully planned stops – sometimes it’s about making it home before your oysters go bad.
So here we are. Next time I head out, I’ll be documenting the journey properly. Camera charged, route planned, and yes – a proper cooler.
The oysters were excellent, by the way.
Ride Details:

Route: Hyogo to Ako (coastal)
Duration: ~3 hours round trip
Bike: Yamaha DragStar Classic 400
Documentation: Zero (but that changes now)