Great Lakes - Amazing Japanese Cyclo-tourist needs help in Erie, PA.

Hi Guys and Gals;

If you are in the Erie, PA area, I would like you to take a few minutes and check out the following links. They tell the story of an amazing dude I hosted at my home in Southern California seven months ago when he was just beginning this amazing journey.

His personal web page 'peace of peace' http://tokudome8810.petit.cc/grape1/ is in japanese, but the tracing of his route this year and the photo gallery tell it all.

The article in the Erie Times News http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081119/NEWS02/311199889 spells it out in plain English.

The City Mission New Life Center http://eriecitymission.org/ is where he's at.

It is so unfortunate that such an amazing journey has been cut short. I called the mission today just to confirm that Harato is still in residence there. The director informed me that as of now, the insurance company of the driver who hit him is prepared to buy him a new bicycle so he could be on his way... if he wants. (Easy way for them to get out of a law suit, but that's another discussion, and I doubt Harato is so inclined.)

More important, his visa expires on the 3rd of December. He is attempting to get it extended at this time. (Personally, I'd tell him not to worry about over staying his visa because the Good Lord knows there are millions of people wandering the country illegally and no one's really hassling them about it.) Of course being the kind of person he is, he has a plane ticket back to Japan for December 1st. HOWEVER; if the planets align, and he gets a visa, and gets a bike, he is the kind of guy who has the guts to finnish the incredible trip he began.

So like I said; if you're in the area and feel inclined on checking in on him, perhaps you could help out this amazing cyclist who's fallen on bad times. And I can tell you from my experience, you will end up with a new friend. He will be at the mission at least through the holiday and weekend.

Thanks for taking the time to read.

All the best. DanO

I spoke with Harato by phone today. I am glad to report that he is soon to be fully recovered and back in the saddle. He has been helped by someone who speaks fluent Japanese as well as English, in dealing with the insurance company of the person who hit him. At least he will be buying a new bicycle and supplies to finish his journey. I told him they owe him more than that, but at least he has no permanent injuries. The little guy has a LOT of guts getting back on the bike with 1500 miles left to go... on the east coast... in December.

Please forgive my multiple postings. And thanks for everyone who responded, especially paulrad9, who actually was the one who found where Harato was.

DanO

Did he get his visa extended? That seems like the hard part.

We do not get a lot of Japanese tourists around these northern parts.Hope word does not get back to Japan that we all drive like tards.
If the guy gets into a jam in northern Ohio,PM me,my brother is fluent in Japanese.

Did he get his visa extended? That seems like the hard part.

Harato did get his visa extended. I was glad to hear about that. And in fact, if he hadn't, I was going to suggest that he overstay it anyway. Lord knows we've got millions of souls wandering this land illegally and the government is doing little about it anyway. But he's an above the boards kind of guy, so I'm glad he worked that part of it out.

DanO

We do not get a lot of Japanese tourists around these northern parts.Hope word does not get back to Japan that we all drive like tards.
If the guy gets into a jam in northern Ohio,PM me,my brother is fluent in Japanese.

Check out his map. http://tokudome8810.petit.cc/grape1/ Harato will be passing through Ohio on a south/western course as he gets back under way. He updates his map every couple of days when he's on the road. However; although you can submit e-mails to his website, I've never had him answer one of mine. Might be something to do with it being Japanese based. So I think that although you can tell generally where he's headed (because we know what letter he's working on) his exact route, as well as where he ends up every night is hard to tell. But I'll keep you and your brother in mind if he runs into a jam. Hopefully the only thing he will have to deal with is his own resolve to complete this ride in winter.

DanO

Harato will be heading west in Ohio into the prevailing winter winds.Trust me,they are friggin colder than Hillary Clinton,s heart.

Would like to see an English version of his blog. Pretty cool that he rode right through here, same roads I've ridden on.

Would like to see an English version of his blog. Pretty cool that he rode right through here, same roads I've ridden on.

Certaily not perfect, but Google is your friend.

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftokudome8810.petit.cc%2Fgrape1%2F&sl=ja&tl=en&hl=en&ie=UTF-8