Nagai koen - Abiko-suji - Matsuzakicho - Tennouji - Tennouji koen - Nipponbashi Higashi - Sakai-suji - Dotombori - Shinsaibashi (Then take the subway to Morinomiya) - Osakajo koen - Tosabori-dori - Nakanoshima koen - Nakanoshima - Naniwa-suji - Sennichimae-dori - Namba (OCAT).

We were supposed to leave at six, but I got lost in Nagai Park. Thanks to my ketai denwa I was able to find the rest of the group. We finally left around 6:15 PM from Nagai Koen. There were a total of ten skaters (including myself) and two other people who drove in a "support car" They would meet us at certain points of the skate. And since I had my backpack, I left it with them so I could skate easier.

From Nagai to Tennouji it was fine except for the speeding cyclist who were going faster then us. Most of the skaters were too slow for my pace, but there was skater who was skating within my skill level. His nickname is Palette-Yoshida. From Nishi-Tanabe on Abiko-suji we skated together on the street. Osaka was not as bad as people had told me. They said that Osaka drivers are crazy and it is worse than Tokyo. Being that I am from New York, what can be worse than a speeding cab driver honking at you down Broadway. Osaka was just fine for me.

In Matsuzakicho, we had to skate on the street. It was your typical narrow Japanese street. We reached Tennouji about 50 minutes later. Most skaters took off their skates so that they could cross the pedestrian overpass at JR Tennouji Station. Near Tennouji Park we all took a break for about 10-15 minutes. Akiko and Yumiko decided that most skaters would walk 3/4 into Tennouji Park before putting on their skates because the course was a little dangerous for a beginner. So we exited Tennouji Park at around 7:30 PM and proceed towards Nipponbashi-Higashi.

The street we skated in Nipponbashi-Higashi was good. Everyone was able to enjoy skating on the asphalt. Then when we reached Sakai-suji, it was time for Palette-Yoshida and I to hit the road again and skate in traffic. I wanted to make sure that we both were careful skating amongst the cars and taxis. When we did skate in traffic, we had to stop after a few blocks to wait for the rest of the group. At around 8 PM we reached Dotombori where once again most skaters took of their skates, while Palette-Yoshida and I this time skated in the busy street filled with people. It was a little dangerous, but I got a thrill out of it (I assume the same for Palette-Yoshida). It was 8:30 PM when Akiko, Yumiko, and the rest reached Nagahori-dori. That was our resting point. I was going to go with everyone else to the subway station to take the train to Osaka Castle Park, but Palette-Yoshida did not have his shoes with him. So I had to skate with him from Shinsaibashi to Morinomiya.

The skate with Palette-Yoshida from Shinsaibashi to Morinomiya was awesome. We practically had no problems. People were looking at us with surprise as with skated in traffic. The best part was skating downhill on Honmachi-dori towards Morinomiya. And guess what: We got there before the rest of the group! In the mean time, Kinko-chan and Tomoru in the support car were filming us on their camera. At the entrance to Osaka Castle Park, everyone regrouped and we left a little after 9 PM. I originally wanted to skate in the Osaka Business Park, but we were running late. So we just skated through Osaka Castle Park and made our way on to Tosabori-dori. On the bridge after turning into Tosabori-dori, a woman was on her bicycle. I just happened to wave my constructer red sign (a flashing baton) and because of that she stopped and started to walk on her bike. I guess she thought that some construction was going on or something official. I guess my constructer red sign is a really good thing to use for a night skate.

We passed Nakanoshima Park and Nakanoshima with no problems. At this point we were already feeling a little tired. Naniwa-suji was a good street to skate on because of the service roads in each direction. Palette-Yoshida and I once again skated ahead of the group on the Naniwa-suji service road and waited for them at Sennichimae-dori. When I got there I just laid on the ground for a minute. We all reached OCAT at Namba at around 10:30 PM. Everyone (except Palette-Yoshida and I) skated about 14.5 km. Palette-Yoshida and I skated about 20 km. Mission accomplished!!!! At the parking lot behind OCAT, Kinko-chan and Tomoru met us and we had a surprise birthday party for Yumiko, who had her birthday earlier in July.

I felt that this particular night skate went very good and that it was well organized. I could not have asked for better organizers than Akiko and Yumiko. From the beginning, they were there to help me and actually check the route ahead of time since I was not familiar with Osaka. I must thank Akiko and Yumiko for all their help. And I would also like to thank Kazz, Kazu, Issei, kdonguri, Palette-Yoshida, Tutti, and Kazu-chan for participating in the first Osaka Night Skate. And of course Kinko-chan and Tomoru for driving the support car and filming the night skate (When will I see it???) I hope to come back to Osaka next year and do another night skate ^_^.