Ron Caves
@roncaves.bsky.social
Always looking for new landscapes to explore whether by foot, bike, paddle, ski, pen, canvas, lens, antenna, equation or beer.
Spent our last full day in Japan exploring the Asakusa (Sensō-ji temple) and Jimbocho (bookshops, trainspotting) neighbourhoods of Tokyo. All sorts of good food stops along the way.
February 14, 2026 at 1:09 PM
Spent our last full day in Japan exploring the Asakusa (Sensō-ji temple) and Jimbocho (bookshops, trainspotting) neighbourhoods of Tokyo. All sorts of good food stops along the way.
Back to the bright lights of Tokyo today with a stop in Nagano to see the Zenkō-ji Buddhist temple, which was fascinating to see.
February 13, 2026 at 10:11 AM
Back to the bright lights of Tokyo today with a stop in Nagano to see the Zenkō-ji Buddhist temple, which was fascinating to see.
Fantastic day at Hakuba 47/Goryu for our last ski day in Japan. Skinned up the ridge above the ski area in the morning and got some wonderful fresh turns down through the trees.
February 12, 2026 at 8:35 AM
Fantastic day at Hakuba 47/Goryu for our last ski day in Japan. Skinned up the ridge above the ski area in the morning and got some wonderful fresh turns down through the trees.
Snowy day skiing at Tsugaike Kogen, Hakuba. Unfortunately the highest lift was not open limiting access to the trees. Still found some good runs.
February 11, 2026 at 7:14 AM
Snowy day skiing at Tsugaike Kogen, Hakuba. Unfortunately the highest lift was not open limiting access to the trees. Still found some good runs.
Backcountry ski tour above Happo-One today. Lovely and sunny but the snow had been hammered by the wind, ridges were bare in places. Stunning views but variable skiing.
February 10, 2026 at 8:37 AM
Backcountry ski tour above Happo-One today. Lovely and sunny but the snow had been hammered by the wind, ridges were bare in places. Stunning views but variable skiing.
Lots of new snow overnight in Nozawa Onsen so 'had' to go for a morning ski before transitioning to Hakuba in the afternoon, a short Shinkansen ride sandwiched between two buses. Hakuba looks much more alpine than Shiga Kogen or Nozawa Onsen.
February 9, 2026 at 8:37 AM
Lots of new snow overnight in Nozawa Onsen so 'had' to go for a morning ski before transitioning to Hakuba in the afternoon, a short Shinkansen ride sandwiched between two buses. Hakuba looks much more alpine than Shiga Kogen or Nozawa Onsen.
Fantastic day skiing at Madarao across the valley from Nozawa Onsen. Snowing hard much of the day. Lots of steep gladed runs. Pizza box single person lifts. One of my best ever days for lift accessed powder skiing.
February 8, 2026 at 8:37 AM
Fantastic day skiing at Madarao across the valley from Nozawa Onsen. Snowing hard much of the day. Lots of steep gladed runs. Pizza box single person lifts. One of my best ever days for lift accessed powder skiing.
Another great day at Nozawa Onsen. Fresh snow overnight and better visibility made for great runs in the glades below Mount Kenashi. Also visited the Japan Ski Museum, which had lots of interesting exhibits on ski culture and history in Japan.
February 7, 2026 at 9:17 AM
Another great day at Nozawa Onsen. Fresh snow overnight and better visibility made for great runs in the glades below Mount Kenashi. Also visited the Japan Ski Museum, which had lots of interesting exhibits on ski culture and history in Japan.
First day skiing at Nozawa Onsen. Foggy but fun, some nice steep runs, a few forays into the trees.
February 6, 2026 at 8:09 AM
First day skiing at Nozawa Onsen. Foggy but fun, some nice steep runs, a few forays into the trees.
Saw the famous snow monkeys at Jigokudani today. Fascinating to see the Macaques enjoying the hot spring. They were not at all afraid of all the onlookers but rather ran around at our feet squabbling with each other.
February 5, 2026 at 12:42 PM
Saw the famous snow monkeys at Jigokudani today. Fascinating to see the Macaques enjoying the hot spring. They were not at all afraid of all the onlookers but rather ran around at our feet squabbling with each other.
Bluebird day for our last day skiing at Shiga Kogen. Great views over to the Japanese Northern Alps.
February 4, 2026 at 10:52 AM
Bluebird day for our last day skiing at Shiga Kogen. Great views over to the Japanese Northern Alps.
Fun day skiing fresh lines in the trees at Kumanoyu, small hill, super quiet.
February 3, 2026 at 10:21 AM
Fun day skiing fresh lines in the trees at Kumanoyu, small hill, super quiet.
Great first ski day at Shiga Kogen, lovely snow, mostly quiet runs, sunny, great lunch, onsen after.
February 2, 2026 at 10:39 PM
Great first ski day at Shiga Kogen, lovely snow, mostly quiet runs, sunny, great lunch, onsen after.
Caught a Shinkansen from Tokyo up to Yamanouchi in Nagano Prefecture today. Slow getting out of Tokyo, it's big, but 270 kmh once in the country, impressively smooth. Nice to get up to the snow.
February 1, 2026 at 9:38 AM
Caught a Shinkansen from Tokyo up to Yamanouchi in Nagano Prefecture today. Slow getting out of Tokyo, it's big, but 270 kmh once in the country, impressively smooth. Nice to get up to the snow.
As I have enjoyed many of Hayao Miyazaki's anime movies it was fun to visit the Studio Ghibli Museum today, which provided lots of insight on the creative process.
January 31, 2026 at 1:32 PM
As I have enjoyed many of Hayao Miyazaki's anime movies it was fun to visit the Studio Ghibli Museum today, which provided lots of insight on the creative process.
Over to Japan for a few weeks. Interesting Friday evening dander round Shinjuku to shake off jetlag
January 30, 2026 at 10:56 PM
Over to Japan for a few weeks. Interesting Friday evening dander round Shinjuku to shake off jetlag
Blue Monday, a good reminder to listen to some New Order
January 20, 2026 at 4:59 AM
Blue Monday, a good reminder to listen to some New Order
After loads of rain in YVR made the most of the calm sunny weather this weekend getting out hiking, paddling and skiing (groomers only)
January 19, 2026 at 12:44 AM
After loads of rain in YVR made the most of the calm sunny weather this weekend getting out hiking, paddling and skiing (groomers only)
Out for a chilly cycle to Stanley Park this morning. High tide with lots of waves breaking over the seawall. Surprised to see a cherry tree in bloom.
December 26, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Out for a chilly cycle to Stanley Park this morning. High tide with lots of waves breaking over the seawall. Surprised to see a cherry tree in bloom.
I have yet to perfect my interstellar collapse theory but I am sure they taste good, particularly with that water icing ;) The problem may lie in that 14% Belgian Quad I enjoyed earlier at Dageraad. Merry Xmas!
December 25, 2025 at 3:49 AM
I have yet to perfect my interstellar collapse theory but I am sure they taste good, particularly with that water icing ;) The problem may lie in that 14% Belgian Quad I enjoyed earlier at Dageraad. Merry Xmas!
Short bonus paddle early this am from Mackenzie Beach before driving home (7 km). Rare calm conditions (low wind + swell) for the exposed paddle round to Chesterman Beach and back. Fantastic seeing the beaches and reefs from the water. Wonderful long weekend of paddling despite a poor forecast.
October 13, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Short bonus paddle early this am from Mackenzie Beach before driving home (7 km). Rare calm conditions (low wind + swell) for the exposed paddle round to Chesterman Beach and back. Fantastic seeing the beaches and reefs from the water. Wonderful long weekend of paddling despite a poor forecast.
Another good paddle, exploring Tsapee Narrows to the NE of Tofino (12 km). Lots of shallow bays with thick sea grass and mud banks. Somewhere best explored on a rising tide, which it was.
October 12, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Another good paddle, exploring Tsapee Narrows to the NE of Tofino (12 km). Lots of shallow bays with thick sea grass and mud banks. Somewhere best explored on a rising tide, which it was.
Annual trip to Tofino for Thanksgiving. Pleased I brought my kayak despite a windy forecast. Explored Toquart Bay and Pipestem Inlet this AM in flat calm! Lots of Kingfishers, spotted one Black Bear. Amazing reflections on the flat water. Found the wind along the coast in Ucluelet later in the PM.
October 12, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Annual trip to Tofino for Thanksgiving. Pleased I brought my kayak despite a windy forecast. Explored Toquart Bay and Pipestem Inlet this AM in flat calm! Lots of Kingfishers, spotted one Black Bear. Amazing reflections on the flat water. Found the wind along the coast in Ucluelet later in the PM.
Friday cycled the Vedder River loop (30 km). Loads of people fishing the river. Easy but pleasant trail. Halfway lunch stop at Sidekick Brewing.
October 4, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Friday cycled the Vedder River loop (30 km). Loads of people fishing the river. Easy but pleasant trail. Halfway lunch stop at Sidekick Brewing.
Out for a Sunday hike from Kettlewell in Wharfedale with Leeds friends Wad and Christina, and Bruno the dog. Lovely to see the Yorkshire Dales on a sunny autumnal day. Rivers were very high after all the rain on Saturday. Enjoyed a pint of Old Peculiar at the pub in Starbotton.
September 22, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Out for a Sunday hike from Kettlewell in Wharfedale with Leeds friends Wad and Christina, and Bruno the dog. Lovely to see the Yorkshire Dales on a sunny autumnal day. Rivers were very high after all the rain on Saturday. Enjoyed a pint of Old Peculiar at the pub in Starbotton.