Obon.

Once again this year, I headed out for a camping trip with a friend from Tokyo.

Golden Week and Obon.
Twice a year, when these times roll around, our plans seem to fall into place naturally.

Finding a campsite roughly halfway between where we both live has also become our usual routine.

This time, we chose Achi Village in Nagano Prefecture.

Surrounded by trees, with a river flowing right nearby.
All you can hear is the sound of leaves swaying in the breeze and the murmuring of the water.

Even though we were only a little distance from the city, time seemed to slow down in this place.

Apparently, peach blossoms bloom all over the area during Golden Week.

It wasn’t that season this time, but
Achi Village wrapped in the greenery of summer was quite lovely as well.

And above all, I was surprised by how cool it was.

Even though it was August, a hoodie was just right for the evening.
Without being chased by the heat, we were able to spend our time in quiet.

I felt like I had been waiting for a summer like this for a long time.

We pitched the tent and started a fire.

Dinner was our usual keema curry.

We topped it with cheese, then torched it to add a savory finish.

Whenever we camp, I’m always the one in charge of cooking.
I prepare the meal while chatting about nonsense with my friend and gazing into the flames.

It’s nothing fancy.

But why does curry taste so good when you eat it outdoors?

After dinner, coffee.

I grind my favorite beans and carefully hand-drip them.

Depending on my mood for the day, I might use a Moka pot or a French press.

Even with the same beans, the character changes with the brewing method.

Enjoying those small differences is another great part of camping.

The sky was clear on the day we set up and on the day we packed up.

Once again, we were blessed with good weather.

……Or so I thought.

On the middle day, on our way back from a short excursion.

Mountain weather, as expected, was fickle.

The moment the sky turned dark, a fierce rain began to pour.

What you might call a flash downpour.

Before we could even run for cover, we were soaked to the bone.

Looking down at my feet, the Fuga shoes I was wearing were being mercilessly pelted by the rain.

Before I knew it, water was pooling inside them.

And once they dried, all that was left were some rather uneven leather stains.

"Oh no, I've really done it now..."

For a fleeting second, that’s what I thought.

But that’s what’s interesting about leather.

Might as well, I figured.

I decided to soak the whole pair once more, wipe them down, and let them dry naturally.

As I did, the stains that had been bothering me began to blend in little by little.

By the time they were completely dry, they actually looked better than before.

With an uneven color variation you just don't find in pristine, brand-new leather.

It felt as if the time I spent walking through the rain, stepping in mud, and dodging embers had all been etched into them.

Unexpectedly, my Fuga boots aged a little more on this trip.

Well, I suppose that’s just part of the charm of camping (laughs).

Spending time in nature.

Gathering around a bonfire.

Eating delicious food.

Drinking the coffee I love.

And, getting caught in the rain, having my shoes "grow" a little too.

It’s precisely because things don’t always go as planned that they become memories later on.

This trip to Achi Village was just that kind of camping trip.

Until the next Golden Week or Obon.

Where shall we go next time?

Talking about things like that, this summer, too, comes to a quiet close.