Martin Langford - Podcast Details

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Cycling HokkaidoEp.94 Canadian World in AshibetsuThis was a place I'd wanted to get to for a long, long time and it finally happened. I rode the biggest ride of my life, a one day total of 253.38km, out to Canadian World in Ashibetsu. This is a place with a very interesting history and it's still a cool looking place. And if you're looking for a big ride destination from Sapporo, this is the place for you! The history just along Rte.12, the coal mining history of Hokkaido, white elephants along the way, this could be Cycling Hokkaido's most interesting episode to date. And now...2025-06-1241 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.93 Hiking Mt. EniwadakeMarty hiked up Mt. Eniwadake and it was quite the adventure! That was the first time he's ever done a hike like that and stoked on the new experience. The Shikotsu-Toya National park in Hokkaido is a beautiful place and getting a bird's eye view of it from the top of Mt. Eniwadake was amazing. The forests and volcanic activity in that area never disappoints. And the cycling curse of 2025 is still on.....or is it? Has this year's cycling finally taken a turn for the better? The jury is still out on that one but things might have...2025-06-0538 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.92 Your Social Window is OpenI learned some new Japanese this week, as I usually do, and I thought this one was worth an episode's title. Always make sure you ain't flying low. Also in this episode Marty talks about cycling route 231, the Sea of Japan and a new really cool idea. Sorry, folks! This is amendment to episode 92. Debbie just got in touch with me a few days after this episode came out and something came up that won't allow her to open up her rest stop so soon. I'll keep you posted on how her progress moves...2025-05-2925 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.91 The Great Buddha of OtaruWho knew there was a Great Buddha statue in Otaru!?!? I sure didn't, but I'm sure happy I went to check Muryoju-ji Temple. There were some cool sights of Otaru from up there. I was also happy I went to check out Ryugu Shrine and Sumiyoshi Shrine, also located in Otaru. All three were beautiful places and are definitely excellent cycling destinations but be warned, there is some climbing involved if you go to check out the Great Buddha. And the Cycling Hokkaido podcast has a new look. What do you think, folks!? I'll include for some links of...2025-05-2223 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.90 My Fortress of SolitudeThis week it really feels like the season is actually on. Yay! And what a week it was, night riding up to the Ishikari lighthouse is back on, riding in between jobs is back on and even 100km rides to my Fortress of Solitude in Atsuta are back on and all of it thanks to my American friend. A mix up between Lake Shikotsu and Shinshinotsu led to a bit of overeating but who cares. Folks, I hope you're all having fun out there. Cycling Hokkaido Podcast Instagram.....www.instagram.com/cycling...2025-05-1523 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.89 The Ishikari LighthouseIn this episode Marty finally gets a look inside the Ishikari lighthouse. Who knew it was the oldest lighthouse in Hokkaido!? Marty also talks about how the 2025 cycling season is off to a horrible start. After last week, I didn't think it could get any worse....but it got worse! There's also some information about Hamanasu no Oka Park in here and splash of how cool Sapporo can be. As always, I hope you like this episode and are having fun out there!Here's the link to the Cycling Hokkaido Instagram page.......2025-05-0826 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.88 Cherry Blossoms, Asian Skunk Cabbage & a Broken BikeGolden Week isn't going anywhere near I had envisioned. I had grand plans of taking off on multiple day bike trips with my new NatureHike one-man tent but NOPE! My Breezer bicycle decided that it was gonna need a ton of repairs right when Golden Week was about to kick off. On the bright side of things I still got out for a cherry blossom ride along Shinkawa and got out for a walk along the Makunbetsu Marshland boardwalk. As always, I hope you like this episode and are having fun out there! Here's...2025-05-0130 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.87 Sapporo Su & Tokyo Joe in HokkaidoIn this episode Marty, Fuzanne and Joe talk about all kinds of things about Sapporo, Hokkaido and their first trip to Japan. It was amazing to hear how well they handled the Tokyo subway system and how impressed they were with the scale of the city. And up here in Hokkaido we did all kinds of cool sightseeing. We saw the Okurayama Ski Jump hill, the Olympic Museum, Hokkaido Shrine, Maruyama Park, Odori Park, the Odori TV Tower, Sapporo Station, Tanuki Koji and Susukino...and that was all on day one! Over the weekend we also got to go...2025-04-241h 09

Cycling HokkaidoEp.86 The Japanese MamachariIn this episode Marty talks about the bumpy road that has been the start to this season. But things are starting to get going now that the Ishikari beach road is open again. And who knew the Mona Lisa made a trip to Tokyo 50 years ago. The main topic of this episode is the Japanese mamachari, the Japanese bicycle ridden by everybody and seen everywhere. Hope you like this episode and are having fun out there!Cycling Hokkaido Instagram page is at..............www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2025-04-1723 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.85 The Puncture Gods are AngryIn this episode Marty talks about how he and his friend have been pretty unlucky with tire punctures to start the 2025 cycling season but as always this episode spins off into a few other topics. As is always the case, bike shops here in Japan are super busy so good luck getting same day service. Halley's Comet is the historical for the week and Alex Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky's scoring record to become the greatest goal scorer the NHL has ever seen. Hope you enjoy this episode and are having fun out there!Here's...2025-04-1020 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.84 Tundra Swans & A Kind ManA big sign that Spring has come to Hokkaido are the tundra swans and they're here! So, naturally, we like to head out on our bikes to say hello to the noisy honkers. But as can happen when you're out on the road, trouble occurs. Getting through that trouble is a big part of being out there but sometimes somebody comes along that makes things a whole lot easier. Yoshino-san was just that kind of guy! Hope you enjoy this episode. Have fun out there!Cycling Hokkaido Instagram page......www.instagram.com...2025-04-0326 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.83 Baseball, Whisky & Star WarsThat was one helluva fun time. Great food, great chats, great people. Thank you so very much for coming, Gordie! We covered so much ground in such a short time. We saw a Fighters game at EsCon Field, had dinner at Sapporo Beer Garden, cruised the Nikka Whisky factory, finally got to Sith Bar Darkside and ate some of the best food out there. That is Scottish cousin #1 for 2025. We're looking forward to all that is coming! Here is the Instagram link for Sith Bar Darkside.....www.instagram.com/sith_bar_darkside/2025-03-2725 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.82 New Heights & The Empty ShedIn this episode I talk about how Cycling Hokkaido hit 90th place in the podcast rankings for all Japan in the 'Sports' category and how my shed now has a lot more space in it....plus a couple of other things. As always, I hope you like this episode and are having fun out there!! Here's the link to the Cycling Hokkaido Instagram page....www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2025-03-2027 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.81 Takoyaki & Mailing a BicycleIt's that time of year again when the shed needed digging out. The thaw is here! I also hope this episode can be of use to some of you out there if you need to mail your bicycle somewhere while you're here in Japan. And to top if off, I give you the surprising history of the beloved Japanese food.....takoyaki!! Have fun out there, folks.Here's the link to the company we use for mailing bicycles......http://www.cycle-seino.jp/service/outline/Here's the Cycling Hokkaido...2025-03-1339 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.80 Hokkaido Convenience StoresConvenience stores are all over the place here in Japan and they play a big part in peoples' daily lives. The Japanese didn't invent the convenience store but I think they've damn near perfected them. They definitely play a big role if you spend a lot of time out there on your bike and actually play a pretty big role in the daily lives of the people who live in Japan. If you're planning a trip to Japan you gotta be sure to hit up a 'konbini'. Hope you're all having fun out there....2025-03-0629 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.79 Lost in ThoughtIn this episode I talk about all the nifty places my mind takes me when I'm out on my bike. Riding isn't always just a physical adventure being out alone for sometimes more than 10 hours a day can be an emotional journey as well. And in case you missed it.....I don't wanna shovel snow anymore! Ha ha ha!! As always, I hope you like this episode and are having fun out there. Here's the link to the Cycling Hokkaido Podcast Instagram page.......www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2025-02-2723 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.78 Mike O'ConnellIt was great to meet Mike and we had a great conversation. Mike is a cyclist, hiker, outdoorsman, writer, baker, musician....one of those people that you love to sit down and have a chat with. He had some excellent cycling routes to talk about. If you're into gravel riding and want to do some here in Hokkaido, Mike is your guy! As always, I hope you enjoy this episode and are having fun out there. Rock on! And here are some of Mike's links on Ride with GPS to some of the rides...2025-02-2059 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.77 Hazuki CoxAfter moving back to Hokkaido after living so long in the USA, I thought Hazuki would have some interesting thoughts and perspectives on the differences between the 2 places. And sure enough, this was a fun conversation. Hazuki is the first woman and the first Japanese person to come on the show. As always, I hope you enjoy this episode and are having fun out there.You can see pictures of some of the things we talked about on the Cycling Hokkaido Instagram account at.....www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2025-02-131h 04

Cycling HokkaidoEp.76 I Was WrongHokkaido maybe heard me speaking in the last episode and decided it was gonna flex! And since then, winter has been back full on, normal Hokkaido swing. The SAPPORO Snow Festival is on at the moment and with any luck I'll see some of you there. Have fun out there, folks! Cycling Hokkaido Podcast..... www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2025-02-0633 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.75 January RidingThere's a first time for everything, eh! I have now ridden my bicycle in Sapporo....in JANUARY!! Normally, this is an impossibility, but not this year. Come along and let me know what you think. As always, I hope you enjoy the episode. You can see the pictures of January riding at..... www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ Have fun out there, folks! P.s. It is now January 31st and holy smokes, was I wrong in saying that it wasn't gonna snow much more in January. Wow!! Sapporo and Ishikari have been getting DUMPED on since I recorded this...2025-01-3030 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.74 Chopping Down TreesI think we cover a lot of ground in this episode. From overtourism, to beautiful places, to overreactions. Any way you cut, I wish they hadn't cut those trees down. Instead of reacting in such an extreme fashion, don't you think it would be better if people took a chill pill and tried to figure things out? I sure do! As always, I hope you enjoy this episode and are having fun out there. I've put a couple of pics up of events I talk about in this episode. You can see those pics...2025-01-2347 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.73 Coming of Age DayThe second Monday of January is Coming of Age Day here in Japan. It's a National holiday that celebrates a young person's transition to adulthood. Gotta love hitting those milestones when you're growing up, eh? I also chucked in a recommendation for a cycling snack if you every find yourself riding in southern Hokkaido. Have fun out there, folks. Cycling Hokkaido Podcast Instagram page is at....... www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2025-01-1630 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.72 Shinto ShrinesShinto shrines are a very interesting part of Japanese culture and landscapes. Have you ever wondered what they're all about? I hope this episode can answer some of the questions you might have about them. As always, I hope you enjoy the episode and are having fun out there. Cycling Hokkaido Instagram page is at.............. www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2025-01-0935 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.71 Happy New Year: Koh Samui,ThailandWe went to Koh Samui, Thailand for New Year's Eve. It was supposed to be much easier than that! The joys of travel aside, we still had an amazing vacation. I wish you all the very best for a happy and healthy 2025. Much love from Japan, Marty You can see pics at: www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2025-01-0251 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.70 A Look Back at 20242024 is almost over and it was a damn fine year. I was fortunate enough to see lots of new places and meet lots of new people. Thank you all so very much for coming along with me throughout the year. I hope you've enjoyed the podcast and I hope you'll continue to find value in listening in 2025. Have a Happy New Year when it comes. I wish you all the very best for 2025! You can check out all the Cycling Hokkaido Podcast pics on Instagram at.......... www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2024-12-2635 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.69 Texas Doug CoxI'm super stoked Doug is back in town and really happy he came on the podcast. I knew he'd be great. There are some fun stories in this one. We talked about all kinds of things from what it takes to move to Japan, life in Texas, and a whole lot more. As always, you can catch up with the Cycling Hokkaido Podcast pictures on Instagram at: www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2024-12-1949 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.68 The Last Ride for 2024Well, that's the season finished. That last ride was a cold one! I think I was kinda lucky to get away with not getting frostbite. And now that the season is over I'm probably gonna be putting on a bit of weight, especially with all that Mac'n'Cheese in the kitchen. And folks, if you're looking for a good place for a date, you can't go wrong with the White Illumination in Odori Park. Have fun out there! You can see my pics from the White Illumination, macaroni and cheese and the last ride here......2024-12-1223 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.67 Is This The End?Is it? It looks like this weekend is the end of the cycling season up here in Hokkaido. It's been a helluva year, ain't no doubt about that, but at this time of year I always wish we had a little more time. Hope you enjoy the episode. Cycling Hokkaido Instagram page.... www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ My goal on YouTube... https://youtu.be/QdVyohMqSwo?feature=shared 2024-12-0524 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.66 Darcy LewisThat was a fun conversation with my 3rd guest on the podcast, winter rider Darcy Lewis. I don't ride at all in winter so it was good to sit down with someone who does. We talked about his spiked tires, bicycle equipment, his extensive album collection and a lot more. As always, I hope you enjoy the episode and are having fun out there. Here is the link to the Cycling Hokkaido Podcast Instagram page: www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ 2024-11-2842 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.65 Winter is ComingOh man, did I ever get caught in one of the first blizzards of the year! Riding in the snow is kind of an occupational hazard living up here in Hokkaido but this one actually made me turn around and go home. The cycling season is definitely coming to an end up here. It's been a good year for sure but I hope we have at least a few more weeks worth of riding days. Have fun out there, folks! You can see me caught in the blizzard on the Cycling Hokkaido Podcast Instagram page at...... www.instagram.com...2024-11-2120 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.64 New Rules for CyclistsAs of November 1st, 2024 Japan has made some new rules for cyclists and you should definitely know what they are. I hope you find this episode informative and it keeps you out of jail. Much love, Marty Cycling Hokkaido Podcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2024-11-1421 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.63 Donan Trip Pt.3: HakodateThe final stop on my southern Hokkaido trip was Hakodate. I got to check out Goryokaku Park, Cape Tachimachi, the Foreign Cemetery and a whole lot more. I wish I could've done a whole lot more cycling around Hakodate as there is a whole lot more to see. I will definitely be back for more. If you've never been I highly recommend checking it out. I hope you enjoyed this 3 part series of the podcast. Thanks as always for listening. Cycling Hokkaido Podcast Instagram account: www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2024-11-0735 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.62 Donan Trip Pt.2: EsashiEsashi is one of the oldest towns in Hokkaido and I'm super happy I got a chance to visit it. Not only that but I got to check off Hokkaido floating torii number 3! Woo!! The Mama Bear and Cub Rock, Yakumo-san and all the other cool stuff there were amazing. I will be back! You can see all the pics of the are here....... Cycling Hokkaido Podcast instagram account: www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2024-10-3143 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.61 Donan Trip Pt.1: YakumoThis is part 1 of a 3 series of episodes that starts in Ishikari, goes to Esashi, and ends in Hakodate. A late season 200km ride from Ishikari to Yakumo is just what the doctor ordered. If you're planning a trip to Hokkaido you should give this route some thought. It was a great ride. I'm super happy I got that ride done. Hope you're having fun out there, folks! Here is the Cycling Hokkaido Podcast Instagram link... www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2024-10-2437 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.60 Lake OkotanpeWe finally got to check out Lake Okotanpe, the mysterious Lake Okotanpe that is. A beautiful place and a great ride. Plus my American friend had a big ride with a hardcore group of Hokkaido cyclists. Fall is in full swing here but let's hope the colours start to pop. Have fun out there, folks! Here is the link to the Cycling Hokkaido Podcast Instagram account: www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ And here is the link to the cycling group Randonneurs Sapporo: https://randonneurssapporo...2024-10-1731 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.59 Move to the MusicMusic is a great motivator, ain't it? I often find that some songs add so much more to a ride, I love it when a song perfectly matches the scenery you're riding through. Music can make you go faster or really help you chill out. I hope you like this episode and are having fun out there. Here is the link to my playlist Ishikari Massive: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7KEBBXYQnOU5Ubvure8GID?si=Zrj2X_IGSISb_IrOd_pe3Q&pi=yhkMUGntSCWKU And as always the...2024-10-1027 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.58 UpopoyI finally got a chance to visit Upopoy! Upopoy is the National Ainu museum and park and let me tell you folks it is well worth a visit. I learned so much about the Ainu and their culture I actually feel a little bit more connected to Hokkaido. If you have any interest at all in Hokkaido this is a must see. You can check out some pics on Cycling Hokkaido's Instagram account at.... www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2024-10-0333 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.57 No Soft, No LifeOh man, that was a really fun ride. Good hills, excellent company and VERY good ice cream. Fall is my favourite season and I'm super happy I kicked it off with a ride with the American and the Englishman. Have fun out there, everybody! https://youtu.be/Xuf74VwG9BI?feature=shared https://youtu.be/ShsjimNgxxg?feature=shared www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2024-09-2633 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.56 Mikasa GeoparkMikasa Geopark is one helluva cool place. Dinosaurs, coal mining history, geological formations that will make you consider your place in the world. I'm super happy I chose that place for my Respect for the Aged Day ride. Sure there was a major setback but that also kind of turned out to be a positive experience. Thanks as always for tuning in. Hope you have fun out there! You can check out some pics from the ride here.... www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ 2024-09-1939 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.55 Meeting PeopleCyclists are a very friendly bunch, eh!? Yes, definitely meeting people out on the road has been excellent this year. I also talk about a real danger when you're driving in Hokkaido, deer collisions. Keep your eyes on the road, folks! And cycling around a work schedule can make for some interesting rides. My work schedule has given birth to "The Lazy Man's 100km." Hope you like this episode. Have fun out there! Here's the Cycling Hokkaido Podcast's Instagram link... www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ Here's...2024-09-1227 min

The Wanderer Grounds | A Halifax Soccer PodcastListless in Langford: Did the Halifax Wanderers Spoil Their Last Playoff Hope?In this week's episode, Matt and Martin recap the Halifax Wanderers' 0-3 road loss to Pacific FC, Aiden Rushenas's performance between the sticks, Dan Nimick and Cale Loughrey's double yellows and what happens next for the Wanderers. Plus, Martin has a really bad time in Fiji. Photo credit: CPL Photos 2024-09-101h 00

Cycling HokkaidoEp.54 Hokkaido's Northwest CoastI rode up rte.232 to see the floating torii gate at Konpira Shrine in Shosanbetsu. Riding up the northwest coast of Hokkaido was excellent. There were so many interesting things. The Hanada Banya and Matsuura Takeshiro in Obira and the horrific story of the bear attack in Tomamae back in 1915 were VERY interesting. That coastline has a ton of history that is well worth exploring. You can check out the pictures on this podcast's Instagram page. Have fun out there, folks! www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ https://livejapan.com/en/in-hokkaido/in-pref-hokkaido/in-hakodate...2024-09-0550 min

Strung OutStrung Out Episode 218: ART AND MUSIC OF JON LANGFORD (PART 2)Send us a textJoin us on Strung Out, the podcast that dives deep into the artistic world, as host Martin Laurence McCormack brings you an in-depth interview with the multifaceted Jon Langford. In this second interview, Martin and Jon explore the intersection of visual arts and music. From Jon's unique artistic journey, his musical inspirations, and the industry's tough realities, to heartfelt songs and fascinating anecdotes—this episode is rich in culture and creativity. Discover Jon's stories about legendary musicians, his personal artwork, and the vivid portrayal of life as an artist. Don't miss the live pe...2024-09-011h 00

Cycling HokkaidoEp.53 MuroranOver the years we've spent a lot of time in Muroran. For us it's more of a place to visit family. It most definitely has some interesting, cool things to see, and it's a great place to ride but let's just say the place could maybe use a lick of paint. Ya know! Hope things are going well for you, folks! Thanks as always for listening. Here is Itsuki's Instagram... www.instagram.com/1notadataka/ Cycling Hokkaido's Instagram.... www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ 2024-08-2932 min

Strung OutStrung Out Episode 217: ARTIST, MUSICIAN, LEGEND, JON LANGFORD, PART ONE.Send us a textJoin us for an insightful episode of Strung Out, where host Martin Laurence McCormack sits down with artist, singer, and songwriter Jon Langford, a pivotal figure in the alt-country Americana community in Chicago, as well as around the world. They dive into his life as a journeyman musician, touching on significant encounters with legends like Johnny Cash and the stark realities of the music industry.Langford performs heartfelt songs and shares anecdotes about his experiences, including his collaboration with a Welsh Male Choir and his deep appreciation for country music. The...2024-08-2557 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.52 All Good Things....Wow! One year of the podcast, thank you!! This is again a bit of a mixed bag of an episode but man oh man were there some interesting things. A murder mystery, a poet, and Mr. Sato. Mr. Sato has kinda perfected 'vagabonding'....awesome! www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2024-08-2231 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.51 Erimo MisakiI did another "Drive to Ride" and this time my destination was Cape Erimo at the southern tip of Hokkaido. There was beautiful scenery and some very interesting history. The towns I went through were Urakawa, Samani, Erimo and Hiroo. A most excellent ride! Hope you like this episode. https://youtu.be/CTAslZivp-Q?si=DvHOwjTF1Kbu_ZmU www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2024-08-1543 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.50 Matt EbreyEpisode 50!! And my 2nd guest on the podcast. This was a really fun conversation with some cool people. Some interesting stories about riding events I didn't know existed. Cool!! This is also the start of me using the brand new Cycling Hokkaido Podcast Instagram account to show pictures of what we talked about on the show. Thanks for tuning in as always. Luv ya! www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ 2024-08-081h 02

Cycling HokkaidoEp.49 Shakotan Kamui MisakiShakotan Kamui Misaki is a beautiful place but I never knew there was such a tragic legend attached to it. Getting there provides some seriously excellent scenery and I hope you get a chance to see it all for yourself someday. Have fun out there, folks! www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2024-08-0138 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.48 Ebisu Rock & Daikoku RockEbisu Rock & Daikoku Rock is one of the 5 places in Hokkaido where you can see Floating Torii. A very cool place to hang out for a little while and a great ride to get there. I hope you enjoy the episode and Japan's Lucky 7 Gods shine down on you! www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2024-07-2534 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.47 Lake ToyaLake Toya is a beautiful place to be. From volcanic experiences, new mountains, gorgeous scenery and interesting things, this is a must visit. Cycling this area can be as challenging or easy as you want to make it. Hope you enjoy this episode. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Taishi-Shotoku www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2024-07-1832 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.46 The Ryokuendai RobotUnfortunately, I had to pop a spoke to hit the timing perfectly to see The Ryokuendai Robot up close and personal. The Gokibiru Trail, riding without a destination and summer fun are on deck for this episode. Hope you enjoy it! Here's the link to the YouTube video and Instagram. https://youtube.com/shorts/vUu_1PygMM8?si=vEm5UOlqC3Y8mRof www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ 2024-07-1133 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.45 Canada D'ehJuly 1st was Canada Day and I hope you all had a great day! Over the weekend there were some really cool events on in Sapporo. The 2024 Sapporo Flower Carpet was my main reason for heading downtown and it looked pretty cool. And as always the city of Sapporo had some other things to offer up. Have fun out there, folks! www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2024-07-0431 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.44 Hokkaido WildlifeNot only are there cool sites to see but sometimes we get lucky and see some pretty interesting animals along the way. Hope you like the episode and you can see those bear videos with the links below. And thank you for voting and commenting on last week's poll. 83% of you have been to Wakannai and some of you want to go to Disneyland and Fukuoka on your next trip. Awesome! Have fun out there! https://youtu.be/g2-vK1p7U3g?si=NGdOqtLd1gQS1Oj4 https://youtu.be/pJ-KKmXKmw0?si=kY_DHsJPLT1SjNkI 2024-06-2833 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.43 WakkanaiWakkanai is a very interesting place and I'm really happy I got the chance to go see some of it. I checked out Cape Soya, the Path of White Shells, the Toyoiwa Site, Cape Noshappu and a helluva soccer game. It was also great to see an old friend again. Everybody likes to go for a walk from time to time, right? But how would you feel about walking ONE LAP around Japan!?!? I met a guy on the road who is doing just that. As always, you can see my pics of it all on Instagram...... ...2024-06-2040 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.42 Rice PaddiesAs always there are some beautiful things out there to see. The rice paddies serve up excellent scenery throughout most of the year. It's also another popular season here in Hokkaido, festival season! I'm happy I went downtown to check out the Yosakoi Dance Festival. That is quite the spectacle. Another spectacle I never expected I'd come across was the giant flying octopus up near the Ishikari lighthouse the other day. Right, hope you enjoy episode #42! And as always, you can see my pics from these cycling adventures on my Instagram.... www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2024-06-1332 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.41 FujizukaThe last part of my Kanto weekend. I really enjoyed that trip, you might have noticed. I went to so many new places for me and learned a lot. The Fujizuka or Mini Fujis are a very interesting part of Japanese history. Also in the second half of this episode I talk about Yasukuni shrine. It's probably the most controversial place in Japan, and I understand why. There's no doubt about it, I've got a lot more to learn. I hope you like this episode. Have fun out there. www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido...2024-06-0635 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.40 KamakuraOh man, that was an absolutely beautiful place and amazing part of Japanese history. I'm so happy to have seen it and I'd love to go again. Kamakura!! Ya gotta go!! www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ 2024-05-3139 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.39 Red Hot Chili PeppersThat was an excellent concert at Tokyo Dome last weekend! Wow!! Them opening with "Can't Stop" and finishing with "Give it Away" was perfect. Super happy I went to that show. Hope you're having fun out there, folks! www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2024-05-2335 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.38 The Hiyoriyama LighthouseIn this episode I talk about the beautiful Hiyoriyama Lighthouse, the cruise ship the Diamond Princess and a lot more. Hope you like it. And thanks everybody for voting in the last poll. 100% of you that voted, voted for the Tokachi Mountain Range as being the most interesting place in the last episode. Hope you have fun out there, folks! www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2024-05-1629 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.37 Shirogane Blue PondWhat a fantastic area to ride! That was one seriously beautiful place and I'm really looking forward to getting back there for more. I actually think I have to go back so that I can actually see the Blue Pond at its bluest. The Shirahige Falls and the Biei Christmas Tree were excellent as well but that Tokachi Volcanic Mountain Range was absolutely gorgeous. I was sorry to read that it causes the people of the region so much trouble but it is really something to see. Hope you like this episode, folks. Have fun out there! 2024-05-0940 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.36 Golden WeekGolden Week is here!! Ya gotta love it, eh? It's definitely one of my favourite times of year here in Japan. As always, I found out a lot more information about it that I didn't know. I love doing the research for these podcasts. I hope you're enjoying them. Thanks a lot for voting in the last poll. 100% of you that voted enjoyed seeing the cherry blossoms. Excellent! If you're in Japan, I hope you have a great Golden Week, if you're not, I hope you have a great week. Thanks for listening. www...2024-05-0228 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.35 Cherry BlossomsBikes and blossoms!! What a great time of year this is, eh? Ya gotta love getting out there and seeing the beautiful blooming cherry blossoms. Don't they make for some of nicest scenery there is!? I hope you have time to get out and see them. Thank you very much for voting in the last poll as well, folks. 50% of you who voted chose french fries as your favourite festival food, 25% chose yakisoba and another 25% chose chocolate bananas. Great choices! I hope you like this new episode and as always you can see my pictures on Instagram @53.langford. Have...2024-04-2537 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.34 Japanese FestivalsFestivals, snakes and burning eyes....oh my!! Earlier this week we had some absolutely beautiful riding weather and coming across an unexpected festival was the icing on the cake. What a great day that was and hopefully it was a good omen for things to come this riding season. Have fun out there, folks! www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ 2024-04-1834 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.33 A Cool BreezeYo folks! Thanks a lot for voting in the last poll. 100% of you voted YES for history. Very cool. In this episode a new term comes up "Harvest Orange" Hope you tune in to check out what it's all about. www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2024-04-1227 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.32 Kiusu Earthwork Burial CirclesWe're off to a great start to 2024.....maybe a bit behind in kilometers due to the late start but we are mos def hitting some sites. Gotta love it out there, eh? Hope you can join us at least in listening to how things went over the past week. And thank you very much, as always, for voting in the last poll. It was a 3-way tie between Tundra Swans, Deer and White-tailed Eagles for your favourite Hokkaido wild animals. Thanks as always for voting, folks. Hope you enjoy this episode and have some fun out there. 2024-04-0441 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.31 Season On!!After that very long winter we are back out on the bikes! Season on!! The first ride of the year was out to a beautiful place called Shinshinotsu. A very flat ride, which was just the thing for the first ride of the year. And the Tundra Swans are back. 🦢👍 Have in our there, folks! Lots of pictures of the start of this season are up on my Instagram..... www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ 2024-03-2832 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.30 St.Patrick's Day & The Vernal EquinoxSt.Patrick's Day and The Vernal Equinox.....what are they and what do we do!? As it turns out, I didn't do much of anything on either day. Hope you like the episode. And by the way, 60% of you that voted in the last poll chose chocolate as the best White Day gift with the remaining 40% chose cookies. Thanks for voting as always folks. Have fun out there! www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2024-03-2126 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.29 White DayWhite Day is upon us again! Hope you dudes out there remembered it this year. While we're still waiting for things to thaw out so we can get back out there on our bikes, let's take a look at a uniquely Japanese day. Have fun out there, folks. www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2024-03-1428 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.28 HinamatsuriStill waiting for the snow to thaw so we can get out on our bikes. In the meantime, I found a bunch of information about Hinamatsuri, The Doll's Festival or Girl's Day. Oh and by the way, 80% of you who responded to the last poll have wiped out on the ice. Thanks for voting. I don't feel quite as dumb now. Have a great week, folks! www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2024-03-0822 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.27 Karma's a BitchAlright, so I tempted the weather gods by digging out to early and they punished me by bringing the snow back hard. Then I basically ASKED Karma to kick me in the ass by laughing at people falling down at the snow festival. Still, 2024 has been really good, eh!? Hope you're having fun out there, folks. www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2024-02-2923 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.26 Getting ReadyIn this episode I talk about getting ready to ride. From getting the shed dug out from all the snow to getting the bikes road worthiness tests done and I actually learned a whole lot more about the rules of the road for cyclists here in Japan. Hope you enjoy the episode. www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2024-02-2842 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.25 Queen + Adam LambertQueen & Adam Lambert put on one helluva show at Sapporo Dome this past Saturday night. Wow!! And Valentine's Day is upon us again. Hope none of you OD on chocolate out there, folks. Have fun out there and I hope you like this episode. As always you can see my pictures on my Instagram..... www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ 2024-02-1538 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.24 The 74th Sapporo Snow FestivalThe Sapporo Snow Festival is an annual favourite of mine and this year's did not disappoint. It was great to see it back in full swing after all that Covid bullshit. I put up a little selection of pictures on my Instagram @53.langford. Hope you enjoy the show, folks. https://www.snowfes.com/en/2024-02-0839 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.23 25 Years In JapanIn this episode I give a kind of summary of what my life has been like over the past 25 years. Fun, adventure, pain, yep, pretty much what everybody goes through over the course of 25 years in life. I still can't believe what a wild ride it's all been. Oh and by the way, the results of the last poll are in. 60% of you chose ramen as your favourite Sapporo food, the other 40% chose jingisukan. I was kinda surprised nobody chose kaisendon or soup curry. Have fun out there, folks! www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido...2024-02-0254 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.27 Karma's a BitchI dig out in expectation of an early start to the cycling season and ....... boom, winter comes back with a fury. I laugh at a couple of people falling down at the snow festival, sure that wasn't very nice, and boom........I slip and am sent crashing down onto the ice. Oh well, 2024 is still proving itself to be a very fun year! Have fun out there, folks!2024-01-3123 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.22 DaveThanks for an amazing birthday week, Dave and everybody that was involved. You're all the best! And with Dave here we got to get back to being Sapporo tourists. There's a lot of fun to be had out there. Enjoy! www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2024-01-2636 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.21 Not as Old as JomonIn this episode I talk about turning 50, birthdays, and getting my maps out to get ready for the 2024 riding season. You can check out more Hokkaido Cycling routes at....... https://cycle-hokkaido.jp/ www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2024-01-1829 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.20 New DestinationsIn this episode I talk about returning to work and school, some new places to check out in 2024 and Scotland. Hope you have a great week out there folks. Have fun!! www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2024-01-1126 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.19 Ishikawa Earthquake & Haneda CrashJapan got off to a horrible start to 2024. Things can only get better, right? www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2024-01-0433 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.18 Bye Bye 20232023 is on it's way out. Hope you have a fun time at New Year's. Looking forward to having more adventures with you all in 2024. All the best. Oh and by the way, I made a mistake in this episode. Atsuma, in southern Hokkaido, is on the Pacific Ocean not the Sea of Japan. When I was talking about the Sea to Shining Sea ride I said the Sea of Japan twice.....Oops!! Sorry about that. Have a great holidays, everybody! www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ 2023-12-2831 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.17 A Very Merry Teriyaki ChristmasThe cycling season has ended. What a great season that was! Thanks for coming along for the rides folks. But never fear, with cycling over... Christmas and New Year's are just around the corner. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!! www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ 2023-12-2140 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.16 Go Go YubariA truly iconic place in Hokkaido, Yubari is gonna span a few episodes over the years, so please consider this Yubari Ep.1. Every time I'm there I find something different. Have fun out there, folks! www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2023-12-1434 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.15 A Pilgrimage to AsariWho knew Asari had such an interesting history!? I love how this one little shrine has such a connection to so much more in Hokkaido. I had a lot of fun digging up information for this episode. I hope you like it. https://youtu.be/pq-yP7mb8UE?si=K2PA_o14GIoUswLf www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2023-12-0734 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.14 Why ride?Ahhh..... traffic tickets suck, eh? 🤣 At some point I felt I had to talk about why I started to ride so much. This is basically why. I hope this can be of service. Much love, Marty www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2023-11-3032 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.13 8000Finally, I've also got the Cycling Hokkaido podcast up on Apple Podcasts, so that's me up on Apple on Spotify. Thanks for having a listen everybody. This episode is a bit of a mixed bag, 8000km, bears, Otaru, baton bastards and drunk old bastards. I hope you like it and as always you can follow along with my pictures on Instagram..... www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ Have fun out there folks. https://www.hokkaido-np.co.jp/article/942171/ 2023-11-2332 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.12 YoichiYoichi has so many interesting places to see....but it also has a pretty big problem. Depopulation!! I hope you like this episode. Thanks, as always, for tuning in. 👍 www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ 2023-11-1731 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.11 Olaf KarthausEpisode 11 was a lot of fun. Olaf Karthaus was the first guest on my podcast. I KNEW Olaf would have a lot of good cycling stories and he did not disappoint. I hope you all enjoy this episode of Cycling Hokkaido as much as I did. www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2023-11-0947 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.10 Kobayashi Sake BreweryIn this episode I talk about our ride to Kuriyama to visit the Kobayashi Sake Brewery. A beautiful day with a fun chat along the way. 😂 What do you all reckon your Australian nickname is? You can checkout all my pictures and the Japanese Robot Monster Wolf video on my Instagram.... www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ Have fun out there folks. 2023-11-0331 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.9 Nakayama TogeIn this episode, Marty talks about the very challenging ride he and a friend had up and down Nakayama Mountain Pass. Trust me, the down part was the most difficult. There were some VERY interesting scenes. As always, you can catch all my cycling pictures on my Instagram....... www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ 2023-10-2750 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.8 Cat BusIn this episode Marty talks about his recent ride to see the Cat Bus at the Totoro Pass in Fukagawa. Another "Super Ride". A great ride to a beautiful place. As always, you can check out the pictures on my Instagram...... www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ Have fun out there. 2023-10-2034 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.7 Route 231In this episode Marty talks about some of the cool things that can along the coastal road Route 231, aka 日本海オロロンライン. And I've just realized I forgot to say the name of the waterfall that's on the outside of the tunnel..... it's called the Yasosuke Waterfall. Oops! And as always you can check out all my cycling pictures on my Instagram ....... www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ Cheers, folks! 2023-10-1353 min

Cycling HokkaidoEp.6 IshikariIn this episode, Marty talks about some great places to check out in Ishikari and his recent run-ins with the post-Covid supply chain problems. As always, if you wanna see my cycling pictures, check out my Instagram .... www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ 2023-10-0648 min

Cycling HokkaidoEpisode 5: OtaruIn this episode I talk about Otaru. You know you love it, such a beautiful and historic place. I also talk about a couple of alternative rides to think about while you head down that way. Hope you enjoy the episode and as always you can check out my pictures on my Instagram at www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ Have a great day out there, folks! 2023-09-2938 min

Cycling HokkaidoEpisode 4: Cycling SnacksIf you're heading out on a big ride, you're gonna get hungry. In this episode I talk about the food that keeps me going while I'm out on the road. This is a topic everybody loves....FOOD!! 😀 As always you an check my cycling snacks on my Instagram www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ 2023-09-2244 min

Cycling HokkaidoEpisode 3: Stone CirclesIn this episode I talk about Stone Circles and other ancient places in Hokkaido. Some of them are still pretty cool to look at....others not so much. Have a listen and see what you think. https://youtu.be/dfnLa4B-Pbg?si=XhPjrWZjLvUITozw There's the opening to the show I was talking about. Remember that? www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ 2023-09-1537 min

Cycling HokkaidoEpisode 2: Kamui KotanIn this episode I talk about the longest ride I've ever done. 240.79km. Hell yeah! I went to see a place called Kamui Kotan in a city called Asahikawa. I'd wanted to do that ride for a couple of years and a couple of weeks ago I finally got it done. It was a beautiful place and a helluva ride. Check out the pictures on my Instagram...... www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ 2023-09-0823 min

Cycling HokkaidoEpisode 1: The EquatorThis is the first episode! I thought it would be cool to talk about my biggest goal to date. Getting to the same distance as the Equator. It's been a lot of fun out there getting to that goal. Hope you enjoyed episode 1. Lots more to come. You can check out my cycling pictures on my Instagram. www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/2023-09-0123 min

January 6th / The InsurrectionMemo: Donald J. Trump should be administered Sodium Pentothal, TRUTH SERUM, not his "truth" (c)1. Mat Gaetz to FBI director: "Are you protecting the Bidens?" MG is a moron and blind to his responsibilities, ignoring what their furor did, done and continues to perpetrate. The reason it's odd is cause this asshole isn't doing his job and protecting the homeland 2. The GOP is politicizing our National Security and this is counter to protecting the Nation, that's why it's strange and a strategy that is antithetical and anti American 3. The media covers Jim Jordan and his insignificant "proof" of some memo from 1 person about the catholics, that's not critical and ignore what is at the forefront 4...2023-07-1737 min

Compulsive Reader talksMartin Langford on his new book GroundMartin Langford reads from his new poetry book Ground, and talks about his overarching principle of spaces places and the evolution of the book as a collection, about time and timelessness, about Australian history and how it plays out in Ground, about settlement and displacement, about Sydney and its layers, about eco-poetry and why his writing, though nature-rich, isn't, about meta-poetry and the Kingfisher's, his next project, and lots more.2015-10-2737 min