Driving the Boxster Among the Cherry Blossoms

The other day on a weekday, I decided to take the Boxster for a drive on the Royu Driveway. Normally, this time of year I would go cherry blossom viewing at a nearby park, but since that’s not possible right now, I thought at least I could enjoy the blossoms from inside the car.

Come to think of it, around this time last year, I still couldn’t really drive the manual Boxster properly, so I wasn’t able to go on a cherry blossom drive. That’s why this year was the first time I could drive the Boxster through the cherry blossoms.

Perhaps because it was a weekday and given the current situation, traffic heading from my home toward the Rokko area was light. When I actually got to the Royu Driveway, the cherry blossoms weren’t quite at their peak yet, but still, driving with the top down among the cherry trees felt wonderful.

It took me about three years to be able to drive a manual car, but now that I can, I’m really glad. Of course, automatic cars are great too, but being able to drive a manual opens up a whole new range of cars you can enjoy.

At this age, opportunities to try new things are fewer than when I was younger, but I still feel that the excitement of “being able to do what you couldn’t before” and challenging yourself with new experiences is important no matter how old you are.

I hope that as I grow older, I can always keep my curiosity alive.

Currently, in Hyogo Prefecture where we live, a state of emergency has been declared, and the situation changes daily with increasing tension. My daughter’s elementary school held its entrance ceremony outdoors on the sports field for a short time, and classes are suspended until May. Similarly, my younger daughter’s kindergarten entrance ceremony was postponed, and it is also closed until May.

With so many restrictions and self-restraint in place, and especially since I’m pregnant, I avoid crowds and don’t even go to the supermarket, ordering everything through online delivery… While I wonder, “When will life return to normal?,” I know this is a time for all of us to endure together.

Even in this atmosphere of self-restraint, the government has said outdoor exercise is allowed, so I’ve recently realized how important it is to take a solo drive nearby to refresh your mind. (Though it’s not really exercise…)

So, I made a video of my drive on the Royu Driveway that day. Since I only used the GoPro without a separate microphone, the engine sound isn’t great, but I’d be happy if you could watch it. (Next time, I’ll be sure to use a proper mic!)