Unintended Gravel Adventure with Gorm

Panasonic DMC-TS3 — 1/60 sec, f/3.3, ISO 320 —
map & image data — nearby photos

Wet Gorm is Wet

It's the rainy season in Japan, which means that when it's not hot and humid, it's hot and humid and wet.
Earlier in the week Gorm and I had a wet ride in the mountains north of Kyoto that turned into a bit of an adventure.

We started off by cycling up to Hanase Pass, which is a litmus test of a climb that always strikes fear into my heart. It was my 21st time up, the first having been my crazy first ride a year ago February.

For Gorm, who is just visiting from Norway, it was his 5th.

I was happy to make a PR on the benchmark segment by almost a minute and
a half, down to 30:40. I've still got a ways to go to break 30 minutes, or to beat Gorm's PR (30:19) for that matter.

Due to the light rain and feeling quite chilly, I was fairly miserable on the descent down the other side, but it was really beautiful. You'll have to
take my word for it because I only had a crappy waterproof camera with me.

Panasonic DMC-TS3 — 1/125 sec, f/4.3, ISO 100 —
map & image data — nearby photos

Misty

from both the rain, and fog on the camera lens

The descent saw the sun come out occasionally, which along with my drying off did wonders for my mood.
After a hot-coffee stop, I was feeling good.

Panasonic DMC-TS3 — 1/60 sec, f/3.3, ISO 200 —
map & image data — nearby photos

Misty Selfie

10:18am - taken while moving at 9 kph (6 mph)

We weren't in any particular rush, so we took the time to try a little road I've wanted to check out for some while,
which leads to The Bujoji Temple (峰定寺). The short two-kilometer road is lovely, but the apparently-pretty temple is not visible from the paved road,
and we weren't dedicated enough to make the hike from the road.

Panasonic DMC-TS3 — 1/250 sec, f/3.3, ISO 100 —
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Beware of Bears

“bring a bell or other noise-making device”








Panasonic DMC-TS3 — 1/250 sec, f/3.3, ISO 100 —
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Beautifully-Stacked Wood

is a common sight in the mountain communities








Panasonic DMC-TS3 — 1/100 sec, f/3.3, ISO 100 —
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Sad

that the photo does nothing to convey how wonderfully splendid an area it is

10:24am - taken while moving at 27 kph (17 mph)








Panasonic DMC-TS3 — 1/60 sec, f/3.3, ISO 100 —
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Cafe That We'll Keep In Mind

but it was a Tuesday and they're closed on Tuesdays

山菜料理桂雅堂








Panasonic DMC-TS3 — 1/60 sec, f/3.3, ISO 160 —
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Big Hunks of Granite

in front of a dilapidated barn








Panasonic DMC-TS3 — 1/125 sec, f/3.3, ISO 100 —
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Dilapidated Barn

behind big hunks of granite








Panasonic DMC-TS3 — 1/60 sec, f/3.3, ISO 400 —
map & image data — nearby photos

June 1981

inspection sticker








Panasonic DMC-TS3 — 1/60 sec, f/3.3, ISO 125 —
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We then rode over Sasari Pass (佐々里峠). The climb is shorter than Hanase Pass, but it does
have its steep sections. I'd done it only two other
times, and not for a long while. Especially since this was my first time to climb it since
getting a real road bike, I expected to make a PR,
and I did by over two minutes, down to 23:39.

It was Gorm's first time, and he clocked in thirty seconds faster than I.

Panasonic DMC-TS3 — 1/50 sec, f/3.3, ISO 400 —
map & image data — nearby photos

Pretty Side Road

that we opted to avoid, as it was all gravel and we were on road bikes with road tires

After the lovely descent down the other side, we took a gamble on
a route we hadn't taken before. I'd heard that it was fully paved, so it was worth a shot, but we'd have to backtrack if the road
condition was too bad.

The photo above isn't the road we were considering... just a side road we took a peek at. Yet still....

Panasonic DMC-TS3 — 1/200 sec, f/3.3, ISO 100 —
map & image data — nearby photos

Moments Later

first flat since this day of many flats.

after about 800km (500mi) on the new Michelin Pro4 Endurance

photo by Gorm Kipperberg

I don't know what caused the flat, but I don't think it was a rock. The hole was very small.

In the photo I'm wearing ThinOPTICS tiny clip-on reading glasses that I keep
in the seat bag. They're very tiny and light, and also very useful so that I can actually see what I'm doing. I'd think that any
cyclist of a certain age would find them quite handy when needed.

Panasonic DMC-TS3 — 1/50 sec, f/3.3, ISO 400 —
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On Our Way

up a road that I thought I was told was fully paved








Panasonic DMC-TS3 — 1/30 sec, f/3.3, ISO 400 —
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Panasonic DMC-TS3 — 1/10 sec, f/3.3, ISO 400 —
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Effects

of a low-quality camera at 14 kph (9 mph)








Panasonic DMC-TS3 — 1/10 sec, f/3.3, ISO 400 —
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Technically Still “Paved”

though so full of wickedly-sharp rocks that we walked this section








Panasonic DMC-TS3 — 1/60 sec, f/3.5, ISO 250 —
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Of Questionable Quality

but otherwise a lovely, beautiful ride








Panasonic DMC-TS3 — 1/40 sec, f/5.4, ISO 400 —
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Panasonic DMC-TS3 — 1/320 sec, f/3.9, ISO 100 —
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Burning the Candle on Both Ends

huge tree trunk floating above an eroding mountainside








Panasonic DMC-TS3 — 1/125 sec, f/3.3, ISO 100 —
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Gorgeous Views

that these photos just don't do justice