Cycling to Kyoto’s Ochiba Shrine Amid the Fall Colors
desktop background image of the Iwato Ochiba Shrine, Kyoto Japan, in full fall-foliage splendor (岩戸落葉神社、京都市) -- Pregnant With Color Iwato Ochiba Shrine (岩戸落葉神社、 京都市) two weeks ago (二週間前) -- Iwato Ochiba Shrine (岩戸落葉神社) -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/2.8, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Pregnant With Color
Iwato Ochiba Shrine (岩戸落葉神社、京都市)
two weeks ago (二週間前)
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I've been meaning to write about a nice little solo ride I had two weeks ago, to the Ochiba Jinja shrine. It's the same place that I wrote about in Great Day in Kyoto’s Colorful Northern Mountains, which actually happened the next day.

The course for this day's solo ride can be seen on my cycling heatmap.

The fall colors had been pretty subdued, but with my health back after six weeks of colds/allergy/something, everything looked beautiful to me.

“ Beware of Bears ” the sign in the tree on the path up to Kyomi Pass, Kyoto Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 30mm — 1/125 sec, f/4, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Beware of Bears
the sign in the tree
on the path up to Kyomi Pass, Kyoto Japan
Near Kyomi Pass 京見峠の近く -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/100 sec, f/1.7, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Near Kyomi Pass
京見峠の近く
Heading Down the Other Side -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 32mm — 1/125 sec, f/4, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Heading Down the Other Side
Roadside Stream -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — 1/80 sec, f/10, ISO 400 — map & image datanearby photos
Roadside Stream
Someone's Backyard -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 38mm — 1/80 sec, f/10, ISO 1000 — map & image datanearby photos
Someone's Backyard
“ Sugitani Maple 1km ” well, that could be interesting -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/640 sec, f/1.7, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Sugitani Maple 1km
well, that could be interesting

The small sign pointed up what looked like a driveway, but turned out to be an old logging road. I probably shouldn't have taken it on my road bike, but I tend to throw that kind of caution to the wind and just do it, so I just did it.

At first is was very rough/broken pavement, but then it smoothed out...

Not So Bad pavement and moss, and less slippery than one would think -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 32mm — 1/60 sec, f/8, ISO 1600 — map & image datanearby photos
Not So Bad
pavement and moss, and less slippery than one would think
A Bit Rougher -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — 1/40 sec, f/7.1, ISO 3200 — map & image datanearby photos
A Bit Rougher
Okay, Time To Turn Around -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/2, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Okay, Time To Turn Around

It was about 1.4km at 9.5% of increasingly rough road, mostly gravel of some sort. It'd be great on a mountain bike or even my Trek cross bike, but it was no place for a road bike with dainty tires.

Returning the way I came, I had to go very slowly due to the combination of rough road and steepness, and found that my wrists hurt a lot. After a while I couldn't stand it, and intended to stop to rest my wrists and almost fell over because I suddenly couldn't unclip my foot from the pedal! (You'll recall that I had a lot of trepidation about riding clipped in, but that I also quickly got used to it.)

Luckily I was able to switch my weight over and unclip with the other side. I soon realized the source of my problem:

1 out of 3 is bad -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/1.7, ISO 400 — map & image datanearby photos
1 out of 3
is bad

I had somehow lost two of the three bolts that hold the clips to the shoe! This allowed the clip to swivel, making it impossible to unclip without dislocating my knee or dismounting. I was in a bit of a pickle until I got the idea of moving one of the three bolts over from the other shoe. Luckily I had a multifunction tool with an appropriate hex wrench.

I then continued down almost back to the main road, until I stopped here:

Unscheduled Stop my bike blends in so well it's almost ninja-like invisible -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/5, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Unscheduled Stop
my bike blends in so well it's almost ninja-like invisible
Reason for the Stop I must have hit a rock just the wrong way -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — 1/125 sec, f/7.1, ISO 1000 — map & image datanearby photos
Reason for the Stop
I must have hit a rock just the wrong way

Having faced much worse with my first flat, I put what I learned in its aftermath to good use, shoving a thick foil cookie wrapper between the new tube and the split in the tire, to stop the tube from squeezing out and bursting.

With the tire patched up well enough, I continued my ride. I had a second spare tube and a patch kit I could still use on the first tube, should I need it.

I was in an exploring mood, so took the time to stop on a bridge I often go over for a photo looking down...

Old Bridge visible from the modern bridge above -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/2.8, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Old Bridge
visible from the modern bridge above

Being in an exploring mood, I found the old side road that went down there and took a photo looking back up...

View From Below -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — 1/125 sec, f/3.2, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
View From Below

I took the side road for quite a while, until it got sufficiently bumpy to have me worry about the tire, so I left the full exploration of it for another day.

Then I continued north for another 10 minutes and I was at the Ochiba Jinja shrine...

Iwato Ochiba Shrine (岩戸落葉神社) in all its splendor -- Iwato Ochiba Shrine (岩戸落葉神社) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/2.2, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Iwato Ochiba Shrine (岩戸落葉神社)
in all its splendor

Clicking on any of the nearby photos links brings photos from years past.

Me photo by a passer by -- Iwato Ochiba Shrine (岩戸落葉神社) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — 1/125 sec, f/2.8, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Me
photo by a passer by
Thick Carpet -- Iwato Ochiba Shrine (岩戸落葉神社) -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 44mm — 1/125 sec, f/5, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Thick Carpet

I headed back home amidst the autumn late-afternoon light. The view over the Kamo River back close to home was crisk:

Crisp View 40 minutes before sunset -- Kyoto, Japan -- Copyright 2015 Jeffrey Friedl, http://regex.info/blog/ -- This photo is licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (non-commercial use is freely allowed if proper attribution is given, including a link back to this page on http://regex.info/ when used online)
Panasonic LX100 at an effective 75mm — 1/125 sec, f/5, ISO 200 — map & image datanearby photos
Crisp View
40 minutes before sunset

This was all 16 days ago (Nov 10). I went to the same shrine again today (Nov 26) with Paul Barr, by car, and found it to be in quite a different condition.

Continued here...


One comment so far...

Some truly awesome shots here Jeff ….. I am in Victoria BC, the season is starting to change here, fall is in the air, but the weather here is quite moderate, not like the Rockies, that I left a couple years ago !!
Be proud of those shots mate !
All best Chris Rogers

— comment by Chris on October 7th, 2016 at 12:08am JST (7 years, 5 months ago) comment permalink
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