SC-04E at an effective 31mm — ¹/240 sec, f/2.2, ISO 50 — map & image data — nearby photos
Gorm Returns
Kumiko, Gorm, Antti, Me
photo by Manseki Kanemitsu

Smiling Norwegian Gorm has returned to Kyoto for a month-long visit after a year's absence, and a few of us whole-heartily welcomed him with a short ("half-hearted" one could say) ride.

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/125 sec, f/4, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos

Manseki couldn't join us for the ride, but he saw us off and we'd return to join him for coffee later.

Our plan was to do a clockwise Kyoto Heart Loop, which starts out on a route that I first did a year ago, that time Gorm having lead the way.

This time we all knew the route. We took it easy, as Gorm was still suffering jetlag, Kumiko was still coming off an injury, and Antti was still recovering from having done a 24-hour endurance ride (690km! 430mi!) last weekend.

Apparently my camera skill is suffering as well.... since returning from a long absence in The States, most of my cycling shots are fatally blurry. I've got to figure this out. Until I do, I'll be forced to try to recover some semblance of usability via extreme post processing that can become old quite quickly. )-:

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — ¹/250 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Heading Up to Kyomi Pass

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 28mm — ¹/125 sec, f/2.1, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos

If Lightroom had the ability to add “motion blur”, I might be able to overpower the “camera-shake blur” and produce something vaguely interesting. Instead I present the photo above.

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/125 sec, f/2.5, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
A Gorm in its Natural Environment

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 24mm — ¹/125 sec, f/9, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Stereotypical
Japanese mountain countryside

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 29mm — ¹/200 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Mochikoshi Pass

On a counter-clockwise Heart Loop, this is an inviting place to stop, just after the crest of Mochikoshi Pass, it offers a lovely view of a small hamlet below.

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 75mm — ¹/160 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Selfie Inception
I take a selfie of myself in Gorm's glasses, as blah blah blah...
(the same glasses as he's always had)

Panasonic LX100 at an effective 40mm — ¹/200 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200 — map & image data — nearby photos
Kumiko Tries the Same

In the end, most of us abandoned the Heart Loop at the halfway point because time was running out, and we'd rather return to have time for coffee and chat (and Manseki). Hence, we did only half of the Heart Loop this time (and hence the "half-hearted" in the title of this post).

(Kumiko, who was feeling fantastic on the bike for the first time since suffering an injury, went on to complete the full Heart Loop before joining us for coffee.)

Now that Gorm's been re-acclimated to Japan, we'll do a more robust ride next time.