I don't see many posts in this forum about road trips and so on, so if it's not allowed to post such here then please let me know. But I thought it might be a nice change from the long list of Things That Go Wrong With Jags to talk about how nice the cars are when working well - and how seductively alluring they can be in photos.... (It might also be interesting for people in the US and UK and Aus etc. to see what rural roads and driving in Japan are like - it's not all Fast and Furious Tokyo Drift....)

It's early autumn here in Japan, so recently I took my car, named Lady Mary (due to being aristocratic, gorgeously elegant and refined, unable to suffer stupidity gladly, and expensive to keep in the manner to which she is accustomed), out for a jaunt.

The photos were taken with my Canon 60D and 8-16mm ultra-wide Sigma lens, and mildly processed in Lightroom.

Passing by Kanazawa Castle on the left, and the very famous Kenrokuen Garden on the right.

The trees are starting to show their autumn colours, which is nice.

Out in the hills, the roads open up, and moderate speed can be achieved.

After the rice harvest is brought in, the paddy fields are bare, and the old stalks are often burnt by the side of the fields. Some rural roads in Japan can be pretty narrow.

Took a break at a roadside rest area and museum (which was not open), which was utterly deserted. I've bought a replacement "XJS" badge and will replace that this weekend or next week, I hope.
I love the way the sun sparkles on the paintwork.

While it may not be very effective or useful, if the weather's fine (and the location suitable), I like to leave the bonnet raised after a run to help the heat vent out. If someone tells me this is a silly or pointless idea, I'll stop. She's running a lot cooler now I got the cooling sorted - before, I had to use a towel to unlatch the hook as the heat was just so intense. Now I can do it bare-handed, easily.


Lady Mary and I visited a place called Torigoe Castle, the ruins of a late 16th century Warring States-period castle. The place was utterly deserted early on a Saturday morning.
Torigoe Castle was used by the militant Ikko Sect of Buddhism as a base to (unsuccessfully in the end) defend the province they ruled from the predations of Oda Nobunaga, the ambitious general whose goal was to conquer (and reunify) Japan.



Very little of it actually remains - the wooden outer and inner gates are more reconstructions.


Being a castle, it naturally commands extensive views of the surrounding countryside.
Nevertheless, it's not only historically significant, but a nice (free) park to wander around alone on a crisp autumn morning.


Blue sky reflecting off blue car (and mildly enhanced) makes for... lots of blue.


Taken very close with the ultra-wide lens. She looks quite menacing - a cat with claws....



Using the ultra-wide angle can make the car seem remarkably toy-like. I wasn't on a ladder or anything. Nor am I over seven feet tall. It is a low car, mind....

 

Quite lovely. Keep them coming everyone, say I. Great idea Someday.
Greg

 

I'll second that. Beautiful photos.

 

Very nice; just one question, where is Kanazawa?

 

Have to second what Greg and Warren said. Beautiful photos and car. Keep them coming.
Thanks
John

 

That is a marvelous trip in a marvelous car, Japan is beautiful in the autumn.

The pictures remind me of last year trip with my Italian friend living in Osaka.
We went the 4 of us up Lake Biwa, then all the Maizuru north coast (not too far from you) in his Volvo C70 cabriolet, heater on and the roof down ... yeah ...

We need more of these threads besides of all the technical stuff, unfortunately I will need to wait a year or two before being able to contribute.

 

Glad people are liking this post, and the idea. Reading the forum can sometimes be the automotive equivalent of WebMD - everything is a potentially fatal issue.... I like photography, and I like driving (two expensive hobbies, especially with an XJS...), so I do want to add more posts like this, and hope to see similar ones from other members.

Steve M: Kanazawa is this place: :: Kanazawa Tourist Information Guide ::

Eric: I've driven around the Maizuru coast in my MR2 turbo, back about ten years ago. Really rural and remote and scenic. Like all rural and remote and scenic places, however, there's a preponderance of local farmers in small white mini-trucks....
Good to hear that someone used a convertible with the roof actually down, though.

 

Where did you mount the Camera when you were doing the Road Trip pics?

Absolutely Amazing!

Keep them coming.

 

Glad you like them! Actually, I held the camera in one hand and snapped. Quickly....
None of the roads I shot on were busy, and I wasn't going that fast. I didn't look through the viewfinder or anything - just held the camera in one hand, the steering wheel in the other, kept my eyes on the road, and pressed the shutter.

 

You ought to work for the Tourist Board, as after seeing your Photos I just want to get on the Plane!

 

I truly enjoyed this post and looking at the excellent pics. Thank you!

 

Beautiful photos. thank you SO MUCH!
keep them coming... something later in Nov. when the trees have changed a little more...
going to the Kanazawa tourist guide the image on the top reminded me of Spirited Away...

 

Steve:


Absolutely welcome. Thank you.


Beautiful countryside, interesting architecture, history, great car, perfectly photographed and narrated. As good a tale as I've read in a spell...


I pop the bonnet on my car after a run. Especialy a longer one and in hot weather. Hot air rises, give it a way out.


With the front hinges, this technique can be used in a marginal over heat in traffic, at low speeds, of course.


I'd forgotten that Japan is a LHD country.


Thanks


Carl

 

Would like to echo many of comments made: agree that it's a great idea for a thread.

Really enjoyed looking at your car and the scenery, both beautiful.

Looking forward to more of these.

 

Photography:


1. My brother is a master. He's been at it since he was a kid. And on active Navy service was assigned in the mapping section on the Yorktown. He shares wonderful landscape stuff with me.


2. I've "played" with cameras. In my early business years, with a simple box in B&W. In my investigations as a Claim Professional, sketches and photos enhanced my reports. And at times helped me to "see:. Poke the camera into a space that I could not get my eyes on and snap a few.


3. I moved from film to digital in about 03. Retired in 05.


4. Not sure how many digitals I have around. A couple of old Canons, a couple of ancient Olympus. And lately a couple of old Sony's. One purportedly movie capable. Experimentation in progress.


My Jaguar's operational costs are not bad. My cameras even less. No film to buy. No lab to pay to process!!! Huge jump[ forward...


Carl

 

Oh, my ancient flip cell phone has a camera. But, I've not the slightest idea as to how to down load the pictures for viewing and printing. New Epson printer oughta do a good job. But, they do "eat" ink!!!


Carl