Autumn Photos

Praying Mantis Strangeness

 I saw two praying mantises on our screen door yesterday. Today one was eating the other. Natuuuuuureeeeee! At first I wasn't going to take photos of the manti cannibalism, but then I did. Enjoy!

Taking Pictures of Sunflowers on a Rainy Day

Autumn!

Misty Mountain

Hiking Mt. Ishizuchi Once More

This was the third and my favorite trip to the tallest mountain in Western Japan. It's quite steep, and I got weird sinus pain and headaches the previous two times. Those times were not very pleasant. This time, however, I pre-emptively took 3 ibuprophen and, like magic, no pain and no headaches! It was amazing. Without that, I was able to enjoy myself and appreciate the mountain.

I climbed this same hike last month as well, hoping to bring the dog along. Some random man who mans the parking lot jabbered away at me about how he wasn't allowed on the ropeway to access the hike, so he had to stay in the car that time. However, the man did say that if we brought his carrying crate it would probably be okay, so that's what I did this time. 

As soon as I got to the parking lot, though, that same man started going on and on about how my dog was to o big for the mountain and that he wasn't allowed. I was like, dude, I was here last month and you told me to bring his box, do you not remember me at all? Anyways, he was raving on and on so I just hoisted the box over my head and carried on towards the ropeway.

It turned out to be a-ok. No one cared at all. I'm even starting to wonder if the crate was necessary (probably was....whatever)

Other than that, it was a great time, really lovely. I would like to do it again, because I didn't bring my slr this time, (these are all my friend Tanja Sousa's photos) and I would like to take some high-quality shots for myself, but we'll see.

Wonderfully clear views. It was very very misty and foggy last month. I couldn't see anything.

Someone's left their hat!

 A great photo of the very top of the mountain. This is the iconic angle everyone photographs. We were hoping to see some fall colors up top but there's already snow!

This little guy made the trip so fun! Everyone asked his name and questions about him. I think only about 5 out of ~300 hikers we walked past didn't reach out to pat him on the head. Everyone commented on how he was so energetic and smart to be walking by my side up the mountain off-leash. By the end, all the other hikers were calling his name and wishing him good luck up and down the mountain.It wasn't always easy for him, there was a portion with metal stairs covered in snow that scared him, but with some coaxing he pulled through and made it to the top! He was the only dog there that day aside from  two little white lapdogs that a couple was carrying up. It's so fun to hike with a dog!

 So pretty!

Tanja and I. We reached the top first out of our group! We "won" haha./ Considering I never "lead the pack"  with my athleticism, and am ALWAYS lagging in last place when I go hiking with a group, this was a huge confidence boost!