Scuol

Last flight for this winter season. Unfortunate choice of flight area: by far not as 'good' as I had hoped - I arrived on launch probably too late :-((  According to the 'Regtherm' it was supposed to be much better. I renounced of a second flight, as the wind on launch was always coming 'over the back'. Fansas, Crap Sogn Gion or even Arosa would have been the better options...

 

The coming week will be 'dedicated' to final preparations for my upcoming trip to Japan :-))

Arosa im März (cont)

Yesterday's launch (by Oli)

Saturday: 2 flights; but I think that the rapid temperature increase over the last couple of days could be felt: the thermals are less 'abundant' ;-) 1st flight; easy launch towards the East; 2nd flight; the wind had changed to SSE, so launching became rather tricky...

Erich

over 'Innerarosa'

Sunday: most probably my last flying day in Arosa for this winter season.
The day proved to be one of the best days I can remember here: nice thermals bringing me close to 3000m; even the thermal at Seta 'behaved nicely'. From there I wanted to fly towards Chur, but the westerly wind, which was already a 'problem' on launch, could be cleary felt. So I decided to turn back to Seta. But I arrived rather low; to low in fact to comfortably  'join' the leesied thermal at Seta. After scratching for a while I decided to land near the train station at Langwies: tricky conditions with the wind and lift. I had already had touched down when my left wingtip caught a branch of a nearby tree:-(( 
Luckily I found someone who had a saw, could climbed the tree and cut the branch off :-)) Many thanks!!

Tijerflue, Furkahörner, Schiesshorn

Arosa (Pano taken at 2900m over Langwies)

the tree in question...

;-)

The next two weeks will be mostly dedicated to preparing my trip to Japan: departure 8.April :-))

Arosa im März (mit Oli)

Due to the excellent wx fcst I returned to Arosa; I might stay up to 6 days  :-)
Wednesday: blue skies, COLD, nice thermals; I am visited by my friend Oli (he'll stay for the night). We had dinner together at 'Lamm & Leu'.

over 'Litzirüti

Oli

...no, not all for me - we shared  ;-)

Thursday: 1 flight only: for a while a pair of eagles flew with us; the thermals have been very hard to center... Dinner with Oli at 'Güterschuppen'.

Oli launching...

Eagle

Friday: 2 more flights with Oli (who had to leave afterwards). Nicer thermals than yesterday, but it was rather 'hard' work, especially on the first flight. 20' into my second flight it looked as I had to land but finally I managed to 'dig' myself out. Later at 'Seta' very nice/ mellow thermals - not the usual situation...

'LAW Mitte' - LZ for my first flight

Medergen - our hut (with the trees)

Pano over 'Seta' - Medergen on the left

Japan

JHF membership

Meanwhile planning is continously progressing. Just today I received a copy of my JHF-membership card -the original has been mailed to Yuko's address in Kumamoto.

Some things are done in a rather 'funny' way (to put it nicely) in Japan. JHF sent me -by snailmail- the application form to Switzerland. But everything was 'Japanese only, without any explanations... 

I don't know how they expect a foreigner to fill out this form. Luckily Rick did all the paperwork for me (and also paid my dues).

A small problem crept up: the last part of my trip coincides with the so-called 'Golden Week' in Japan. This is a period, where almost everybody takes some days off and travels. This year it is even more special, as during this 'week' the Japanese Emperor will resign. Therefore it has been necessary to make all accomodation reservation well in advance. I hope that travelling by train will not be too much of a hassle... On the other hand it means also, that certainly all flight schools will be operating. (Because many normally are open only weekends, as everybody is busy working ...)