(Lienz)

On my way to Werfenweng (Bischling) I stopped at Lienz. Unfortunately the chairlift up to Zettersfeld (Webcam here) is not yet working; this year, they reopen on 22.6.
After a thorough briefing at the (huge) LZ 'Postleite'

LZ 'Postleite' (looking West)

by Bruno Girstmair, he called a taxi, which took me to 'Ebnerfeld'-lauch (fixed price: 20EUR for up to 4 persons).

'Ebnerfeld'

There was another pilot coming up with me; he launched in the last phase with a little headwind. Unfortunately shortly afterwards, just as I was getting ready to launch, tailwind started and it also began raining :-(  I was expecting rain for today, but not at 1100 in the morning! According the fcst it was supposed to stay dry until about 1500...
The pilot, who had ridden up with me came with his car to take me down - many thanks!

For the next 3 nights I'll be staying at Werfenweng, at the base of 'Bischling' (webcam here).

view from my room: Bischling (high point)

 
The fcst for the next days is not overly optimistic: some instability with eventual rain/ OD in the afternoon, high temperatures and (worst): probably too strong (southerly) winds...

Obertilliach

Todays Alptherm for the region has been way off!

Cloudbase was supposed to be just around 2000m and only later in the aftrenoon rising to 2500m.
Also a more ore less constant cloud cover was forecasted - all wrong as you can see in the pix ;-)

above launch

Obertilliach is one of my favourite flying sites: much less crowded than nearby Emberger Alm; access by gondola + 10' (downhill) walk; large launch; often working already around 1030 (as also today); great views; friendly people in the village...

Pano looking West towards Obertillich

Pano looking East towards Obertilliach

LZ in Obertilliach; launch is above my glider/ below the cloud

Unfortunately the gondola here is only running today, so tomorrow I'll 'have' to go (most probably) to Greifenburg (Emberger Alm). Regular summer operations start next week...

Gemona

For today Arduino had organized a place for me in the 1000-shuttle (thanks!)
Conditions looked nice, though cloud base was rather low and some wind from the east. All taken together it didn't look like I would 'venture' towards Slowenia ;-)

Looking East towards Stol/ Slownia, Launch/ Helipad (middle of pix)

Gemona; launch at 0200

LZ (looking towards Gemona)

It was not easy getting above launch, as most of the pilots confirmed after landing. So after an hour I landed.
Then I continued towards Austria (Obertilliach), driving across the 'Plöckenpass'.

Meduno

My last day here in NE Italy in the company of my guide and good friend Marco (Zonca).
He proposed we went to Meduno today. Upon arrival launch was still in clouds, although a few pilots had taken off anyway. Luckily after a while cloud base started to rise and we headed up. Once we got there quite a number of PGs (and a few HGs) were already flying. As the wind on launch was on the strongish side, Marco suggested another spot for setting up and launching: little further up, but out of the venturi on the pass, where the 'normal' launch is situated. And he proved right (again!): excellent conditions for getting airborne.

quite hazy...

 I 'cruised' around for a little more than 2 hours in the steadily getting better conditions. After having said good-bye to Marco I drove to Gemona, where I'll stay the night and have dinner with Arduino, another Italian friend.

Lijak

Yesterday, today's forecast hasn't been very promising. Luckily the wx turned out much better than I had expected (once more!) and I could make a 2 hr flight in Lijak. Unfortunately, due to military excercises in Ajdovscina, flights towards the east this week are restricted; the limit is at the HG ramp.
The launch at Lijak has been improved again and is much bigger now; just the grass (on the new part) would need some cutting...

Mangart, Tolmin

After an early breakfast and departure we met 'Zepp' at Log Pod Mangartom at 0930. Here, in this small village below Mangart, is also the normal LZ. Zepp gave us a briefing and mentioned that normally after 1300 the valley wind could become rather strong... Then we drove up towards launch. The road is not yet completely open (but they are working on it), so we had to park a little further down then usually.

Even though access had been still snowcovered, launch was almost completely clear.

Actually I was surprised to find the region so clear of clouds, as the forecast hasn't been very promising. But cloudbase was supposed to be rather low (below launch) later, so waiting too long for good thermal conditions was not recommended by Zepp. 

Marco landed after about half an hour and reported winds of 15-25kmh. So I didn't hang around too long either... But it's a flight area certainly worth coming back again!

Unfortunately at this time of the year the cable car at Bovec (up to Canin) is running only on weekends, otherwise this would have been an option for a flight. Stol was completely in clouds (and strong winds too), so in the end I made a flight from Kobala (Tolmin).
Overcast, very weak thermals and after about half an hour Marco informed me about a CB growing to the NE...

Pix by Marco - thanks!

4.6. (Lijak -CB) -but there are other 'goodies'

After having spent the last 12 days in Croatia together with Ruth (> pix here) I drove in the morning from Zadar to Lijak. Here Marco was expecting me with my flying gear (including my recently by 'Tripple Seven' checked glider). Unfortunately it was already over-devellopping, so I could not fly. Imstead we first visited the gelateria 'Fior di Latte' in Gradisca d'Isonzo. This is one of my favorite gelaterias in Italy (actually even worldwide) :-))  As special flavour they had 'Yuzu', a fruit from Japan, which tastes a bit of  lemon, mandarine, grapefruit...

Marco

For dinner then we (Nicole & Alby, Marco) we went to Gonars to 'La Da Gigote'. If you are really into meat, this is the place to go!

...choice of meats (we went for the 2nd from left - 2.4kgs). The meat is aged 60 (!) days...

...done!

During dinner Marco got the inormation that tomorrow Mangart might be flyable: so breakfast will be at 0700, departure at 0730.

Half Dome (1977) - the old, crazy days ;-)

found on Vimeo

for better quality use the link above!

Caven (Slovenia)

On my way to Croatia for 12 days of vacation with Ruth, I stopped for the night in Friuli (Eastern Italy). Nicole had been so kind and offered a bed at her house -thanks!
So before I continued driving South, she took me to 'Caven' (pronounced like 'Tschaven'), a site near Ajdovscina often used by pilots from Triple Seven for testing wings. WIth an altitude difference of  > 1000m it is ideal for testing, furthermore the LZ is less than 15 minutes from Triple seven's HQ.

testing of a tandem glider (with Nicole as 'ballast')

The site is more oriented towards the East than Ljiac (on the same mountain ridge), so it often workes already in the morning. But unfortunately not this time: after approx. 20 minutes I was back on 'terra firma'...

'Caven' looking SE towards Ajdovscina

Lokavec - many landing options

I left my equipment with Nicole, as I'm not going to fly while travelling together with Ruth. Meanwile Nicole will take my glider to Triple Seven and  have it checked (and repaired if necessary).

Japan -Update: Komenoyama :-((

Kaneko.san

Sad news: I've been informed by Rick and Yuko that a tragic accident happened at Koneoyama a few days ago. Apparently Kaneko-san had suffered a major accident upon landing and had passed away shortly later in the hospital. Presently no additional info is available.

Kaneko-san at Komenpyama

I had the pleasure of meeting Kaneko-san first at Daikanbo, then he regularly updated Yuko and me on the flying conditions at Komenoyama. Finally I was able to meet him again on my last flying day on Kyushu. He has been extremely welcoming and helpful. He didn‘ t seem to me a pilot who would take unnecessary risks. But I remember Pat Bal telling me that the LZ could be turbulent under certain conditions (and that it could be advisable to land further out towards the HG LZ.) But I don't know if this has been a contributing factor!
It's tragic to loose such a friendly personality and great pilot!

Japan - thanks & conclusion

Now that my trip is (already) over it is time to look back.
First of all I have to thank my many (old and new) friends without whom this adventure would not have been possible - or at least not in such an efficient and enjoyable way.

 Domo arigato gozaimasu!

- to my wife Ruth, for everything! 'Letting me go'; getting along at home without me during my absence, taking care of everything there,  etc, etc;
- Rick (and Leanne): for providing invaluable infromation and support about Kyushu flying sites and whom to contact;
- Yuko for being not only a good translator and driver, but also for making the sometimes long drives enjoyable, finding good restaurants/ onsen and providing interesting information about Japan;
- Peter and Tekko: for having 'found' Yuko as guide;
- Saichiro-san  for invitig Atsushi and me to an to an oppulent dinner in Osaka and his wife for the nice presents.
- my friend Atsushi in Osaka for translating at the dinner with Saichiro-san and driving me back from Iwaya (also thanks for lending me the radio);
- Tak-san and his son Shoichiro from Iwaya for providing a nice sightseeing tour after flying had to be stopped; Shoichiro for repairing my cockpit;
- Chikako for spending the afternoon in Osaka with me and later helping find an eye clinic in Tokyo;
- Masako for seeing me before I took the train to Hakuba;
- Koji and Mari -my long time friends in Hakuba- for letting me stay at their place; furthermore for driving me to the hospital to have the eye checked;
- Mari for preparing excellent meals;
- Masa from Aoki for organising this nice Onsen/ Ryokan and taking care of me during the stay there;
- Koba: unfortunately we have been unable to meet, but many thanks for the radio;
- all the clubs/ schools etc; I have always been very welcomed and assisted in getting airborne;
- Dr.Pete from Oz for having a look at my x-rays and providing additional information;

Did I forget somebody? certainly not on purpose! 

In regard to paragliding: the first two weeks (Kyushu) have been really successful: 
flying has been possible on 9 out of 12 days: 9 different sites!
Second part (Honshu): 1 (short) flight only.
Without my eye problem flying would have been possible on (just) 3 more days, the rest was either unflyable due to wx or spent travelling. I'd loved to have seen more of Tokyo -rather than staying in my room- but priority had to be given to my eye, so I could have a relaxed flyight home without having to worry about possible complications...

I know, the 'yield' of my trip does not look very impressive, but it has very well been worth the time/ money spent and Kyushu certainly deserves another visit - especially if supported by Yuko and Rick...
The stay in Tokyo has not been as 'bad' as I had anticipated: due to the 'Golden Week', many shops/ offices had closed, so actually there have been less people in the city than during normal working days.

Japan -day 26: Travel

...looooong travelling day: HND-FRA-ZRH.

The eye (due to the increased application of drops) felt quite ok in the morning.
I left for Haneda by using the Tokyo Monorail from Hamamatsucho to HND.

Luftansa Boeing 747-8

Food: (again) excellent and more than abundant ;-)

somewhere over Siberia

The interesting thing about the flight HND-FRA is the route: extremely to the North (almost 78°N), even 'around' Nowaja Semlja, entering European airspace Northwest of Murmansk. In the '90s you would probably have been shot down if you overflew this island  At that time his area has been completely out of bounds.

                                       ( 'yellow dor' = Murmansk)                     Nowaja Semlja    

Landings: FRA on-time/ ZRH with about 15' delay: 'welcome back'  ;-)
But I cannot really recommend FRA as an airport for transit: arrival at C16, departure from A28: this is a very long walk, especially if you have a short connection! No problems with the eye during the trip :-)
 
Ruth picked me up and I arrived home 23hours after getting up in Tokyo. I'm wondering how long it will take to overcome the jet-lag...

PS: on Monday morning I have an appointment with my 'regular' eye specialist.


 

Japan -day 25: Tokyo

As my eye has been 'creating' problems once more during the night, I decided to spend most of the day in my room. Furthermore my (Swiss) eye specialist had advised me to increase to application of eye drops: not any more every 4-5 hours but to hourly. This has helped to improve the situation quite a bit.

So in the late afternoon I left the hotel to meet my friends Tekko and Peter for dinner: Sushi 'with all the trimmings'. They had selected a restaurant near their appartment and we spent a nice evening there dining and reminiscing.

'Uni' to finish ;-)

Japan -day 24: Tokyo - Shibuya

As soon as the eye clinic would open in the morning I had my eye checked again: pressure is ok, but the inflammation is not yet completely cured and I'm still rather sensitive to light - actually more than during the last 2 days...

As it was very bright outside, I decided to rest in my room till late afternoon. Then I headed for Shibuya to have a look at the 'famous' intersection...

Tips on how to best view this intersection can be found here. Actually this blog (in german) is extremely helpful for anybody travelling to Japan (and not only for those who come here for the first time!)

from Starbucks

from Magnet - 8.floor

and again from Starbucks

...stand out at any price, even if you make a fool out of yourself

At the Nishimura Fruit Parlor I treated myself to some sugar ;-)  The fruits are absolutely outstanding, as are the prices - Zurich in comparison seems rather reasonably priced.

I'm not convinced that the kids find it really cool to travel during the rush hour. And I also don't think that for the parents it makes for a very relaxing holiday...

Japan -day 23: travel to Tokyo

First due to my eye, secondly also due to the 'infavorable' wx-fcst I had descided to 'skip' my visit to Ishioka/ COO and go directly to Tokyo. I had found a Hotel within walking/ carrying distance of JR Hamamatsucho station for the remaining 3 nights.

Aoki -outside Ryokan: the water is drinkable, but tastes a little of sulfur (like Passugger 'Ulrikus' earlier).

As also the wx in Aoki was unflyable, Masa had the time to pick me up at my Onesn/ Ryokan and bring me to Ueda (otherwise I would have taken the bus). In August/ September he'll be guiding 2 groups to AT / IT, so I hope I'll see him again then.

Ueda looking towards Aoki: xxra

'typical' room in a Jap.hotel - well, with 2 beds actually on the bigger side ;-)

Shabu-Shabu for dinner -but most probably I have been ripped off...

TYO by night