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| 11 | RyansReportDay2 20_3_03 |
| 12 | BestandWorstofJapan 21_3_03 (text) |
| 13 | JimTeachesusJapanese 3_21_03 (movie) |
| 14 | TheCrowdatLaunch 3_21_03 (image) |
| 15 | Party Schedule for Next Week 3_21_03 (image) |
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We were told to arrive early. Registration, downloading GPS waypoints, and taking possession of our “gifts” might take some time. Each of us ( Len, Jim and myself ) are up before the alarm clock, a by-product of over 16 hours on an airplane less than two days ago. Our internal clocks still has us a bit blurry eyed and buzzing at odd times each day. Len lives in style, and Jim and I are greeted with a fresh spinach and tomato omelet as we rise here in our humble “cabaña”. The sun filters in the window, and the warmth from the wall-mounted heater has lulled all of us into believing summer really is knocking on the door here in Japan. A step out onto the deck with a warm cup of coffee and we are reminded that although it is blue sky and the sun is glistening over the mountains, we will need every bit of clothing we own to enjoy the view from out on the deck. We are at headquarters by 8 am, and the line for this weekends “pre-PWC” is out the door and around the building with local pilots who are eager to pit their skills against the few PWC pilots who are here early to get the cobwebs out of their gliders. Our “gifts” for registering in this Pre-PWC and combined “Japan Cup” are sleeping bags. Very large, blue, nylon sleeping bags. No T-shirt, but the sleeping bags might due us more good landing out than a t-shirt. We don’t know the story behind them, but I quietly wonder how many will make it back home with those pilots who might have to carry their gear.
Despite the army of well organized volunteers (it looks to us that the entire paragliding club of over 100 pilots in this school alone) have turned out to help host the event, we are still not registered and have no waypoints downloaded by 10 AM, but we are up the hill (thanks to the fleet of vans supplied by the Aero tact Paragliding School) just in time to watch the windsocks dance in the strong wind. There is an eclectic mix of western pilots early for the PWC and a huge turn out from the surrounding schools and areas of Japanese pilots watching the wind blow on launch. Blow it is, only about 5-10 at most times, but directly over the back.
Eventually we launch, not completely into the lee side, but basically in between the gusts coming over the back. It is clear the lapse rate is incredible thanks to the freezing overnight temps, and the warm sun, in the distance the first few “convergence” clouds show us there is plenty of lift where these sea and mountain thermal zones meet. The flying turns out to be brilliant after some exciting launches, Xavier Murillo (the PWC meet steward) ends up in the trees, and the locals tell us “the bamboo below grows VERY VERY fast” I had a very enjoyable day, intending to take it easy and just dial in the clothing, re-introduce myself to the GPS(s) try to find my way to some turn points, and stay out of the rice patties. Lots of folks made it out on course, and so far (scores haven’t been posted) but it looks like a couple in goal, Len just short (see his description) and me just behind him. Its amazing here, there are paragliding schools on every hill around, (over 30) each owns their own launch and landing, with clubhouses and retail shops. We gorge on noodles and deep fried pork, rice, after flying with new friends and I am looking forward to the coming days of flying. I hope all is well back home, we have been hearing the news but generally everyone is here to fly, its great.