Passing the (default) Old Svinesund Bridge towards the (custom) Svinesund Bridge

Highlands to the east as I head north

Came a bit too close to Yokota Air Base, brushing through the outer edges of its control zone before realizing. Thankfully no jets zooming towards me

Mt. Koganezawa

Finally got the VS figured out on the AP as I set for new cruise altitude to clear the upcoming terrain

Turning to follow the coast at the mouth of the Shinano River

Downtown Niigata

That low flying was a strain, time to sit back, relax and let the autopilot do the work as I set course towards Sand Point

Looking over towards Breiðavík Beach

Checking out the airport for any problems prior to pattern entry. All looks good - especially that runway. A little too good

The city of Morioka sprawling out in front of Mount Iwate

The Morioka Racecourse

Approaching Mount Hayachine

Back on compass heading as my next mountain is not quite as prominent

Iwate Hanamaki Airport

Winter still holds the Ōu Mountains in its grip

Getting my first good look at Shinyama, which I will visit on the next leg, as I clear over the top of Mt. Yakeishi

Another look at the distant and massive Shinyama, about 50 miles away

Can't tell if those clouds are right on the other side of Mt. Kurikoma so I have to descend now towards come clear air to the left

Air is clear on the other side of Mt. Kurikoma so I don't have to divert too far off course as I continue to descend

Headed for a trio of lakes that make for a good VFR landmark from which to orient towards Sendai

Turning south over lakes Uchinuma, Izunuma and Naganuma to head for Sendai

Looking towards the city of Ishinomaki and the Pacific Ocean

I was really puzzled how I could be traveling on a ground track of 214° while heading 190° with winds coming out of the wrong direction until I looked at my magnetic compass instead of my gyroscopic one, which has drifted

The metropolitan center of Sendai with the Miyaginohara Sports Park clearly visible

Climbing out from Sendai

Touching down at Yamagata

Coming in hot! No need for any kind of drawn-out approach when the runway is this big and long

Passing back over Scatsta

An observatory which I think is actually supposed to be a radome. Those radio towers are correct though as I head back south over Unst

Banking over Asklund to head towards Trondheim

Under the clouds now lets me look ahead to spot my destination - Okushiri Island

Over the threshold - still crabbing

Kicked straight and a nice solid touchdown, no dancing on two wheels!

Taxiing in, looking in the direction I'll be headed in next time

Over the coast of Norway and heading out over the North Sea

Climbing through the clouds towards the Hidaka Mountains west of Obihiro

Looking out over the Nipesotsu-Maruyama Volcanic Group

Mount Tokachi is mostly hidden by cloud next to my nose wheel. To the left are Mounts Kamihorokamettoku (just left of main gear) and Furano, the noticeable peak at the far end. The mound to the right has no name on the maps

Skimming through the tops of the clouds looking back at Mount Oputateshike to the far right and Mount Biei just hidden there in the clouds

Not really very many large lakes in Japan that can be used for VFR waypoints and most of them, like Iwaonai Lake here, have been made by dams

Looking back south down the Teshio River valley

At last Mount Rishiri reveals itself to me

Lake Hlíðarvatn

The town of Hella

Cruising low over some of the most pristine wilderness in the Bahamas to be found on Andros Island

Doing some soaring - winds out of the west are light but the updrafts still can have a large effect on this light airplane - climbing 1,000fpm while still traveling over 90kts?? That's not me pulling back on the stick!

Andrew and I holding short at KBML as an aircraft had just taxied *through me* to take off. How rude!

Cruising at FL295 atop the overcast

Lovely day for it over Glencoe Muni (KGYL) in Minnesota as we get prepped for departure