Approaching Mount Kitanglad Range Natural Park from the north

Banking to a new course over Lake Suwa

Skimming over the Utsukushigahara Highland, the highest plateau in Japan

Swerving around the comms towers on the highlands as I make my way east towards Kirkwall

Harder touchdown than usual since I was going so slow I stalled and dropped a bit on my flare, but nothing damaging

Following the Murchison River on base leg it was tempting to turn onto final towards that strip out my window but that is actually a road, the runway is out the window to the left of the strut

Getting ready to go at Rif flugvöllur

Passing the Hellissandur longwave radio mast, taking care to spot and avoid the guy wires holding it up

Looking at a mountain range rising like the spine of a lizard

Taxiing out I noticed this aircraft flying past that didn't show on my TCAS and wondered if maybe they were headed here

Mt. Issaikyo and Mount Azuma-kofuji (the crater) with Fukushima lying beyond

They meant left base in a left-hand pattern so a left-hand turn to final but I chose to interpret this as left-hand turn to base to enter a right-hand pattern because I wanted to approach over the city

Looking along the Mogami River past Kahoku towards Yamagata

Still climbing, passing Mt Hayama

Autopilot on before the buffeting mountain air causes me to have a conniption

Passing over the city of Sakata

Picking up the highway towards Niigata, switching off AP and descending for a better view of the city and surrounding area

A protected estuary of the Niigo River

Descending for approach, making sure I don't get too low too fast as the terrain is still mountainous close to the shore

Taxiing straight off for parking

Parked at Sado Airport

The large rise indicative of shield volcano activity as I look towards Mount Emmons

3,500' isn't going to cut it, will have to continue up to at least 5,500'

Back down to 1,500' and keeping it on manual as I plan to carve through some valleys instead of going over the mountains

Crossing over Canoe Bay looking at Mount Dana on the far left and Hoodoo Mountain towards the middle

Rounding the corner towards Beaver Bay and the Unga Strait

Super low and flat on my approach because I suffer from runway length anxiety. But then there's also landing short in the water anxiety...

One small bounce on landing before settling and rolling out at Sand Point

Leaving Ísafjörður behind

Again able to make the short taxi out to the active runway near the parking area

Departing from Aomori with Mount Iwaki in the distance all thawed out and partly obscured by clouds

Looking back towards Aomori as I head east

The volcanic peaks of Towada-Hachimantai National Park are looking better today but still partly shrouded by clouds

Tuning my nav radio to a VOR for the first time in the 172 as I'm still not entirely sure where I am and which peak is the one I'm supposed to be aiming for, so I set a radial that intercepts it

Headed back over the frost line with Mount Iwate in the distance

The rather flat peak of Mount Hachimantai is actually hidden behind the clouds to the right of the prominent peak you can see

Continuing south from Mount Iwate

The rock formation Hvitserkur

Climbing out over the Sea of Japan towards Hokkaido

Dropping lower to stay clear of the clouds I was skimming up at 4,500'

Checking out the volcanic crater lake of Usori as I descend back beneath the clouds

Flying is fun but boating down there would be nice too - IRL I mean. This is Turtle Sound

HAHAHAH look at that sock. This should be interesting

Headed for Fetlar Island just south of Unst

Don't have to crab too much on final despite the blistering wind thanks to this airfield facing more towards it. Fun fact the SR22 has a max demonstrated crosswind component of 21kts. Wind is 23kts but at the angle it's coming at me is only like 10kts crosswind

Parked just as the rain washed over the island. Will wait for clearer skies next time...

An alien landscape, this volcanic terrain

Looking back towards Svalbarð over the frost line

Run-up checks as threatening clouds build to the north but thankfully I will be heading south

Taxiing out as clouds hide the peak of Mount Rishiri