Bullet Trains and Blizzards

Fairbanks anyone???

Well we found ourselves in Fairbanks instead of Anchorage but it was warmer here than normal. Only 5degrees F.

Time flies

Hello there.

The Great Buddha or Kamakura Daibutsu over 24M tall

The Great Buddha

Todd hiking the Daibutsu hiking trail in Kamakura

Rich trudging up the hill

Todd and Rich overlooking Kamakura and Sagami Bay

Shrine entrance

Todd lighting candles as part of the Shrine tradition

Rich and Todd lighting candles

Burning incense at a shrine. Patting your head with the smoke is considered good luck

Washing money at the Zeniarai Benten Shrine

At the Shrine entrance you can partake in the ritualistic hand washing

Eggs as an offering-read about it in this link

About this shrine

Offering the eggs

My nephew's travel bear

Todd in a cave

Some stone statues at a temple-probably shouldn't be taking pictures with a travel bear

This is good luck-Happy Buddha

It's been way too long. We've been so busy and I haven't had much of a chance to post anything but today there is some reprieve. Todd, Richard and I made it to Kamakura on Sunday and I wanted to post some photos from that day. Kamakura south of Tokyo and is famed for the Big Buddha (Diabutsu) as well as many shrines and temples.

Some Videos from Gabe

Lunch in Fussa

Flying over Alaska Mountains


Lunch Menu

Saturday In Fussa-shi Japan

Well, it's early. I think I was up at 230 am just wondering where I was. When I finally figured out I was halfway across the world, I decided to get up and see what was happening in the middle of the night. Of course everyone here was asleep except for a few of our crew. I think Jess was up at 3am so we are all mixed up..

Today is a "getting settled day".  We got our Yokota licenses. We can drive on Base now-except the steering wheel is on the right side and you drive on the wrong side of the road. Angel, on the other hand has a truck with the steering wheel on the left side. He's so cool... We hope for the best for him.
We bought some supplies at the Base Commissary.  I rented a bike for the month..It's super fast.
Most of the crew got off base for lunch out in Fussa.  Then it was Santa Sushi for dinner. Yummy Yummy.  I think Gabe has video of the Sushi Bar...


Getting settled and used to the time change is fun. Today was rather slow in terms of blogging but here are some photos and a couple of videos anyhow...
Tomorrow is another off day. We may head to Sawai to taste some Sake..

Enjoy!
Video of our approach into Anchorage

Jess with new license

Palm Trees in 20 degree weather look funny

Being Chauffeured by Jack to get our licences

A license and 5000 yen is all I need

Jess on the left while Jack drives on the right

Let the Winter Storms Games Begin

Here's a whale statue in the Alaskan snow

Hello everyone!

It was a dark and cold Anchorage morning. The aircraft part that we ordered was delivered on schedule and our mechanic, Angel, was able to get us up and running.  He replaced the FMS CDU#2. Basically, that's a display which is very critical to the navigation of our Gulfstream IV aircraft. Without this part, we would not have been able to cross the Pacific Ocean and on to Japan. But thanks to Kevin and Angel!!! We are in business.

Angel fixing our FMS Control Display Unit

Gonzo with the first Alaskan sunlight

Winter Storms Crew ready to go

This is what an FMS Control Display Unit looks like

On take off, it was so clear, we were able to get a great view of Denali-which is the tallest mountain in North America.  It's almost 4 miles tall at 20,320 feet. After about 4 hours into the flight, we crossed the dateline and advanced from Thursday to Friday. We tested two dropsondes.

When we arrived into Japan, there was Mt. Fuji-ready to greet us.  It was a wonderful welcome!!

Well, we are all very jet lagged and hungry so off to eat some sushi and then catch up on some ZZZZ's. More to come

Flight Meteorologist Jess Williams 

Crew Chief Gabe Defeo at the TDR station

The wing tip as seen through the cabin at 43000 feet

The beautiful Chugach Mountains of Alaska

Brushing up on our Japanese

Angel's first dropsonde

Mt. Fuji appearing in the faint distance

Ahhh Finally made it to Yokota, Japan

Another photo of Mt. Fuji with the Tokyo landscape

Winter Storms 2011. Konichiwa!! Get Ready for GONZO!!

Hello students at Essrig Elementary!
I wanted to find a way to communicate with you all because I really enjoyed the Great American Teach-In in November and so many of you had questions and wanted more information. I thought this would be a great way to share with you some of the exciting things we do in NOAA.

Gonzo in Anchorage, Alaska. Photo taken Winter Storms 2003

Mt. Asama, Japan

International Date Line

Yesterday, we left the warmth of Tampa, Florida for the snow capped mountains of Anchorage, Alaska enroute to Yokota, Japan for a Winter Storms research project!  We leave Anchorage Thursday at 12noon Alaska time and arrive 2pm the next day Japan time. Crossing the dateline is so much fun!!!