Autumn blaze

One area of  Yoron is basking

 in the glorious colours of autumn.

Here  it is.  

The spot surrounding this blaze of crimson 

from Yoron vegetation has not yet 

become inundated with tourists.

So now is a chance to enjoy its beauty 

in  total solitude.

(chairs provided on request).  

Hillbillies?

Just back from a trip up 

to the hills of Karuizawa

and down memory lane.

This historic snapshot shows 

the whole family gathered at a 

shack last used by the Brackins 

over 30 years ago.

Amazingly still standing, 

albeit a bit wobbly, 

it has been turned into a cute teahouse. 

A delight to see in this

age of destructive development.

BLACKOUT!

'Orrible October

2 bad typhoons. 

9 days without power

20 days without communications.

(NTT are a disgrace)

Cocktail time was a wash-out

 Starting the barbecue was a challenge

                                         And the aftermath

It was as if an artillery shell had burst through the wall, followed by a huge spout of rain and sea spray.      

BULLSEYE!

The eye of the storm over Yoron

 A most uncanny feeling to stand in the garden 

and look heavenward。

directly into the eye of a typhoon. 

Once in a lifetime ?  Hope so.

The camera cannot catch the whole eye ~ 

a vast circle of clouds dead above.  

My wife described it perfectly -- 

"A colosseum of clouds"

A light breeze, where ten minutes earlier there had been

maniacal , shrieking winds.

The eye closing

Then, a warning blast and bedlam returned.  

We fled inside.

Thar she blows!

T24

The eye should pass over us just after lunch.

Dammit! Siesta time.

T24 - On Target

Now: 965 PS 

Wind gusts 105 kph

T23 swung west at the last moment but this one looks like it's nailed us.

Storm Dawn

The sun manages to peek out between two typhoons. 

They have got us coming and going.

T23 past overnight and T24 is due tomorrow.

And just as we thought we'd escaped this year.