Day 3: Transfer and Orientation

So the day started for me at 6AM local time. It tried to start several times before that but I was able to force myself to stay in bed. I think it will take a bit to get adjusted to the time. After breakfast we were bussed up to a campus for advanced studies in Soken-dai. I found it a little odd to be on the wrong side of the road.














We went past a huge port area where ships were being loaded and unloaded.














Upon arrival we had a nice lunch of fish. In fact, I have had fish at every meal so far. Good thing I like it. Here is the courtyard of the village center where we are staying.














After a few short talks we had a group picture. This is what I saw:














After this, we checked into our rooms. Kyle has been nice enough to share his LAN cable so that I am able to post this. My curiosity got the better of me and I had to see the "spray" option for the toilet. It shot water out of the bathroom, across the entry way, into the closet and onto the wall--a solid 5 feet away. Not so sure I am going to use this option!

So far, so good. More to come later....

Day 1...and 2

I seem to have lost a day somewhere, but they tell me I will find it on my way home. It has been a long day as I left Bozeman at 8AM 16 June and it is now 4PM 17 June. I just arrived at the hotel and the orientation begins tomorrow.
















Anyway, super long flight. Lots of crying kids. The noise-canceling headphones were awesome! More to come later...

The clock is ticking

The sun is finally out this morning and it looks like we will have a daytime high into the low 70's. Should be nice! We are heading to a race this morning for one race with the boys before I go. AJD is going to go and try to keep her streak of top 10's alive. Turbo is going to attempt 4-4 on the Little Mountain course. Plus, I get to hang with everyone--except Turbo who has something "better" to do--at a Bro-B-Q at the X house.

Then back to Bozangeles to finish packing and I am off. AJD is bumming out though she is trying really hard to not let it show and remain positive. I think Skype will be a good thing!

In sadder news, big sis lost one of her moppets this week. Bob was one of my favorite cats as he seemed to have some dog in him. I really think he and Riley would have gotten along once they got past the whole "I'm a dog and your a cat" thing. Perhaps they are now...

Today's weather warning...

From the NWS:

BEAVERHEAD-CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK-MADISON- JEFFERSON- GALLATIN- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...DILLON...HELENA... LINCOLN...ENNIS... BOULDER...BOZEMAN... WEST YELLOWSTONE 621 AM MDT WED JUN 11 2008

...HEAVY SNOW WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 5000 FEET...

A HEAVY SNOW WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 5000 FEET.

SNOW...HEAVY AT TIMES...WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON...3 TO 9 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION ARE EXPECTED AT ELEVATIONS BETWEEN 5000 AND 7000 FEET...WHILE THE MOUNTAINS ARE EXPECTED TO RECEIVE BETWEEN 9 AND 14 INCHES OF SNOW.

EXPECT VISIBILITIES TO BE REDUCED TO LESS THAN ONE QUARTER OF A MILE AT TIMES IN HEAVY SNOW. TRAVEL CONDITIONS IN THE WARNING AREA WILL BECOME HAZARDOUS THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON.

ADDITIONALLY...THIS WILL BE A VERY WET SNOW. IN AREAS THAT RECEIVE HEAVY SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...THERE COULD BE SOME POWER OUTAGES OR DAMAGE TO TREES THAT HAVE LEAFED OUT.

A HEAVY SNOW WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

FYI: Bozeman is at about 5000 ft.

Savvy?

Snow in June

I am not kidding. We were out working in the yard yesterday and it snowed. It was one of those days that while working you were either freezing or sweating in a T-shirt. Got out for a short ride, but I am really not motivated to ride my bike at all in any sort of inclement weather. OMG I need to stop the BLW and HTFU.

Getting ready for Japan; excited and apprehensive at the same time. Below is the poster I am going to present when I get there. Below that is the abstract.

Abstract
Many studies have been made analyzing the metamorphosis of snow under temperature gradient; however, little attention has been given to the reverse phenomena. The purpose of this study is to develop the mechanism of the metamorphosis of depth hoar after the temperature gradient has been removed and to improve the existing snowpack model (SNOWPACK) using those results. Laboratory facilities at the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention Technology Division’s Snow and Ice Research Center in Nagaoka, Japan will be utilized to perform this research. Depth hoar will be grown in several snowpacks to various stages by exposing each snowpack to a temperature gradient. After the desired stage has been reached the temperature gradient will be removed and metamorphosis will be observed at several steady isothermal conditions until the depth hoar is restored to an equilibrium form. Three relationships are expected from these experiments: initial depth hoar stage and restorative time; influence of temperature and initial depth hoar stage on restorative time; and, influence of initial depth hoar size and stage on restorative time. These relationships will be used to describe the metamorphosis of depth hoar under uniform temperature as a function of initial depth hoar size, stage and temperature.

You might think that with a topic like this I would be excited about it snowing anytime. However, as my father used to say "I enjoy the change of the seasons more than any one of them."

Also, I am now in Facebook. Search under my real name.

Finally, I also have Skype. If you download it, we can actually talk for free while I am in Japan. Video too if you have a webcam. I am jwnelson97.

Weekend

The weekend turned into a nice little adventure. We got up Sat AM to drive the Eurovan to the race. Unfortunately, the alternator had other ideas and it appears to have ceased. We made it back home and by all calculations had just enough time to still make it to the race. Well, my calculations were off and I missed my start by about 5 minutes. AJD made hers and finished 7th. Did I mention it was raining and about 50F? Sunday brought the crit and I was pretty amped to start, however, I ended up only about 5th. I never thought I could be so disappointed with a 5th. AJD was 7th again. The TT in the PM was not fun and AJD was 7th to end up 6th overall. An excellent weekend for her.

The ride home saw us stop for some dinner in Wisdom, MT where we shared an awesome meal with BC, PDowd and CRoy. Wisdom is an area that defines the term Big Sky. It seems that you can see forever in all directions and that it is all virgin. This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen and I recommend it to anyone who is traveling this way--though it is really out of the way which is why I like it.

Here are some pictures from the weekend. (Note: The ability to post larger images is the reason behind the new format.)

Til next week

Today's weather? Same as yesterday and the day before. Lot of the nearby rivers are near or at flood stage. Several areas have been closed to fishing, though with the water so high I can't believe you would catch anything anyway. Lola has been a pain in the a$$ the past few days. I think she is tired of the weather too.

Heading over to Hamilton, MT for the Tour of the Bitterroot this weekend. Both of us are racing in it. Last year the crit was during a torrential downpour and the forecast makes me think it could happen again this year. We are going to use the Eurovan to it's full capabilities and I have contemplated putting the Jura in too. Alas, I think a french press will have to do.

Good luck to the boys racin in Poki this weekend!

Rain and snow...

The awesome weather I mentioned yesterday continues today. Forecast is for rain/snow 80% chance with a high of 42F. It was snowing here in town yesterday afternoon. Good times! Hopefully the weather will be nice in Japan. Oh and before someone asks, this is not "normal" for MT this time of year.

This is picture of Bozeman Pass, just east of town today at noon:

Montsoona

The weather here continues to be awesome!

I spent a good chunk of yesterday working on the fence in the back yard. It is coming along nicely. If the weather improves, Lola might have a yard to run around in soon.