My FPV Drone Adventure in Shokawa Valley

Today, I set out once again to explore the enchanting landscapes of Takayama and Shirakawago, this time accompanied by Hiromi as she guided two tourists for her assignment. During our journey to Takayama and later while picking her up in Shirakawago, I seized the opportunity to venture into Shokawaโ€”a hidden gem I had discovered weeks prior while preparing for Hiromiโ€™s assignment. What began as a wrong turn on my route to Shirakawago turned into a delightful adventure.

The area of Shokawa, along with the serene Sho River, beckoned me to fly my FPV drone. The thought of gliding through wide-open spaces was exhilarating at first. However, as I took to the skies today, I realized that flying in vast areas isnโ€™t as thrilling as navigating through tighter spaces or soaring close to intriguing surfaces. While I could have flown along the shores of the Sho River or carved my way down the mountains, weaving between majestic cedar trees and cypress groves, my unfamiliarity with the landscape held me back from taking those bold risks. Adding to the challenge were the fast-changing weather conditions; in one moment it was raining or even snowing, and in the next, gusts of wind made it unpredictable to control my FPV drone.

After all, if my drone were to crash in such a secluded spot, the challenge of retrieving it would be considerable. I would either need to swim across the Sho River or embark on a trek through the rugged mountains to locate it.

Todayโ€™s escapade imparted a valuable lesson about the importance of familiarizing myself with new scenic locales and visualizing my flights in advance. I documented my FPV adventures and may soon share a captivating video on my YouTube channel, offering you a glimpse of my outdoor explorations.

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This blog is for thoughtful adults who are starting again โ€” in learning, creativity, or life โ€” and want to grow steadily without noise or pressure.

Here youโ€™ll find daily reflections and practical guides shaped by lived experience. The focus is on learning through doing: building consistency, adapting to change, and finding clarity in everyday practice.

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