I persevered in the same direction and then heard the first JA, always a good signal JA2ATE, Iku in Ichinomya City, Japan. 
Throughout the next 90 minutes I managed to work 16 JA (Japan), 3 DU (Philippines), Luis in HI9 and several others stations in Asiatic Russia. (See log extract below).
So, the DX is there. It may not be apparent from other sources but the only true way you will know is to get on the bands and call ‘CQ’.
Even now, I am a big believer in calling ‘CQ’…. on 10M, or maybe 12 & 15 too? Despite everyone telling you conditions are dire, you may have a big surprise if you just key up and have a call. Try different Bands at different times of the day when you are qrv, make the most of the access you have.
Photos Top – Twisted magnetic fields arching from the solar surface can trap ionized gas, suspending it in huge looping structures. These majestic plasma arches are seen as prominences above the solar limb. This Photo shows hot plasma escaping into space as a fiery prominence breaks free from magnetic confinement a hundred thousand kilometers above the Sun. These awesome events bear watching as they can affect communications and power systems over 100 million kilometers away on Planet Earth hence our Radio Black-outs! Photo directly above – This Sunspot is in the midst of erupting a large Class C solar flare. It can be seen as the dark region to the upper right. In the above image, relatively cool regions appear dark while hot regions appear bright. On the far left, solar prominences are visible hovering above the Sun’s surface.
73 de Charles
