They think it's all over

It is now. The Northwesterly is back and the ridges are humming, there's wave over site but frankly I am shagged out with too much flying.
For the record that was 8 days flying, over 50 hours and 3000kms and an excess of jolly good fun. Klaus, Marta and the Quo Vadis team were yet again unbelievably friendly, helpful and great to be around. Only 51 weeks left until next year's trip...

KABOOM

It didn't take long for the storms to get going today and when they did they were quite impressive. We launched at 1115 and cloudbase was relatively low at 7500' amsl. we set off as a pack towards Grenoble and the lift was strong. We nipped along the Vercors and wound up just East of Die on a plateau and scrabbled about for a climb. A flock of over 20 Griffon Vultures showed the core and the entertainment of missing the beasts was high - those guys know how to centre!

We carried on over the Vercors plateau which slopes very gently out to the West and gradually it dawned on us that cloudbase was coming down, the ground was coming up and options were shortening. We therefore turned and ran South to the Mt Ventoux and enjoyed 6-8 knot climbs and some good lines of energy. Arriving at Ventoux we entertained our public and ran on towards Vinon. A huge cell was dumping water and electricity on St Auban but was also setting up a gust front that we joined abeam St Auban and ran down the Durance valley. We turned Vinon and headed back up the gust front and then started heading East. For a moment we discussed turning Fayence but Thor the Thunder God had other ideas and the sight of two bolts of lightning striking the ground just 1km from us persuaded us to make like shepherds and get the flock out of there. We ran back over the Lure and up to Serres and decided we'd pushed our luck far enough so landed by 1530. Dinner is on site and Paella tonight!

A day out in Italy

Today was forecast to be a bit iffy with a few showers and potential thunderstorms over the high mountains. Fortunately things were better than expected.

The day started early and we were launching (with two tugs and a chastised tuggie in attendance) by 1115. We set off in various splinter groups and progressed North East. Once again a nifty convergence line helped us from Barcelonnette to Sollieres where we turned right and along the face of the Gran Paradiso. The views here were stunning - running over ice fields alongside jagged peaks and all at 12500'. Sadly we were denied getting all the way to the Matterhorn as one rain cloud had heard the forecast and was raining on Aosta.Instead we went over the the South face of Mt Blanc and climbed to 13,000' before running South, exiting past the ski resorts of Courmayeur, Les Arcs (pictured left), La Plagne and back into the Sollieres valley. We carried on South as far as Barcelonnette and facing another shower decided to run West out as far as Die. I'd almost pushed things too far and had a bit of a squeeze coming home having to wait 20 minutes to get high enough to cross the Col de Cabre and get back into the Serres valley, then decided I didn't need the field I'd picked and could get into Aspres, then decided I could probably make Serres, then decided I had enough energy for a beatup. A perfect end to a damn good day.
Henry and Geoff have nearly got the LS8 undercarriage fixed so we may be full strength again for the last two days. Time now for beer and trough at the onsite restaurant.

Dan's trace shows we did something like 600kms but then we did fly for 7 hours - again. 48 hours in 7 days is probably not bad value.

Are we having fun yet?

Yes we are. This morning we woke to the sound of little birdies which makes such a nice change from the sound of wind rushing past the chalet. Launching didn't happen until 1200 when the cumulus started popping in the Serres valley. It has to said there was a little hiccup with launching as we have two problems. One: a lazy Parisian tug pilot who needs 240v across his tender parts to WAKE HIM UP and Two: only one tug as the second tug - a very asthmatic Rallye was feeling under the weather. This is not so bad as tows behind it really can be character forming.





Anyway, we got away on the local ridge and quickly climbed to 8000' and pinged onto Pic de Bure to climb to the 10,000' cloudbase. From here we crossed into the Ecrins where some did well (Ben), some didn't (me). Ben romped North East up at 12,000' and had a really good run to just 20kms short of the Matterhorn.


I scrabbled about under a stubborn inversion near Prachaval and took ages to find a punchy thermal that let me get back up. Most of us went up to the Gran Paradiso before turning to head South. We stopped off at the Glacier Blanc to give it a little seeing to and carried on South. Jay and I ran down towards Nice and stopped around 1845 to head home. The valley breeze was working nicely so there were plenty of places to top up on the way home and still have plenty of energy for the mandatory beatup. Averaging 6 to 7 hours a day leaves minimal processing capacity in the evenings so once again we were in the Hotel du Nord where Steve Ell had the opportunity to try and work out just where the hell he had been during the day.

Thank the Lord - less wind

At last - the wind stopped blowing so hard. This morning we had just 10kts Northerly so whilst the launch point at Arambre was still reliable we weren't destruction testing the airframes. I used the trusty T6 wing dolly to tow out still adorned with last year's mustard sachet taped into place in homage to the mighty Dane Dickinson's awesome sense of humour. Jay's undercarriage collapsed on take off which delayed proceedings briefly but we were all in the air by 1230 and ready to head North.

This was a little tricky as things in the Serres valley were pretty stable and we had to jump ridges from Arambre to St Genis to Chabre to Gache always below 5000 amsl to get started. A decent climb on Trainon got us to Auribeau then Blayeul and out to the cumulus where things really got going over Cheval Blanc. Heading North we worked up to the 11,000' cloudbase and into Italy where surprisingly the first person to work out where we were was Ben. There's always a first time.

We poked our noses into the Modane valley and decided it looked crap so climbed over Sestrieres to head towards Mt Viso on the Italian border. Geoff was the first to circumnavigate the peak so the gauntlet was thrown to the floor and it was up to Ben, Andy and I to take up the challenge. We ran round the peak at 11800' and marvelled at the good visibility in the Italian Po valley. After this things got messy. Steve and Ryan were low near St Crepin for a while, Ben opened his brakes to help out Andy and Geoff and I ran for home. I got to the Malaup at 5000 and the day was dying so climbing here wasn't going to happen. I could see a 10kt Northerly so set off across the valley for the Chabre which I reached low down at 4000' on the treeline. The singing vario showing 7 kts was music to my ears and I climbed back up to 5500' and was back on glide to Serres. Geoff joined me later and we were both mighty relieved. A phonecall from Ben advised he and Andy were down at St crepin but were aerotowing home.

The wind had dropped at site so it was ripe for the first decent beatup of the week, made all the better by a beer on hand as the canopy opened as the on-site restaurant was open for the night. The St Crepin dirty stop-outs soon showed up and we feasted on Lardon salad, chicken pasta, cheese and ice-cream for supper as the sun gently set as a backdrop. Tomorrow is at last forecast to be a good day which should make up for the mediocre weather we've so far had to put up with.

For those that missed it, it is worth checking out the Serres webcam for the personalised message service. We have proof.

Yet more wind

And now I do mean the beer matron - we need to lay off the entrecotes if we're going to be above 10,000' so often.

Today we launched at 1200, failed to swarm and instead flew as a variety of groups. Getting into the wave was easy on the West edge of the Cretes des Selles and 5-6kts carried you up to 10,000' there. So instead I went West and got violently shaken in rotor that gave a 10kt climb rate but shook most of my fillings loose. Eventually I learnt and moved across the valley to join the other gliders. Moving into wind to Aspres gave another 5-6kts up to 16,000' and Ben, Ryan, Dan and I set off North arriving in the lee of the Ecrins at 14,000'.

Another pummeling ensued here as we were too low for the wave and were still in rotor, so given we lack patience we set off West to Aubenasson on the Western edge of the alps. Half an hour later Jay, Henry and Geoff showed how it should be done by waiting to get up to FL195 at Aspres, crossing into the Ecrins 2,000' higher than us and continuing North up to Sestrieres and having a restful, if cold, cruise round never getting below 16,000'.

The four of us turned Aubenasson and crossed via Vaumuse and Cusson onto the Coupe mountain and further East to pick up yet another stunning convergence. This one had a base at 5,800' and tops at 11,000'. Dan and I picked up the system with a 8-10kt climb in the "dags" and with Ben ran South to the Verdon gorge.

Heading North we ran the system back to the Cheval Blanc and then moved onto the North end of the Trois Eveches for a climb in the sunshine to 10,500' and the 70kms final glide home to Serres, landing at 7 p.m.

Just for a change we went for dinner at the Hotel du Nord in Serres where, bless them, they now know the order for 11 biere serieux and start pouring before we walk in the door - what stars!

More wind

Yes, more wind - and I don't mean the effects of the beer, no Matron.

It's gusting 20-25kt NW'ly again this morning which meant a replay of yesterday and this time we'd fully understand what's going on. Yeah, right.

Steve Ell joined last night so we are now 11 strong - Jay and Henry Rebbeck, Dan Pitman, Ben Flewett, Ryan Priest, Andy Holmes, Geoff Tabbner, Mark Holden, Pete Hurd and myself.

We released at 1000' above the field (3300 amsl) onto the Arambre again and enjoyed 4-6kts straight up to 5500' and wandered up the spine to the West. Here we stumbled into wave up to 12,000' amsl and congregated to negotiate the task for the day. Surprisingly this was relatively brief and we agreed on Mt Ventoux/Vinon/Logis du pin/Bardonecchia - roughly 450kms in total.

The run out of the wave down to Ventoux was fabulous - drop over the cloud marker and accelerate to 110kts, punch through the down wave and pull up into 8kts wave in front of the next cloud - and so on. We dropped down to 7500 amsl for the airspace and arrived on ventoux together in order to smoke the summit. Reswarmed we headed along the Lure and had a good run arriving at 120 kts along the smooth ridge and moved out to the cumulus to climb to 7000' before heading for Vinon.
The cloudmarkers were behaving and some good climbs easily led us to Vinon and then on to Logis du Pin. An interlude to allow regrouping was all too brief and we moved on directly North towards the East of Barcelonnette. The summit of Cime de Bonnette also required smoking before we moved toward Bardonnechia in Italy. Dan found us a rather pleasant 11kts climb to 11,500' just before the turn and once again we were - surprisingly - together as a group. Of course, that couldn't last and the run back South saw me go way East, Dan get low in Barcelonnette and Ryan doing his own thing.

Around Blayeul at 1800 the mood changed and the lure of

burnt meat and cold beer was too strong so we headed for home. Landing was once again excellent entertainment and saw Steve Ell check out the very far end of the runway - I hadn't realised it went that far until today.

Another splendid day under the belt - roll on tomorrow!