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!
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