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String
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Northern Ecrins
Col d'Etache
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Did I mention how hot it's been here? Yesterday it was 33C,
and today was forecast to be 32C, with a little extra instability and bit
more cumulus to help us on our way.
There was no forecast of a double cock-up, though. First
off, neither ASI was reading correctly during the tow, which caused a little
concern. After releasing, the ASIs sprang back to life, but we were unable
to connect with anything useable, so landed back for a second go.
This time, we took a high tow, to Trainon. Just after
release, that most important piece of equipment, the front cockpit drift
string, departed from the canopy having decided that it had had enough. Now,
I don't mind flying without the string, it was just the likelihood of using
crossed controls in turbulent thermals in the company of other gliders hard
against rock faces that was a bit of an issue.
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In the event, the thermals were strong and fairly easy to
find. Cloudbases were high too: 9000ft over the Vaumuse, 10,000ft at Blayeul,
rising to over 12,000ft over the Ecrins. We did take a another peek over the
col d'Etache, but we decided once again that it carried a little risk so we
reluctantly retreated once again to known territory. We flew around the
north and east sides of Pelvoux, then down the north side of the Valgaudemar
and on to Obiou, to the north of the Pic de Bure.
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Near the col de Galibier
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Le Janus does Pizza!
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We carried on to Glandasse, in the Vercors, where we were
treated to the sight of five soaring buzzards taking advantage of the 6 knot
thermal blasting off its western face. One of them did give us a hard look
as we sped towards him in our turn, but he made the wise decision of folding
his wings and diving away. And he didn't need Flarm.
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Chinese Montgolfier
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Back at base we retired to the Pegasus for a series of 1€
beers before piling into the Janus restaurant for a pizza - for once, the
restaurant was meeting our requests and, I have to say, the food was
excellent.
A special treat was brought to us by our new chums from the UK who, I am
told, have brought between them the entire UK fleet of motor Januses - both
of them.
Richard had also brought a Chinese paper balloon, which he
set alight and dispatched into the night sky. There was almost no wind so
the flying machine rose vertically and, presumably after running out of
puff, would have descended again along much the same path, landing very
close to the launch point.
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