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"Let Me Show You This Trick..."
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In the Valgaudemar
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Another Duo day, this time with Wendy, who wanted to pick up
some tips about flying in the Alps - I rather think she got more than she
had bargained for. Another tow to the Gourras, an easier-than-expected
getaway from Authon and high cloudbases over Blayeul got us onto the
parcours with minimal effort. Just as on previous days, we used Guillaume
and the col de Terres Blanches to access the St Crepin valley where we found
extensive cloud cover and a large rain shower over Briancon. All thoughts of
a northern excursion were extinguished, and we flew back along the ridges
through the pas de Cavale to the western edges of the Ecrins.
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Savignes-le-lac
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Wendy had not seen the Valgaudemar valley, so we had a little
look, though with cloud below the tops and a cu-nim over the pic de Bure
about to burst on the other side of the valley, we played a cautious game,
eventually retreating back to the tete de Lucy, Morgon and the parcours. A
direct glide to Blayeul was required to avoid a shower over the Trois
Eveches and we rejoined the parcours at Cheval Blanc to continue down to the
lac Sainte Croix.
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Wendy hadn't seen much of the flatlands to the south, so
while I tried to work out why my Ipaq wasn't picking up a GPS signal, Wendy
flew us down towards Vinon until the clouds ran out, and then we returned
northwards for home. I then decided to show Wendy the 'interesting' route
home via Vaumuse/Authon, which turned out to be more interesting than planned. The ridge
wasn't working and on retreating to St Auban we found that the thermals had
finished there too, so we were forced to land at St Auban airfield.
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Alex to the rescue
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I called up Ariane with the news. She had been enjoying the
swimming facilities at the home of Jean Cosnard (club president) and, when
he received the news, I heard roars of laughter from him over the phone
which I took to represent a traditional provençale show of support for a
downed pilot. Alex soon pitched up with the tug Robin BH, a wingtip holder, and
a huge grin on his face. The retrieve took 16 minutes and we were soon back
at Alan and Wendy's for beer and recriminations. My only defence is that I
ran out of judgement, ideas and talent all at the same time - very much like England's
World Cup football team...
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