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Mad Dogs and Englishmen
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We appear to have entered a period of stormy weather which is
unfortunately set to last for the remainder of our stay although, unlike the
weather of our first week, it is at least soarable before the storms arrive.
Yesterday we grid-squatted until it became clear that there would be nowhere
to go, surrounded as we were by some of the largest cunims I have seen in
this valley. We decided instead to stock up on some wine and spent an
entertaining half-hour watching the excitement from the bar of the
local Super-U.
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Trouble on its way...
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St Geniez, beneath the Gourras
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And so it was again today, although I was sufficiently
encouraged by the lack of rapidly growing clouds to the east and south to
put the wings on 245 and take a launch. This was only ever going to be a
technique day, but some very strong lift and high cloudbases made it easy
for me to reach the parcours and run up to the Dormillouse. The north was
blocked by two cunims, so I retreated back down the parcours until rained on
at the Cheval Blanc, where I decided to edge my way to the Lure and stay
very local for the remainder of the flight.
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Very few gliders were flying today - apart from me, only
teams Feshie and Aston Down decided to fly. And one or two Frenchmen. Alan
and Wendy decided that a visit to the lac de Riou held more appeal, managing
to arrive just as a storm hit the area. Lightning from that same storm put
paid to my voyage, so I landed and only just managed to derig the glider before
the rain arrived.
A bit frustrating I suppose, but there's not a lot we can
do about it. Our only hope for the next few days is that the storms will
hold off for longer than they did today, but at the moment we can't see
ourselves getting up north again during this year's visit.
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Cu-nim over Sainte Croix
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