Pumpkin Pie and the Sky
spot the glider, competition!
Our halloween celebrations went as far as enjoying the fruits of the season in making a delicious pumpkin pie which is rapidly diminishing, but that was it! Not much doing on Halloween around here, well maybe there is but not on our road, and I can’t say as I’m sorry… a bit too freakish for me!
Anyway, on to more important things! We went flying. .. gorgeous Autumnal colours, and we got a lift up which was a bonus! The farmer’s made it difficult to land now with our usual approach given over to the bovine contingency, whilst us humanoids are now restricted to the outside perimeter, there were some interesting landings! We really enjoyed the flying today, happy and relaxed. We were all unearthing what minute hints of lift we could muster and just about maintain, but there wasn’t much on offer although enough to have a pleasing time of it.
Early Cloudscape
Not much to report, other than getting on with it. The new woodburner has arrived preparations are continuing for said applicance to take residence, hopefully
it will be up and running in a couple of days, especially as it’s getting darn cold at night, well for me it’s cold.
This morning we had some pretty impressive cloud formations, and here they are. Well it’s the same cloud really, just zoomed in a bit more on the second pic.
The sun brightened up the afternoon, although the cloud was disturbed for almost all of the day. The clouds did look heavily laden enough for rain, but that never materialised. Looks like it may well be flyable for the next couple of days.
Mild Mannered October
It’s been flyable.. but there’s not really any strength in the thermals now. We had our last one to one client of the season, Harry, finish his EP and is now partway through his CP, all done in five days with four good days of flying! Needless to say the weather provision has been perfect for the job.
Harry, Clouddodging
We’ve enjoyed some tandem and solo flying, and will hopefully be out again tomorrow. This good weather just seems to be hanging on! There’s a short, sharp, bit of an occluded front destined to arrive on Tuesday, and depart again late Thursday opening up for more good weather come Friday, so maybe a few blips will sound in the minor pre-frontal conditions tomorrow (17th).
Tandems Mostly
Yesterday was a wash out, but the rain did clear Plaine Joux launch from all the snow, and a timely visit of late afternoon sunshine did an excellent job of drying the area, that, with an added touch of Northerly wind; Plaine Joux launch was left with a blow dried finish even Vidal Sassoon would be proud of!
This is the Ozone 'small' Magnum Tandem - 'I like it a lot!'....
Tandem Assessments
It was mainly tandem day today, meaning, a number of tandem pilots were going through their assessments. It was a beautiful October day, maybe a tad warm for the time of year but lovely all the same. There was really only light flying to be had.
We have a beginner with us as the moment, and the conditions have been just perfect for him, so he’s progressing in leaps and bounds.
Tomorrow the weather is looking good again, so perhaps more of the same, but not so many tandems about.
Weather Update
a glimpse of Varan, and fresh snow through the cloud
Weather update… after all the fabulous but still air. We’ve had a couple of days being swamped in grey cloud with almost constant precipitation.
...and a similar glimpse of Col d'Anterne though pretty much the same cloud!
The weather isn’t all bad though, managed to catch a glimpse of the fresh fallen snow on the Fiz, it’s all starting to look quite wintry. Dennis went to Bois du Bouchet to do some ground handling with our client as Plaine Joux launch is covered in snow.
We’ve made fires for the first time this week, as we have been feeling the chill. Improvement is said to be on the way, with only some precipitation in the morning, followed by clearing skies and a return of the sun. This afternoon there were a couple flying, in the minor break in the weather, apparently it was freezing, maybe time for the winter woolies to make an appearance. We will be out tomorrow anyway so we’ll see what we can glean from the day.
Empty Blue
It’s been a while since the last blog reason being… busy! We’ve had a pre CPC pilot with us for a while now, and we’re pleased to report a new CPC pilot joins the paragliding ranks. The week took us to Annecy a couple of times, and the rest of the time here.
Alex Rodriguez, incoming... after a flight of some perserverence!
Unfortunately, we didn’t make St. Hilaire as we were teaching, it sounded like a good gig this year though, with plenty of exhibitors, as well as the country being blessed with good weather so it sounded like it was an all round success. We had our own little successes in as much as managing to fly most days, although struggling in cloudless expanses of lifeless air didn’t fare much for any flights of substance, but fun was had and it was perfect for the ‘L’ platers.
Most pilots have been doing speedriding, and acro… to alleviate the struggling lack of airtime, but at least we are flying. I’ve been spending some time Tandem flying which has been a new dimension for me, and most enjoyable, so will keep that up now for the time being.
Plan d’Aguille for Some, Plaine Joux for Others
View from the Aguille du Midi
The wind was calm on the Midi, so the decision was to try to fly the Plan d’Aguille later this afternoon. Dennis and Rozi went up to the Aguille du Midi first, as Rozi had never seen snow, coming from the Southern Hemisphere. I, meanwhile stayed here… believing it was actually going to be better flying here at home than the Plan today.
As it turned out by the time they’d got down to the Plan, there was not much to hold them aloft so they had landed after a somewhat short flight.. Taking off from the Aguille du Midi, without crampons, a stout heart and protection rope would have been a fools errand, an error that would only have been made once, if you got it wrong! Apparently it was precarious to say the least.
Anyway, I was on my way up to Plaine Joux, and was rewarded with a lovely afternoon evening extended flight accompanied by friendly waving Ben again… we circled around and about, took some good glides, some close scratches and landed at more or less the same time. Dominic Guenard was having a great flight, before going off to St. Hilaire tomorrow. Dennis and Rozi arrived at Chedde to pick me up. As soon as I’d landed, without further ado I was whisked into the bus and driven back up to launch so Rozi could have his last flight, as he leaves tomorrow, and I could drive the other vehicle back down. All in all, it’s been a nice few days.
The Doussard Downwind Dash
Dennis & Rozi, doing the Doussard Downwind Dash!
We went to Annecy today. Following a happy VW camper en route! Nice to have a trip out and a change of scenery.
This time of year, the charm of Annecy still remains although the pilot numbers are much fewer, the thermals much more scarce and the xc’s (today) were non-existent, well it seemed so. We went up to Montmin, they’ve done a lovely job up there now, it always was good but it just got better. With a terraced area, w.c’s, parking all very accommodating. Conditions were stable and as it started to improve a high white cloud shield arrived putting swift closure on any hope of air acitivity. Dennis and Rozi had a desperate scratch to get some sort of anything, abandoning the challenge before completly running out of glide steam and headed for Doussard. Meanwhile, I had a nice walk with Tizzy then drove down.
The next stop was Plan Fait, where again the same scenario ensued, only this time more pilots huddled in little clusters around launch, going nowhere. They did manage to get a little above launch, but that was the extent of it. It just didn’t appeal to me, so I decided to give it up for the day so Dennis and Rozi flew again… they were already almost at touchdown when I arrived back at Talloires. So not much doing…
I did however get to sit in an Advance Impress 3… in fact, I didn’t really sit in it, I was engulfed in the the thing! more like a tent… could have fitted a kitchen in there with me! Admittedly, it was a large but I just wanted to have a play… Michel Ferrer showed up in Les Passengers du Vent, shop we had a little chat..as he was thumbing through this months action packed XC mag!
It was a day out… which is always nice.
More in Daily Pics.
Afternoon Play
Ben and me, (taking the pic!) on one of our mini glides
We’ve had a few nice autumnal days flying. The weather has been extremely sweet and agreeable. Dennis, was out working with Rozi, our client whilst I had other things to get on with before joining them later on in the afternoon.
Enjoyed a lovely afternoon’s flying and was playing around in the air with Dennis and Ben, there were a lot of non locals around today… don’t know where they’d come from but it was an exceptionally lovely aftrnoon. The inversion was present but weak, easy climbs, light puffy clouds and pleasing glides.
For Sale
We have for sale two Kortel Kamasutra 2 harnesses with pods. 1 XS and 1 M. They are both the latest models purchased in Sprng 2011 and the condition is ‘As New’ Both for €750.00 each + postage.
Kortel Kamasutra 2 with pod
We also have for sale a Small Kortel Kanibal Race, again in ‘As New’ condition with the new modified flight deck/chest strap arrangement. Yours at a mere snip of a price of only €600+ postage
Kortel Kanibal Race
Please feel free to email us at info@flyers-lodge.com …
Autumn Is Upon Us
Autumn is definately here, with the treetops all turning, the temperature dipping, a regular dampness in the morning, and condensation on the windscreens. The snow has made a fleeting appearance , settling on Varan, and the surrounding mountains although then disappearing… just a minor taste of things to come. Our flying has now taken on the more serene character of gentle air and mild soaring. It is all still very enjoyable as what we don’t have in the spring and summer months in the shape of strong thermals and xc potential, we make up for in the sheer beauty of the changing landscape and the depth of colour, artists revel in. So here’s to welcoming in all the changes that mother natures offers….. We are still flying, but just scraping climb outs now.
