It has been another full week of adventure for the team which is now up to maximum strength with the arrival of Matt Williamson on Sunday. JB, Phil, David and M5Matt decided to have a rest day so that flying wouldn't get in the way of collecting our fellow adventurer from the station at Gap. The forecast was for Mistral conditions anyway and we didn't feel like wrestling with the dragons to try and get into the wave. Dan and Danielle Welch were made of sterner stuff because they took a launch in their Arcus and were rewarded with the amazing views afforded by 18000' over the Pic de Bure.
 |
| Arcus LEW cruising on the Parcour |
A typical day at La Motte goes a little like this. If you haven't been woken by the early birds singing their hearts out, the sun lighting up the tent at 7:34 usually does the trick. The zzzzzzzzzzzzzrrrp of the tent zip signals JB to put the kettle on for the first round of the days cups of tea and we emerge from our pits to lounge under the trees in front of the tent, variously breakfasting, showering and chewing the fat. Around 9 we amble over to rig or de-cover the gliders, getting them ready before the chiming of the 1015 briefing gong. Christian outlines the weather for the day in French and English usually with the added smug knife twist informing us of rain back home.
 |
| Club House |
Briefing over there is usually some time to finish prepping the gliders and have a bite to eat before moving the grid to the start point and the first launches get underway around 1130. Efficient team work ensures a relatively speedy launch rate and pretty soon we are all working our way out to the La Motte valley and heading for epicness.
 |
| Full throttle Epicness |
5 hours or so later and suitably satiated we are winding our way down to the north of the airfield for an uphill landing on runway 36, each waiting our turn to make an approach once the previous glider has been retrieved from the piste. War stories and laughter usually accompanies the process of putting the gliders to bed before retiring to the club house for snacks and sun-downers. Proper food then becomes a priority and the team supplies get cobbled together into a gastronomic delight which is devoured on the veranda as the last golden rays of the setting sun climb up the Blachere and the nightjars start their evening serenade.
 |
| Sun setting on Blachere |
Washing the dishes and ourselves concludes the days activities before a warm cup of chocolate sends the weary souls off to bed to dream tomorrow's adventure.
