Day 11 cancelled (7-25-13)

Woke a little early today, hopeful the forecast would be favorable. 

Breakfast was relaxed as usual with fried eggs and fresh local tomatoes to eat with hot coffee and cool milk. 

Nick stacked it all on some bread and made a sandwich. With ketchup too, no less. 

As I walled with Rrob to the team leader meeting it looked windy up top as the clouds whisked by overhead from the North. 

The meeting seemed to confirm our fears about the wind but Nicky (the meet director) said he would decide at 9:15, just as he always does. Martin Scheel put pressure on the organization to use an alternate site that he said can work in this wind. Respectfully the organization felt it was far too dangerous to consider this place for this event. 

Team Leader meeting in the theater. 

We went to the lift to get gear stored by Rob and Nick up top from yesterday but a briefing was called before we could get on and the day was on!  Wow, here we go again!?

So back to the house, get the gear, come back, get our lunches 

and wait to get on the lift. 

Arnie and Eric unload behind the rest of the team. 

Lots if discussing and radio communications with organization staff at the top of the lift was going on.

We could all see the clouds over the top of the mountain scooting by way too fast. 

We weren't too surprised when another briefing was called and the task was cancelled. 

Pilots with gear on top were allowed to go get it. The forecast is for stronger wind tomorrow. Hopefully that won't be the case. 

There is a dinner tonight for the pilots @ 5:00pm. Anna gets a well deserved night off. 

Local pilot Yassen posed for a photo with me to send back for Dean Stratton who is a friend of his. 

Jaimie and Isabella Messenger gave their best pose as we parted company for the day. 

 Must be getting time for lunch soon, right?

Or a snack?

A "thanks bro" wave to the gate keeper (Chris) as we leave the lift "drop off only" parking area. He was a super nice local guy that always let us drop off our gear close to the lift instead of parking in the big lot farther away and hiking it in like many others. Of course we made haste to drive back out empty and park properly each day. We had him over for one of Anna's dinners. He agreed, she rocks. 

We got some directions to a flying site on north side of the range to try and shoot some video and shoot some photos. Not far into the drive up the winding  road leading into the pass we got a call saying it was blown out.  

Now we are back at the house relaxing until our next outing.  

Lots of melons for sale, as well as tomatoes an other veggies. Always worth a look out the window when going places here. 

There are huge fields full of sunflowers here.  We seem to always be in a hurry when we go past them. 

Lots of flowers to see, none the less. 

The valley is actually known for its roses. Large fields grow roses just for the rose oil used in perfume and other products. Can you imagine what thermals smell like during rose growing season?  Apparently this isn't the time of year for that. Gotta be careful you don't land in the thorny bases of the plants in the off season. 

Nothing for the mountain rescue guys today. See you tomorrow. 

That's it for now. Cheers!

Marty