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

Day 10. No task 6 today

The day started nice, just like every morning when Anna prepares breakfast and hot coffee. Today we felt a breeze in town early, and Anna gave the impression that we'd be back early today.  How did she know?

French toast with home made huckleberry jam on top really hit the spot. I was sluggish after yesterday's long flight but the coffee brought me back to life. 

I went up the chair hopeful and happy.  I found myself joking around with a banana so my youngest kids would get a laugh when they read this with my wonderful wife at home. Miss you guys!!!

While I was on the phone with my sack lunch fruit I saw a family favorite, "Mr. Hand" eating a cloud. Boy the clouds were moving way too fast and in the wrong direction.  😟

Each day I see one (or both) of Micky Von Watcher's kids and it reminds me of my own.  Paola was smiling and munching something on the way up the trail from the lift station this morning. Cute. 

Rob has been hauling more weight each day up the hill than any of us. His help and service has been a huge benefit for the TEAM.  Rob bought the tent and inflatable chairs out of his own pocket. This, in addition to volunteering his time, is not the first time his generosity has touched TEAM USA I'm told. He spoils us.  A true Bro. Thanks Bobbie!!! 

The wind socks on launch never really gave us a window of time that we could all fly safely from the hill. It was a beautiful day out in the valley and above the terrain to the South. We just couldn't get to there, from here. Torture. 

Alas, we would wait until after 3pm and thankfully the meet director was willing (brave?) enough to launch when no wind dummies came forward after several requests. His lumpy, herky jerky glide out got everyone's attention. When the announcement came over the radio by the safety director to cancel the day, cheers could be heard (in our camp at least) and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Whew!

Rob, Nick, Matty Senior and the Badger enjoy a bratwurst and a beer with fries too. Josh, Arnie and Brett from Canada were there too. Everyone relaxed at the base of the lift and sat in the shade for a while before heading back to the house. 

Rob hustled up the van and we were back the the tranquil oasis we call our home in just minutes. 

Did I mention we have a fountain / water feature in yard?  Very soothing when the local dogs aren't in the middle of a bark-a-thon. Earplugs at night make it seem very quiet for sleeping. It only takes one night without them to remember how great an idea it was to wear them. Problem solved!

The weather forecast is for increasing wind. But I've learned to be ready every day, all day long, just in case. Exhausting, but we didn't come here to take it easy.  Bring it on!  Go Team USA!

Cheers from Sopot, Bulgaria,

Marty

Task 5 Big air, good climbs long task!

It was the nicest looking day so far.

It is also the longest task as well. 

The start went well and as I tagged the first turn point I could see people going deep in the mountains to the west, high along the  foothills at the valley edge and everywhere in between. I found a good climb at the edge of the valley above the foothills and a few of us worked it and pressed on. Before long people were catching up and I had my eye on the other (south) side of the valley. A pilot next to me topped off his climb and aimed for the other side. Another pilot and i went with him. If we crossed early it was a shorter distance to the next TP. Turned out it was also slower. Some made the transition to the west TP fairly fast and high but the pilots on the mountains to the north made better time with their large, fast gaggles. Ugh!

Even with a screamer climb to base just a few km from the TP, it was a giant sink hole to tag it, and when I turned around the only pilots I saw higher up were the ones who joined the ridge running gaggles and they beamed out and left. I was working drifting lift, low over a giant plateau with a few others.  We split up as we raced to catch the leaders, but for me it only put me lower and alone. I was skimming along a very shallow ridge line hoping to find some lift as it was mostly forest with only a few clearings ahead.  Landing would have been safe enough, but the retrieve would be epic. 

Eventually I got to a spot where several pilots before me slowly climbed out. I was much too low to get the climb and late as well. I spent what seemed like forever, but was more like 30 minutes or so. Another pilot came in 150 above me, glided to the next ridge, but was too low to cross it and try the sunny south slopes. The pilot followed the shallow forested ridge all the way down to the valley to the south and landed in  small field. Rats. I was hoping to work with him and both of us get out. 

I knew I could do the same if need be, and so I tried a different path. I found just enough lift to stay above the trees so I had a land-able spot if need be, but not by much. I snooped around for some sunny slopes. Found a weak bubble I and circled in it until I saw some birds half way to the next ridge climbing. That was my ticket out of there and using that lift, I crossed the ridge that the other pilot couldn't, found a climb on the other side and kept drifting with each climb towards the last TP. I was finally out of there and back on course. 

I could see a few pilots ahead climbing slowly and some getting very high. I knew to be patient an vowed not to get low anymore. Found some climbes and got up to 7800 feet. It felt great after kicking trees on the shallow mountain tops at 4500. 

I was flying alone but could se others in the distance. Staying high and watching where the clouds converged was key. I could see the line to take and after a while got above 8 grand and kept topping off on climbs as I worked  buoyant line to the turn point and back, using the track on my gps as a guide to this invisible seam of lift as I retraced my flight back to where the good climbs started. Arnie, Josh and Eric were all in goal and came in a little behind the leaders. I was heeding their advice to stay high and tanked up patiently, still 10km away, and jonesing to just get in and land, but they were right and even though I had it on a 6:1 glide ( I normally get close to 10:1) it was just enough to tag the end of speed section 2km out and glide the rest of the way to where the line was on the ground. The van was still there waiting for me and I landed next to Eric "the Badger" as he finished packing up his wing and Rob who was shooting photos of me coming in. 

Making goal is always my primary goal. I felt as though I was in great position at times today and wanted to race. But, after getting stuck, it was all about finishing then. Unfortunately, Nick got even more stuck than me it turned out, but we gave him all the intel we could on the radio, but it was getting late and he managed to land near goal a few km away. Hell of a great effort.  

Oh, it felt great to finally make it in. Over 5 hours in the saddle today. Glad I was rested!

Back at the house now. All checked in and instruments are charging as I write this. Dinner time in just minutes. Boy how the day flies by. 

Tomorrow looks great for flying again. More then. Cheers,

Marty

Day 8 rain day/ rest day

Woke to gentle rain and a had a relaxed breakfast with most if the team this am. Rob dutifully made the team captain meeting @ 8:30 and emailed us the official news while we ate an interesting bread-like quiche-like creation with ham and cheese inside and sipped fresh coffee with streamed milk thanks to our hostess Ana 

The cats were sleeping on the bench below and the day had a calm and peace about it. 

Last night, before dinner, we tried the local drink called "cloud" by mixing one part Mastika and Mentha together. Lets just say "cloud flying is dangerous". 

Horse drawn carts are a normal sight here, though I suspect even more so, in the more rural areas. We only see them occasionally here in town. 

Thanks to Swiss pilot, Joel Debons for snapping this photo of me landing yesterday ahead of the rain. Cheers! Here is another one I shoulda posted yesterday:

The view facing away from the rain was so nice too:

Brett and Eric walking to the van yesterday.  

This is the launch pad on the chair lift.  It goes pretty quick so you want to stand in the right place and be ready. 

Water fountains are found in several places around town. The water is safe and tastes good too. There is a flowing little steam of water that is channelled through town too. I imagine how fun it would be for my kids to race paper boats in it.  (At least I am tempted to)  The local dogs know how to use it best:

The cobblestone streets are interesting to look at. The pattern must keep the stones from shifting or perhaps it just looks nicer this way?

The Main Street seems to have just paved over the cobble stones. 

Here the stone sidewalk meets the little stream and cobblestone meets pavement. This would be the finish line for any paper boat races too. 

This is my favorite flower that I pass each day I hike (400 vertical feet) up from the chair lift drop off point to our Team USA camp near the top. It would be a challenge to keep my youngest daughters at home from picking it, as they love to find and collect things like Tinker Bell. Ok, me too. 

With the recent rain, workers across the street and even in an adjacent yard next to ours, workers are busy roofing. 

Tiles are made here locally.  While flying, towns are easy to spot because all the rooftops are this color. 

Our humble kitchen has a washer but clothes are hung to dry outside in the yard. 

The small tale is full of snacks and laundry is lined up on the floor. 

Our small fridge is packed with food and adorned with a few magnets. The American flag magnet caught my eye and it changes when viewed at different angles 

911 truly was felt worldwide it seems. 

The local graffiti artists have a sense of humor too. 

And some of the competitors too. 

Cheers,

Marty