21 Jun 05

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Yet More Storms...
Yesterday's promise of drier air and less instability didn't come to pass (although it has been promised again for tomorrow...). From a clear blue start to the day clouds started to build up early and although thermal conditions were good, we had to keep a sharp eye on the anvils growing above us.

Ariane and I pair-flew for the first part of our flights, managing to convert 7000ft at Trainon to under 4000ft at the southern tip of the Vaumuse. 


St Auban and the Bléone Valley

We managed to make it work though, climbing back to 6000ft which allowed us to follow the clouds to the Cousson, Coupe and the Cheval Blanc. A building Cu Nim near les Trois Eveches persuaded us to cross the valley towards Seyne and then on to la Blanche and Morgon, where we parted company.


Trois Eveches, heads in the clouds

I continued to Guillaume and climbed to 10,000ft near the tete de Lucy. A small climb near Clotinailles persuaded me to cross the col de Couleau into the St Crepin valley - a big mistake. Immediately I was committed to crossing the col, I got rained on and with the huge amount of sink I was down to 6500ft by the time I got to Prachaval. Fortunately it worked very well today, with smooth lift and a blue thermal getting me to 9500ft, enough to try the obviously higher cloudbases near the col de Vars. 
I returned to the parcours direct to Dormillouse and followed the ridges round to Cheval Blanc once more.


Cascade de la Pisse (Clotinailles)

Sisteron gliders were changing back to the local landing frequency and a large and building Cu Nim over the Jabron valley was the reason why. Once again we had to make early landings. I was about five minutes late and both the glider and I suffered a thorough drenching before we managed to get the trailer closed.

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