UK -2 (Eype / Cogdon), Bell Hill, (Mere)

Mon (9.6.) Today I have been meeting Eddie Colfox, my guide for the next 12 days - he already has guided me kast year. At first he 'warned' me that the wx fcst for this week would be very tricky. as the region would be under the influence of low pressure systems, providing lots of wind as wêll as rain :-(

Eype

Our first try was at Eype (which I could fly last year), but not a chance due to the strong wind. So we changed to Congdon, about 15mins away but much lower. Here a few pilots flew, but for many it has been still  too strong.

Cogdon

Hoping the wind would get a bit weaker, we visited Abbotsbury Garden in the meantime. But still no chance, when we got back.

Abbotsbury Garden

Later we had a look at another 'low' site: Seatown, but again: wind...

Seatown

Tue, (10.6.) Finally a flyable looking day, but only after 1500. That's when I met Eddie on Bell Hill's launch. I could make 2 flights in steadily improving conditions :-)

I flew this site already last year and it's astonishing how little sun was needed to release some thermals.

Bell Hill

Wed (11.6.) According to Eddie, there should have been a chance for flying at 'Mere' in the morning, but when we got there at 1000, the wind already had ecome too strong; but at least 2 hangies could still fly; some sightseeing in the afternoon (Isle of Portland)...

Mere

Isle of Portland

UK -1 Travel

I have left home on Thr, 5.6., driving to  Ardres (near Calais in 10hours) with just 2 stopps. I had hoped that on Friday some flying along the Normandie coast would have been possible, but the wind never dropped below 40kmh. So the day was spent sightseeing, as this whole coastline here 'oozes' history; not only WWI and WWII, but going back much longer in time.

Fort Vauban at Ambleuse (constructed in 1680)

'Batterie Todt', the gun could fire 380mm shells up to 30km

Cap Blanc-Nez

Sat (7.6.) after having crossed the Channel from Calais to Dover (1.5hrs) I visited 'Rye', a very nicely preserved town near the coast.

Rye

Sun (8.6.) Having spent the night on the coast at Worthing, I visited Arundel and its Castle and Garden; later the 'Chapel' at Lancing College. Both are absolutely breathtaking!  (> more pix on my Flickr page; link on the right side)

Arundel

Arundel Castle

Arundel

Lancing College and Chapel

(Hinterrugg) / Hüsliberg

Yesterday Fri, 30.5. Ruth had invitd me to häserrugg for lunch (a late birthday present). I had taken the glider with me, as it looked like there mit be a chance for a flight. But in order to the launch on Hinterrugg on had to limb a narrow steep snowy ridge. Before attempting this 'traverse' I had said to myself 'if I should slip, then I'll turn back' - and it happened even before the steepest part...

Pano looking SE-S-SW

Restaurant on Chäserrugg (lookog North towards Säntis)

Säntis (2502m)

Sat (31.5.) Together with many others I went to Schänis/ Hüsliberg. Beautiful (but hot!) day with nice, smooth thermals :-) I was flying my LeelooX with the 'new' (= certified) risers, but there seems to be something odd: it's hard to describe but it feels that after the riser change the left brake is a few centimeters shorter... I'll be asking Michael to send me the exact measurements, so I can verify.

Pano looking SSE: Tödi, Glarnerland

collapse (held)

Wingovers

over LZ

Landing after a little more than 1.5hrs :-) Temperature in my car: 36°C; after driving for more than 20': still 30° or 31°C.

Return: Pizzocolo / Molveno

Sun (18.5.) I had arrived at Hotel Colomber in San Michel on Saturday afternoon. The ride to launch (shuttle) was delayed due to road closure (MTB-race), so I reached launch only by 1230. Like 2 days ago, the flight has been 'sporty' and the approach demanded lots of attention/ patience. Afterwards I drove to Molveno for my last flying day on Monday.

Looking back to launch(es): W-S-SE (wings on W-launch)

Sunset over Lake Molveno

Mon (19.5.)

Again (!) a better day than fcst. I could make a nice flight (bumpy at times) before by 1230 the valley wind kicked in and I landed. When I left Molveno for my (uneventful) 6h-drive back home, the wind already had become rather strong...

Pano on launch, looking South

Conclusion: With the exception of 2 days we/ I could fly every day :-)  That's a lot more than the initial fcst 'promised' - actually only 2 days before the start of the iCamp Michael had considered to cancel the camp in view of the lousy predictions...

SIV: I could fly all the manoeuvres I wanted/ have been able to with my Leeloo1 as well with the LeelooX. Unfortunately, anything requiring my left hand could not be done, as I have not been able not reach high enough :-(  

iCamp (SIV) '25 - SIV (Mte Baldo) / Mte Pizzocolo / (Levico)

Thr (15.5.) Another day over Lake Garda; I could make 2 flights, this time with the LeelooX. I repeated the same manoeuvers I did Sun/ Mon with my Leeloo1: Spriraly/ Wingovers etc. One pilot of our group had to throw his reserve and landed in the water, but otherwise no major 'mishaps'....

For a while training had to be interrupted as several pilots landed in the water at the same time, so all the lifeboats became 'occupied'. Again an interruption in the afternoon, as cloud base sunk below launch and some thunder could be heard nearby... But I could make my second flight. No 3rd flight due to wx/ OD...

Fri (16.5.) Most of the pilots felt they had 'enough', so we drove to San Michele for a flight from Mte Pizzocolo. Unfortunatley one 1 flight, as it started to OD and rain in the early aftrenoon. But it's a nice flying area, which can be reached by shuttle form the LZ (in about 30'). Huge TO (facing E-S-W) - toplanding is also possible) as well as a large LZ (large enough for HG). (Unfortunatley no aerial pix as I had forgotten my camera...)

LZ in San Michele

Shuttle: 4*4 Landrover

West-launch (looking towards Brescia)

South launch / Lake Garda

finally a pretty good reverse launch ;-)

Monte Baldo (seen from the west side of Lake Garda on the way back to Rovereto)

Changing risers on my LeelooX (Thomas/ Michael)

Fri, (17.5.) Last day as our iCamp was to end around 1400. The fcst made Michael select Levico Therme/ Vetriolo as today's flying site. I made a small detour in order to be able to take some pix of a church we had seen while driving to / from Mte.Summano.

Eremita San Colombano

Rovereto

Lago di Cadenazzo

Vetriolo launch

Unfortunately no flying anymore as shortly after our arrival the 'North-Föhn' has broken through :-(

As I had 2 more days before heading home, I drove to San Michele, hoping for another flight from Mte.Pizzocolo on Sunday...