Yesterday I was a mouse...the concept of heading into the Ben Ohau's in the blue, with not much wind scared the Bejesus out of me. One must be getting old. However the alternative path up the valley in the blue didn't work either. Hitting the encroaching sea breeze up near Burkes Pass killeed it for me. The scorer lists a land-out which is in fact me turning 20 km short of the turn point. It was a struggle just getting back home. No crew does alter your decision making. Landing on the east side of the Tekapo River would require a 4 hour road trip.
Yesterday saw the repeat of a flat tire on GVR...tire full of air in the tie down area, still full half way down the track to the grid, completely flat on the bottom 40 meters later.
So a repeat of getting the trailer out, jacking up the glider, taking the wheel off (no mean feat I might add) removing the tire, discussing all the options with the 20 assembled chiefs, replacing the inner tube, putting it all back to together, getting in and flying. We look forward to a repeat today...
One very low finish yesterday, just making over the road only to have the wheel collapse on landing...so a top competitor out of the 15 meter class...although panic repairs throughout the night could change that.
A Duo landed out in Wanaka...not the far away you would think...the retrieve took 5 hours...bloody hell...
I should know all this but surprisingly it has been 4 years since I've flown here...time flies...pun intended.
Speaking of today...looks very blue...and hot...if we get a start at all it will be late.
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