Jaca 2017 - Week 2

Some of us went to the mountains...

Some of us went to the fields....

But most of us stayed in the bar...

Anne Knight: Peter Fenner: Paul Wheatcroft; Alex McAtamney.

And leading them astray: John Brooke and Bob Johnson.

Monday
The week started well with flights to stage 3 for Anne & Peter in the Duo-Discus, although Alex's first flight in 775 was shortish & rather spoilt Paul's day.

In Alex's own words:

The conditions were beautiful. Perfect for flying. Myself and John Brooke instead enjoyed the day with sheep 6km east of the airfield. Total flight time 11 mins. I soon learned that pulling off aerotow with 10kts on the vario doesn't count for much if it's not there after turning to reconnect. We had to rapidly consider plan B as the vario sang out 6knts of sink. Oh. What plan B. Within moments I was looking up at the ridge line wondering how we were going to hop over to reach the airfield. As one does in situations like this, you have control John. He weaved  down the ridge very close to the bowls trying to find the slightest of lift.  The vario kept singing 6kts down. I was looking at fields out in the valley rising up the canopy. John spotted a field down to our left deep in the river gorge. Our remaining altitude was disappearing rapidly. We hopped over the last tip of the ridge and around to the front face, still sinking. Power cables straight to the left. No height to get over. Field straight ahead sloping upwards. 100 ft remaining. airbrakes open. Hello sheep. Luckily they kept themselves to the lower half of the field under the power cables  What a great day. I probably learnt more in that 11 mins  than I would have cruising the beautiful peaks for 3 hours.

This is what it looked like!

Tuesday was a challenging day which started late and ended early. As an alternative BJ provided an evening cultural tour of Jaca town which included the walk past the gay knight (don't ask) and a visit to Tasca de Ana - tapas to die for and, if you get there early, a table to sit at.

Wednesday had cloud over the mountains but was thermic to the south so to the south we went. We had some nice (and  very close) views of Cuculo and Oroel.

We woke on Thursday to several inches of snow and the team where convinced they could have a day off. We did nearly 8 hrs flying. Paul was definitely seen to smile.

Friday was dull and overcast, Anne took a launch with BJ asleep in the back. Found a thermal off the home hill at some ridiculously low height, climbed away, flew up to stage 2 looked at it and carried on up to the tops,  looked over into France and came home. 

Saturday
The forecast was for rain and it was right. Some of the rain was frozen. We didn’t get the stuff out of the hangar.

We had lunch up at the airfield, it was going to be dinner but the weather was even too bad for sightseeing. Very good lunch, three courses, wine and coffee for 18 euros.

And so the week ended. Five days flying out of six, all the flights interesting, even challenging at times which is just the way it should be. If it’s too easy  it’s no fun!