The Chelan XC Open is being held this year from July 10th through to 15th in Eastern Washington. – see www.chelanxcopen.com It is setting up to be a top class event turning up to fly, probably because the PWC is going to be held there the week after. All of the top US pilots are going to be there. I decided to go and fly this year as I had some fun at Rat Race but the decider for me was that I have never flown the flats! Yes I have been and flown the site many times over the last 4 years but never ventured onto the flats simply because there was no pre-planned retrieval. With 80 or so gliders in the air I am hoping that I will be able to just get high and follow them to help me mark lift.
The weather is heating up though and the temperatures are going to be in the 90’s so dusties are my biggest concern.! I have viewed across the plains many a time to witness huge column like snakes spiraling skywards. I am told that you can see them easily so they are easy to avoid and if you are 1500 above them all should be well. I hope they are right!
A couple of the Seattle crowd went early to fly, and just yesterday Mer and Wheeler flew from Chelan to Mattawa – over 70 miles! Phew. A long time in the saddle.
I few at Tiger to try and adjust my speedbar that has always given me trouble. Luckily, Matty was there who flies the same harness as me to point out that I needed to have the speed bar under the seat with the bottom loop protruding beyond the seat. Bugger. I had chopped off the bottom loop because it was to long and didn’t seem to do much! I guess Gin had a reason for that!!!!
