Saturday, 9 June 2007

Finally: a decent flight

We woke to another overcast day. Unfortunately the majority of Europe is still affected by a low hanging over it. There were a few para's gliding down from launch so we decided to head up to have a look and have a sleddie. When we got there, the launch was in cloud and there were a lot of paraglider pilots just milling around having coffee's at the cafe that is up there. It is extremely civilised flying here. We sat down and had a hot chocolate in conditions that remind me of being on an Australian ski slope in the middle of winter rather than an Austrian Summer. We gave up and went back down. Later on it started to look ok again so we went back up. It was still raining a bit and cloud was still around but Sam was desperate. He started setting up.

The Europeans thought we were British and that we are used to flying in crap weather. My glider stayed on the car. Just as Sam finished setting up, the cloud broke and he got off. 5 mins later, the cloud was back.

The next day was slightly brighter but still overcast. We were in no rush so checked out a local canyon instead. In the afternoon we headed back up to launch. At least it was launchable. As we setup, lot's of other hangies showed up and the sky started to clear. Maybe there was a chance. Cu's started appearing. It was good to have other's in the air at the same time as it helped show the lift. I got a good patch and made it too cloudbase which wasn't actually all that high but allowed me to get the top of the mountain and a view that was the reason we came over for in the first place.

In good conditions, the place is apparently epic. We are just here in the wrong time. We are thinking of moving on and potentially coming back later when the weather is better.

While we have been here we have been staying a great little Austrian house in the next village to Griefenburg. It even has it's own landing paddock.


Every night we just sit on the balcony and enjoy the view.

The Austrians love making their houses as immaculate as possible. I don't think Australians could be bothered but it does make us feel like we a living in a fairytale.






2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good to hear your getting at least some airtime. Keep the pics and videos coming. Cheers
DK

Anonymous said...

Good to get all the info on your trip,sounds like you are enjoying it.How is the new glider,have you got used to it yet.I keep track of you through Google E.
Bye for now. Dad