Missing the net, Carlos and the Dancing Duck - Mexico Day 14

What, an overcast sky, are we still in Mexico ?  Yes really it all looked a bit grey and flat out there, were we going to fly, the team leaders brief said yes, we shall see.

Phippsy is a bit late up and taps away  at mach ten on the Blog managing to complete it and post as the guys walk out the door, close one.  The guys share out team leaders meeting duties but Gordon still has to do the safety bit, We still manage a reasonable departure time.  Carl picks up yet more laundry but a close inspection of his pants reveal a possible lack of washing powder ........ or maybe it was just a really rough day yesterday ;)

pretty house on the way to launch

We are now down to just an Ambulance at the turn off to launch but still a few guns on launch . all seem pretty normal now.  Everyone seems pretty chilled as we rig under a grey sky.  wayne is tail end Charlie and gets a nice spot by the loo's, Steve and Phippsy have Early Bird slots and Phipps nearly slides down the slope at launch whilst the others are dotted around.

Harvesting the trees for resin

Pilot briefing returns to "normal" with long delays as things change still no rush as the sun is still trying to show it's face.  Finally we are set for a task taking us south then  back to launch then SW  before heading north and finally a push into wind to a turn point se of the "Piano" goal field then into the goal, Could be a tricky one under this sky.

The cream of British Hang Gliding gets in the zone

Kaz sports the Official hat

Steve B into the grey

Phppsy is first brit off and struggles a little before Steve joins him and finds a climb up they go. The rest have an easier time of it as conditions improve.  Everyone groups up at the edge of the start circle having fought our way south to get a good run in.  Tick tock tick tock the clock winds down as does the lift then we are off. some have reasonable start some not so good but atlas we are all away with Wayne coming in from a different direction which actually paid of , ideal.

Things space out quickly with areas of good lift separated by others of heavy sink some get it good and some get it hard.  Grant Carl and Gordon are up front with Steve not far behind. Phippsy gets a mixture of luck but drops off the pace  and gets stuck returning from TP 3 whilst the others head to TP 4 except Wayne who keeps him company.  The leaders start to struggle as they push back from TP 4. Phipps slides onto the front of Goro's knob (well used by now) and soars it whilst wayne goes the opposite way and finds lift to carry on to TP 4.

They guys are landing not wanting to push their luck into the rotor behind the launch hill, Phippsy drops off the back of Gordo's knob and has a bouncy ride down in the lee but a nice landing.  Wayne is still going and makes TP 4 then turn south for the leg back.  Everyone is on the ground but Wayne and pilots will him on, he is doing great and the sun is out.  radio cackle - "The goal is closed"  what does that mean except the obvious ?  Wayne burns off a couple of thousand feet and lands safely on the race course.  more radio cackle "The goal is open" what ??

Daniel and the drouge, I'm in love with it !

the back side of El Gordo's knob

We all get picked up and are back at base at a reasonable time, no pilots in goal ;( but who knows what the result of the task will be, can you close and open a goal without stopping the task , we shall find out over the next day or two. A nice drive back through the posh part of town with some serious security issues.

Now that is a Police car ;)

Massages booked all round so a shower then off for some street food before a rub down. lightning in the sky and even a spot of drizzle. the food is good as are the ice creams, yummy. massage lady cancels so we have time on our hands.

It starts off well enough with some food

and ice creams

Kaz, Phippsy Gordon and Wayne venture into a music bar.  Gordon emerges one Tequilla later and heads for home as the others start to move about. another tequila and the dancing starts with Kaz and Phippsy taking the floor.  Kaz meets Carlos a man of some influence apparently and it's another round.  The bar starts to fill and the Trudy and Jamie drop in, but not for long, the Italians arrive and stay and one takes a shine to Wayne teaching how to dance like a Duck. Wayne then gets a lecture from a local explaining that he could well be arrested for dancing in such a fashion.............

Kaz meets Carlos

Gordon awaits a phone call

don't ask

Wayne makes friend and learns how to dance the Duck

the locals join the party

It's an evening to remember with us doing our upmost to knobble the top team, it's not all about the flying!  We are out of there before midnight and our job is done, shame as it turns out that they were all support crew and not pilots, boy do they have a lot of support.

Quote of the day "I'm not firkin going there"

Tip of the day "better late than never"


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