Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Chelan 101

Story by James Thompson

A local win by our newest visitor from Down Under.

I’m standing on the Butte in 90 degrees at 10:45am, and a shout of “Dusty” goes up; the hangies run to their gliders to hold them down. Across the Gorge I see 13 “Dusties” over on the flatlands. Welcome to the Chelan XC Classic.

Chelan Buttle launch
Chelan Butte launch.

You are given a list of Turn Points and you make your own Task for the day. Straight line 10 points per mile, out and return by a TP 13 points, and a triangle gets you 15 points per mile. Also a bonus of 100 points for landing at any of the LZ’s.

Early dusties over on the flatlands
Early dusties over on the flatlands.

I got my act together on the last day; Conrad and I had landed at “Simms” at 40 miles the day before, with Banks Lake in front of us. It was a 20 mile crossing to the next road, so we tried to head back to Chelan but becked it soon after.

Mansfield and Simms 20 miles on
Mansfield and Simms 20 miles on.
Simms and Banks Lake behind
Simms and Banks Lake behind.

Friday, August 3, 2007

The Prez Sez / July 2007

Posted by Kingsley Wood

Hi everyone, I’m gonna try to revive this tradition, at least this once, so here goes :

7/28/07 - wow, what a great day huh ? The Tiger Mountain Fly-In was without question an enormous success. I have never seen so many volunteers and sponsors pull together in such a short time-frame at Tiger - and look what happened ! Astounding success, great metrics (forthcoming at the next club meeting August 14th 8:00pm at Pogacha).

I’m not going to mention names of individuals, sponsors or organizations in this email, not only because i’d hate to miss any, or present them in the wrong order, or because it would literally take several pages to cover all the efforts and contributions I personally saw or was told about throughout the day, but because you know who you are and what you did. You know.

So many thrilled first-time passengers, completing sunshine flights and soaring way above launch, the whiff of burgers on the grill in the colorful, music-filled LZ on final approach (oops, did i break my rule :) ?) – You Know.

Just take a moment right now to yourself, reading this, smile and say - “Yep, I was there“. And it was a good thing, a good day.
I’ll close with a pertinent story,

The Little Red Hen
Once there was a Little Red Hen who lived in a barnyard with her three chicks and a duck, a pig and a cat.
One day the Little Red Hen found some grains of wheat. “Look look!” she clucked. “Who will help me plant this wheat?”
“Not I”, quaked the duck, and he waddled away.
“Not I”, oinked the pig, and he trotted away.
“Not I, meowed the cat, and he padded away.
“Then I will plant it myself,” said the Little Red Hen. And she did.
When the wheat was tall and golden, the Little Red Hen knew it was ready to be cut. “Who will help me cut the wheat?” she asked.
“Not I,” said the duck.
“Not I,” said the pig.
“Not I,” said the cat
“Then I will cut this wheat myself”. And she did.
“Now”, said the Little Red Hen, “it is time to take the wheat to the miller so he can grind it into flour. Who will help me?”
“Not I,” said the duck.
“Not I,” said the pig.
“Not I,” said the cat.
“Then I will take the wheat to the miller myself,” said the Little Red Hen. And she did.
The miller ground the wheat into fine white flour and put it into a sack for the Little Red Hen.
When she returned to the barnyard, the Little Red Hen asked, “Who will help me make this flour into dough?”
Not I,” said the duck, the pig and the cat all at once.
“Then I will make the dough myself,” said the Little Red Hen. And she did.
When the dough was ready to go into the oven, the Little Red Hen asked, “Who will help me bake the bread?”
“Not I,” said the duck.
“Not I,” said the pig.
“Not I,” said the cat.
“Then I will bake it myself,” said the Little Red Hen. And she did.
Soon the bread was ready. As she took it from the oven, the Little Red Hen asked, “Well who will help me eat this warm, fresh bread?”
“I will,” said the duck.
“I will,” said the pig.
“I will,” said the cat.
“No you won’t,” said the Little Red Hen. “You wouldn’t help me plant the seeds, cut the wheat, go to the miller, make the dough or bake the bread. Now, my three chicks and I will eat this bread ourselves!”
And that’s just what they did.

Kingsley