My photos of this year's tour of the Alps and some flying / touristy stuff in Italy

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(For some reason I had to refresh several times to get all the pictures)

The Crew at various launches


Khobi, Jan and Nick at First, Switzerland

Khobi pretenting she's the Eiger ___ The Jammer ___ Captain Nick


Olly, Brian on the Elfer in Austria and Sonia

The French Lover ___ Helicopter Brian ___ Aunty Sonia

Some part-time visitors, Mike and Andy ........................ Oh, and Me.

Concord Mike ___ Andy Muller ___________ Lunchtime



The Tour - Austria, Italy & Switzerland

We started in the Stubai valley where we mostly had floofies to the bottom (a mere 800m height difference), while the rest of Austria was being flooded. Though the third photo is during a nice flight I had crossing the valley and looking back at launch.

Me launching from Schlik Careful of that cloud, Brian Returning to the Elfer

Moving on to Bassano in Italy, the rain followed us. Though once it cleared the cloud stayed in the plain of Venice .... for a while.

Rain in Bassano Cloud stops play ... ... for a while. Khobi over Semonza

Then on to Verbier in Switzerland, and glorious sunshine.

La Tournee take off site Pierre Avoi peak, above the La Tournee take off Nick over mountains

We took a helicopter ride up to the top of the Petit Combin mountain (3670m high) for an amazing evening flight.

Ready for a ride Destination Petit Combin - in the centre Being dropped off at the top

Nick launching Jan launching Looking over to the glacier

Having a chat with Khobi A view of where we flew Safely down

More flying and I managed to do the tour of the Verbier bowl.

Les Ruinettes where I took off Les Savoleyres Les Atellas

Returning to Grindlewald and my favourite European flying site - First (take off height 2100m). Great flights, climbing to over 1000m ATO, flying down the valley to Zweiluttenen with Jan or crossing the valley to soar next to the Eiger or Wetterhorn.

First in the bottom left Jan at cloudbase in front of the Eiger After an interesting flight down the valley

Approaching the Wetterhorn Obergrindlewaldglacier Fieschhorn

A day trip to Interlaken and flight from Amisbuhl, along with some in-jokes

Jan and Khobi in front of Harder Kulm The Schinegeplatte train's logo Don't ask

The official SWYS tour ended with an SIV course from Klewenalp by Beckenreid. Lu got to drive the recovery boat while I got to get the heartbeat racing somewhat. The videos show things somewhat better though.

Beckenreid & Klewenalp Recovery driving with a difference Not me!

Italy - Touring with Lu then Flying Again

I then left my beloved Promise with Benni for a week while Lu and I toured round Tuscany - looking at churches, cathedrals, palaces and eating lots of icecream. We hired bikes in Florence: a great way to see the city if you can survive the traffic

With bike in Florence A monument to icecreams Last icecream in Pisa

Rejoining the flyers at Monte Cucco, we had some good flights before CuNim stopped play. Then the drive down to Castelluccio near Norcia, where we had 4 days of mixed flying - some excellent thermic stuff, and excellent soaring over the village itself between rain showers.

Cloud filling the Castellucio bowl View to the Poggio Croce take off Benni heading for the Refugio

We also flew down to the Norcia valley, with Khobi and Nick doing their hundredth flights together - though not naked as tradition dictates.

Castelluccio from the air San Pellegrino LZ A happy pair

While the rest headed home via Zurich, Lu and I headed to Siena for a final look round before heading home.

Siena cathedral A final icecream A mosaic showing Lu in her paragliding days



And that's all, folks

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