Presidents Log: Sept 1st

Nikki and I arrived together in Geneva and caught our private shuttle into Chamonix by 9:45 am, in time to catch the lift up for the 1st thermal flights of the day. The sled run stragglers were just landing.

The conditions the day before we arrived were unstable because of the low pressure, which is not typical for this time of year. Those monkeys who managed those sweet XC flights that day didn't realize how lucky they were - I've always dreamed of making that flight. But of course now that I'm here, we're back to the regular stable high pressure regime. As they always say: you should have been here yesterday!

Quatre Traine a Plane Joux

This story starts in Chamonix on a morning of the bluest skies and clearest views. Today I put my passport in the flight deck. The Monkeys anxiously all clamored to the Brevent. It was an absolutely gorgeous day. Mad Dog helped Larry, Mack and Sharky off. Sharky got his first flight on his new lady over Chamonix Valley.

OMG

The title is of short text form because Don was suppose to write this flight log, seeing as Alex is not yet here to carry on the President’s Log. But we all know Ike is a pilot of few words … ah, typed words, that is.

Saturday arrivals were Duck & Ginger, Sharky, Larry & Adriana, Big Island John and finally Donna & Sidehill. Ike & Yolie and Mad Dog and Jeanine were already here for a few days. This day was a day to catch up on jet lag. A few even fell asleep at the table during dinner.

Snoballz Report: Chamonix, Aug. 30

No flying today. High clouds heading south with waves in them came lower, I guess, and messed everything up after morning raininess down low.

Chamonix t-shirt

Sharky got me all fired up to design and print a shirt for the trip while I was here trying to catch up on work in DC. What a crazy idea, right? Yeah, well, I guess I'm just crazy like that. Not sure yet if I have room or weight allowance for all 20 of these bad boys on the flight to France, but I'm hoping to fit them in - that way I should have lots of room for French goodies on the return trip!

Snowball Report: Chamonix, Aug. 28 & 29

Nice airline flight. Economy Plus a good idea. Bring own drinks and food and metamucil & suppositories too, next time. Did not sleep enough. Saw Sharky and Duck & Duck's wife on the plane and began chatting them up inbound to Geneva. Geneva immigration line quite slow. Skipped the airport shower (a bad idea, if you ask me -- next time will insist). Took a couple hours to sort out the van. One the size of a Subaru was not what was intended.

The Chamonix Song

This song is set to the tune of "Leaving on a Jet Plane" by John Denver. Kinda get it in your head while reading it. Every great trip deserves a theme song!