Mt Beauty

Yesterday we drove from Forbes to Mt. Beauty. The temperature was well over 100 degrees and the wind was strong and west. I was glad we weren’t trying to fly. We had been quite lucky with the weather at Forbes. Of the eight competition days and one practice day only one was not flyable. The temperature was warm but not unbearably so, and the flying was epic. I think everyone wants to go back next year.

Driving to Mt Beauty the landscape changed dramatically. We left the hot dry plains around Forbes and traveled south. After crossing the Murray River into Victoria we followed the gently rising Kiewa Valley. Soon there were mountains on both sides and a wide valley of green irrigated farms. The mountains here remind me or the Appalachians of the Eastern US, but the vegetation is more similar to central California. It’s an odd mix of familiar and unfamiliar.

The town of Mt. Beauty is a ski destination, but it is also quite busy in the summer with vacationers escaping the heat. The Kiewa river runs right past the caravan park, and it was full of kids (young and old) inner tubing, splashing in from a rope swing, and generally having a good time. It was certainly a welcome and cooling break after the long hot drive.

Tonight is the first pilots meeting, and I am spending today exploring and getting oriented. Tomorrow will be the first competition day, so it would be good to get in a practice flight to familiarize myself with the area, but the air is full of smoke carried in by a strong west breeze from the fires to the west. I am still struggling with a low grade head cold, so it’s probably a good idea to take it easy and have a rest day.