Venezuelan International

Wednesday. Task 5. Race to goal: Guacamaya to Nueguera Race Track 71km

The thermals above launch always seem so rough. We experience off-the-clock lift and wire-slackening holes. If you lose it here you have to scoot over the pass to the right of take-off before getting too low or you can't reach Gaucamaya which is on the other side of the hill. The valley in front is not really landable. Whilst still on launch I see Toby scratching low down. He has left it too late to make Gaucamaya field. He comes on the radio to say he's going to try and put it down in the gulch below launch.
He later tells me, "So I set off down the valley, looking for somewhere to land. There was a road running down it so retrieve wasn't an issue - but absolutely nowhere flat. Just steep steep slopes, wires, houses etc. I realised it was time to test the 'I could land it there if I really had to' claims I've been making to myself for years on glides over dodgy terrain. I picked a steep grassy shoulder just above the road, went in fast ten feet over telephone wires and made a perfect landing just on the crest of the shoulder!"
Two novel experiences for me: One, thermalling above takeoff but below the radio mast and circling around it before climbing out. Two, Get very low near Bella Vista and catch a rough thermal marked by several birds - mostly small vultures. As I'm circling a large eagle cuts in front of me but is looking the other way. When he gets within a few feet of my noseplate and a collision looks inevitable I shout out at him. He turns to face me, Wings akimbo and vanishes over my leading edge. I'm sure I feel him snag my top rigging. At the top of the thermal I glide off with a squadron of vultures at my wingtip.
At their landing field Gordon, Pete and Nelson Franquiz are each relieved of 2000 Bolivars 'protection money' by crack addicts. Gordon only has a 5000 note and asks for change. No chance Gringo! He also 'loses' his watch and hat.