Australian Diary …part 18!

—Today is a social day of visits , food and drinks.
Slowly the smoke came in again at 9.30. The East runway 36/18 was not visible.
Now at 11 it is still hazy to the East but a bit better.
William [in Narromine] just shared a picture from the current fires.

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!
As shared by William Stalenburg.

—My accommodation is organized in Lake Keepit, so I don’t have to worry about that and it seems even better now, as I stay AT the field, so no car needed!!
WHY, I will be there is a bit of a story.
My plan was to NOT go to Australia this year. After a concussion which took longer than I thought, I had decided to stay in Holland.
My daughter Inge however found me a real good deal on a ticket.
I had 24 hours to decide.
I decided YES I GO and that meant leaving Holland within one week AND only travelling back on January 22.
One way or another George had a conversation with Mandy.
He told her about my longer stay which fitted in the WWGC period.
When they needed me I could be there he said. I did n’t even know, only later!
We all thought about it and here in Tocumwal the decision was made that I was added to the media team doing my own thing in soaring.eu to spread the word about the WWGC world wide.
I feel very honored….and pleased.

So now I am going to be part of the race for 3 new WWGC champions in Lake Keepit. Out of 47 pilots from 10 countries in 3 classes there will be 3 new ones.
At this stage 14 pilots entered in 18 m. class, 16 in standard class and 17 in club class .
NOW the current champions are still German pilot Katrin Senne in 18 m. class , Sabrina Vogt also from Germany in Club Class and French pilot Aude Grangeray in Standard class.

SCHEDULE:
Between December 28 -30 is the pilot and team registration and technical inspection.
First TC meeting on December 30 at 7 PM.
Mandatory safety briefing at December 31 at 9.30 AM.
Official training Tuesday December 31 to Thursday January 2 in 2020.
Opening Ceremony on Friday January 3.
Contest flying; January 3-January 17 2020
Farewell Party January 17 in the evening.
Closing ceremony and prize-giving at January 18 at 10 AM.
So now you are up to date to the schedule.

All news at wwgc2019.com
live tracking; wwgc2019.com/live-tracking
facebook; facebook.com/WWGC2019
twitter; @10thWWGC
instagram; instagram.com/10thWWGC

—-Arne shared some pictures from his competition in Welkom and I share a few nice ones as well.

Arne with John [Coutts]
As shared by Arne J. Boye-Møller

And, …the CHAMPION,..Oscar with Carol to the left.
As shared by Arne J. Boye-Møller

——————————————

More later.
2.30 PM:
Had a great lunch with Chrissie and Stuart and their grand children. Chrissie runs a great AIR B & B in the alley behind her shop ;
the 44 Alley Way. Had a look at it …just beautiful.In the middle of town!!![entire house with 3 beds]
Also Libby runs a very beautiful AIR B & B a bit closer to the airfield:
The SILVER PORCH RETREAT.[entire house with 4 beds]
Both are high quality!!!Both were booked during the Nationals and a great deal of the summer.
Look at AIR B and B’s in Tocumwal when you are interested.
https://www.airbnb.com.au/s/Tocumwal–Australia
Motels are great and well prized too there are enough of them.

Found a picture from the fires here in Tocumwal around the airfield. Believe maybe 1991.
One of the most scary things in my life.