Belinda and I are here at the pre-Worlds in Valle de Bravo. The
parade is today (Friday) and the competition starts tomorrow. I have flown twice
for a week at a time at Valle in the past going with Ole in his Ford from Hell,
but things are changed quite a bit since then and for the better for most part.

The road out of town toward launch is in better shape and the road to launch is
much improved. There is apparently an underground sliver and gold mine further
up the road so they keep the road in good repair. It is partially paved.

The launch area is four times bigger at least and well rounded. Apparently
$300,000 worth of work on it was paid for by the State of Mexico. The piano
landing is now a much different field, large and a bit further away.

On Friday we had many pilots flying. The Germans and French have been here for a
week. Joerg on the German team told me that they had landed three times at the
small grass airfield between Tanka de Gas and Valle. They had a nice west wind
every time and it was great landing there.

Six downtubes were taken out at the airfield on Friday afternoon. Matt Barker
swung through a carbon fiber down tube. Kip Stone took out two all on his own.
The winds were very switchy.

Saturday only maybe thirty pilots flew. There was a practice task after the task
committee (Zac, Mario, and Rudy) met.

We had a parade through town with little kids on drums and carrying flags. Then
a show of local dancing and dignitaries speaking. Quite something for a
pre-Worlds (category 2 competition).

We may have early tasks here (the task committee meets at 8 AM), as it is
apparently soarable at 10:30 AM. Launch is set for 11:30 on Saturday.

GAP parameters set at 80 km, 2 hours, 25 percent at goal and 8 km minimum.

Zac Majors, Larry Bunner, James Stinnet, Chris Zimmerman, Greg Dinauer, Matt
Barker, Mitch Shipley, Kip Stone, and Paris Williams are here from the US flying.