Storms a brewin' (Chabre Open Day 1)

 

Low rumble off in the distance.

A minute passes.

Another, closer.

Another minute.

Yet another, nearly overhead.

Pat.

Pat..Pat.

PatPatPatPatPatPatPatPatPatPatPatPatPatPat....

A quarter hour must have passed - one could easily keep time with the metronome like quality of the passing storm cell interval.

During one deluge, I enquire at the restaurant downstairs as to what breakfast entails. Toast, jam, and coffee - 6 euro. The hotels in downtown Vancouver would be proud. Remember from last year: Pay more, expect less. So self assembled sandwiches it will be, necessitating a game of downpour dodgeball to the Casino Supermarche.

With ear and eye to the sky, I start the short 10 minute jaunt to the supermarche. No sign of any more cells, perhaps it is passing. Maybe today will be salvageable ('hope is a denial of reality').

Back in time for the briefing, the task is a no go. Those that are interested (aka the non-X class/special needs pilots) stick around for Jocky's presentation on XC flying immediately following the briefing.

A few of the pilots decide to kill time by tossing a rubber boot around.

 

Yes, a rubber boot.

Seriously, a rubber boot.

There is an expression, "Few things are more dangerous than a bored skydiver." I am starting to see a paragliding parallel.

The only other event of note is the NED/MEX futbol match. A large screen tele is setup in the Main Tent and anyone who is not Dutch becomes an honorary Mexican and can partake in the margarita making contest (do they even sell tequila in France?). It is left to the readers imagination how this ends. A little hint, the briefing the next morning was missing a few pilots.

Storms should clear out today though the wind is expected to pick up.


 

Non-Practice Day (Chabre Open Day 0)

A 4 AM start here in Marseille.

Everything has to fall into place travel wise if I am to have any chance of making registration and the mandatory pilots meeting at 0930 in Laragne.

0615 - Hotel Shuttle

After a quick breakfast, the hotel shuttle drops me off at the bus stop in front of the airport. The MRS-Aix shuttle runs on the hour and the half and takes 30 minutes to arrive at its terminus near the Aix regional rail station (not to be confused with the TGV station).

0625 -MRS bus loop

The driver returns from his smoke break. I motion to my glider bag and the open compartment then query, 'le sac, ici?'

A grunt and a nod.

Boarding, I ask, 'Tu vas aux Aix centre ville, gare routiere?'

A grunt and a nod.

Lightened by 8.20 euro, off to the Aix bus station.

Much like LHR Terminal 1, the bus remains devoid of life for the entire trip aside from the driver and myself. Possibly an omen?

0655 - Aix Centre Ville

Arriving in Aix, I disembark and ask, 'Ou est la gare SNCF?'

The driver motions up the road and states, 'La. Gauche.'

Despite being loaded down with 70 pounds of kit, I make good time heading up the road. Spotting a road bridge crossing over tracks to my left, I walk onto it and notice the station. I enter the small single room waiting area with a few minutes to spare. It is 0705 and the monitor above shows my train, 17400 - Briancon departing at 0712.

The train arrives, I 'composte la billet' using the yellow pedestal mounted machines flanking either side of the entrance to the platform, and board.

The train as you can guess is near empty (not many folk travelling into rural France at this hour on a weekend) and becomes more so as we pass through station after station. The decreasing levels of graffiti on buildings near the tracks catch my attention as we head further north, as does the general degree of disrepair. By Sisteron, the towns begin to resemble what I remember from my time in Doussard last year.

0845 - Laragne.

Disembarking, I begin a quick march to Camping Monteglin. Having 'walked' the route in Google Street View before leaving Vancouver helps immensely as no time is wasted with wrong turns.

0900 - Camping Monteglin

Checked in and gear dropped off in the room. 

I head back down to the comp registration table and fill out the pre-requisite forms.

I receive my competitor id, the standard issue t-shirt, and 'goodie bag'.

GPS is then loaded up with waypoints. All told, the entire process takes less than five minutes - certainly a vote in favour of 'late' registration.

Returning to the room, I reconfigure the kit for flying.

0930 - the Main Tent.

Several familiar faces from last years trip to Annecy plus Alex from back home. The organizers gather up the herd of cats and begins the standard pre-comp briefing. In summary, "don't be an idiot".

1030 - the Shuttles

The mass makes its way to the buses to head up to the Chabre launch for the practice task. The drive is rather pleasant, being paved almost the entire way, but long. A short hike reveals a long ridge line with enough room for the entire comp cohort to layout.

This would be wonderful aside from the fact that the windsocks are in full on salmon swimming upstream mode. A lone Ozone Mantra launches, eventually climbs above launch and gets parked.

1200 - Task briefing.

Long story, short - task is a no go. Folk are free to free fly. I get a ride down and word afterwards is that one of the Swedes didn't realize his wing had a pair of line twists, pulls up, gets lifted, stalls the wing, gets dropped and breaks a rib or two. The comp ends for him even before it starts. Another case of air horniness vs. proper pre-flight.

1700 - the Main Tent

A meat and cheese social is put on for the competitors. I decide to try out the GoPro + Gorilla grip with some time lapse - will be great to see how it turns out.

The forecast for tomorrow does not look promising - storms expected.
 

Aeroplanes, trains, et les automobiles - Part 2 (Chabre Open Day -1)

Heathrow holding pattern - an aerial labyrinth into which many a flight enter possibly to never be heard from again.

So went the warning from the captain, but we have a trump card.

A medical emergency (which turned out to be a false alarm, but that wasn't discovered until we were at the gate).

A rapid descent and a straight in approach - no time was wasted getting us a gate. The paramedics pile onto the plane, check the woman downstairs over and give the all clear.

One way to ensure you make a tight connection, I guess.

The herd crawls its way off the plane and brings with it a revelation. I used to be of the opinion that the title of slowest moving mammal on the planet was held by the old ladies driving on No.3 Road in Richmond.

Not anymore - it is Brits with drag bags disembarking a plane. If there was a fire, long pork BBQ would the daily special.

Nary a Canuck flag visible on my kit, I take on the mantle of  quintessential Yank and unapologetically shoulder my way through the gelatinous mass of frequent fliers.

I make my way through Terminal 5, following the stream of Purple Flight Connections signs to an awaiting bus to take me to ...

Terminal 1.

Take a well planned and laid out airport terminal - Heathrow Terminal 1 is everything but. Look up Charlie Foxtrot in a dictionary, you will likely something akin to see also LHR Terminal 1.

The terminal itself was a ghost town, perhaps being used as a set for the next installment of 28 Days Later. Few living souls, aside from myself and the security staff.

Not one to dwell, I get lost a few times before eventually stumbling upon the BA International Lounge near Gate 5. A few more hours killed before I make my way to the gate holding my flight to Marseille.

I am starting to learn, anything involving a mix of Brit and French travellers is destined to become a gong show. The recent French ATC strike has resulted in the flight being oversold (not to mention the mass of standbys). Bodies are packed into the tube of a waiting area, trying to inch closer to the gate door. Each knows that the last on will have no where to stash their bags and will have to use the dreaded under seat storage, eating away at what pittance of leg room BA has gifted them on the A319.

The tension builds, as do tempers. Finally the CSR relents and starts to call rows. I snag my aisle seat in Club Europe and do not have too long a wait before we depart. Another uneventful flight, aside from a cheese offering with the meal that had to rank amongst the worst things I had ever tasted. Note to self: avoid cheese sporting its own ecosystem of flora.

In Marseille, I have the info desk ring up the hotel for the shuttle, and make my way to the curbside waiting area. Tipping the driver comes with an unexpected benefit as he also works behind the front desk. A room upgrade and a half price breakfast.

Not long afterwards fatigue over takes me and I call it a night with an early start planned.




 

Aeroplanes, trains, et les automobiles - Part 1 (Chabre Open Day -2)

Thursday starts with my very own personalized "The Terminal" experience. Advancing a paraglider laden cart through a patrol circuit of domestic, international and US departures.

For 8 hours.

The only thing breaking the monotony - a visit to the bag wrapping store. Ten dollars for peace of mind that I won't need to dry a soaked through reserve from a passing storm as baggage is loaded or face a broken shoulder strap that became jammed in a conveyer. Small price to pay and a welcome distraction from the to and fro.

1530 hrs creeps into view.

My imaginary gatekeeper, forcing this circuit, relents. Wasting no time, I check my Saran Wrap'd wing and bee line for security.

On the other side, near Gate 64, awaits the first part of a self-gifted 40th b-day present.

Yes ladies and gents, this year we fly in style.

Once inside, we find:

A well stocked open bar.

Choice of wine and coffee.

 

 

 

And seating aplenty.

To top this all off, I even happen to chance upon a former colleague with whom I had worked on EAs Need For Speed franchise many a moon before.

8PM rolls around and its time to make our way to the gate. The steerage is growing restless, jockeying for position in some vain hope they might get on ahead of the person next to them.

Ushered onboard ahead of the stampede, I climb the stairs of the 747-400 to the upper deck and look for my seat - the much coveted 64A. 64A is a lie flat pod that is blessed with a unique location that effectively seals if off from the remainder of the cabin. No one walking past or over.

No departure is complete without the traditional glass of champagne.

This evening the upper deck is an oasis of tranquility in comparison to the cacophony of screaming babies and banshee snorers located below.

Take off is non eventful, though it is quite noticeable how much slower the Queen of the Skies is in relation to newer, more powerful offerings. It does not take long before menus are handed out and dinner orders are taken.

Selected are:

First Course:
Roasted Pear with baby lettuce, spiced pecans, and crumbled goats cheese.
Fresh seasonal salad served with vinaigrette.

Main Course:
Chilled main course salad of grilled chicken supreme with cranberry, apricot, and wheatberry.

I forego desert, reconfigure the seat into a bed, and call it a night.

 

 

Tomorrow - Heathrow.
 

This is how we roll @ YVR.

And ... Decompress

A week and a half into the impromptu summer sabbatical. A week and a half of meet'n'greets, phone screens and in person technical obstacle courses. A week and a half of polishing the sales pitch and building a 'brand'.

A few things I have learned -> prospects only call when you are in the midst of an interview with some form of C*O (CEO, CTO, CSO, etc.), be ready for the left field curves balls ('If your life could be made into a movie, what would it be called and who would play the lead'),  glassdoor.com and the Robert Half Tech salary survey are invaluable, aptitude is important but attitude is key, and be ready for some interesting responses when you narrow the field and have to say, "Thank you but I am pursuing another opportunity." (maybe I am in the minority, but I don't do bidding wars).

That all said, it has been a great experience and I agree with the advice that even if you are happy in your current job, do an interview or two each year - the exposure to new processes and technologies alone is worth it, let alone the opportunity to expand your network of contacts.

Fast forward to now - Thursday morning at YVR with a plate of Chow Fun and Sesame Chicken (only in Vancouver can you get gwai-lo Chinese at 830 AM), and an informal offer in the inbox for an amazing opportunity where the job req had a list of candidate requirements a few pages long.

Two weeks of much needed paragliding in France comes into view on the horizon.

And ... Decompress.

 

A 'Crow' leaves the nest...

‘Last Day’ approaches.

In the past I would send out a simple email thanking everyone for a wonderful opportunity to learn, create, and grow. Those were days when I counted myself amongst the junior engineers. Now I am one of the ‘old timers’, and yes I do want to thank you all for the wonderful opportunity to learn, create, grow AND share.

But, like the old grandpa in the corner, I feel obliged to pass on some semblance of wisdom.

The benefit of a career is that we get multiple chances to apply the lessons that we learn. Make a mistake, stumble, fall, get back up and dust ourselves off. Through these experiences we gain wisdom. I could offer words about the importance of this or that, but in reality the best way to learn about the working world is via experience.

That said, life, life is a little different.

There will come a point when an enlightenment will strike, a satori of sorts. Each of us will realize that there lies more years behind us than ahead. How we absorb this reality will depend heavily on the absence of three phrases in our vernacular, “would have, “could have”, and “should have”. Each of these reflects regret and an absence of resolve.

20 years ago, a friend gifted me a copy of '365 Tao’. There is one entry that has stuck with me since:

RESOLVE

Banish uncertainty.
Affirm strength.
Hold resolve.
Expect death.

Make your stand today. On this spot. On this day. Make your actions
count; do not falter in your determination to fulfill your destiny.
Don't follow the destiny outlined in some mystical book: Create your
own.

Your resolve to tread the path of life is your best asset. Without
it, you die. Death is unavoidable, but let it not be from loss of will
but because your time is over. As long as you can keep going, use your
imagination to cope with the travails of life. Overcome your obstacles
and realize what you envision.

You will know unexpected happiness. You will know the sorrow of
seeing what is dearest to you cut down before your eyes. Accept that.
That is the nature of human existence, and you have no time to buffer
this fact with fairy tales and illogical explanations.

Each day, your life grows shorter by twenty-four hours. The time to
make achievements becomes more precious. You must fulfill everything you
want in life and then release your will upon the moment of death. Your
life is a creation that dies when you die. Release it, give up your
individuality, and in so doing, finally merge completely with Tao.

Until that moment, create the poetry of your life with toughness and
determination.


365 Tao: Daily Meditations
Deng Ming-Dao


I am extremely proud to have worked with each and every one of you, a team that had the resolve to set the bar by which others are judged and see us become a household name in children’s entertainment and education.

Mark.

(This is my last day with Loud Crow Interactive. Sitting at a career crossroads with untold opportunity awaiting.)