The gliding activity was statistically similar to the previous season but with more flying hours, 30 flying days out of 60 days available and 200 hours against 160 in the past year, an average of 7 hours per flight, the longest being 12h40 January 7th, this was also the last flight and the longest distance (2,200 km).
The thirty days were lost exclusively for meteorological reason, either rain or windless blue sky, because luckily the only and final failure of the engine occurred January 8th, the last day of wind until our departure February 16th. On these 30 days, 27 were wave flights with winds varying from full South to NW for speeds between 20 and 180 km/h; we therefore have been well served with diversity and this season was altogether very interesting. And as we had a Zodiac inflatable at our disposal with all the fishing equipment, the days of “lake mirror” were a true pleasure. When one remembers the storms of wind, cold and rain of the previous years, it is difficult to imagine the heavenly side of these lakes and snow-covered volcanoes in full summer, as for example the Tronador seen from the surface February 6th.
Whereas the French were celebrating November 11th in contemplation and generally under dullness, Bariloche was celebrating the feast of the Tradition and the return of the spring, where the estancieros and other gauchos of the region meet in their most beautiful costumes, Saturday being dedicated to the parade in the town and Sunday is dedicated to the equestrian games and the inescapable “doma” or rodeo where the game consists in remaining 14 seconds on the back of a wild horse especially prepared for this game. That day the ambulance intervened only once.
