**Under Construction**
This year there was no earlier-scheduled Bash that got canceled due to snow or other inclement weather. In 2014 the event date was set to coincide with the DNR Trails Day so that there would be a large turnout to impress the Department of Natural Resources. Mission accomplished: of the 90 volunteers who signed in for the work party, I counted about 50 pilots and friends. Flying was good after work and got better the later it got. C.J. and I camped at Jeff and Stacy Beck's with two other A-frames and a bunch of other RVs, trailers and tents. It was a big weekend for eating as we went out Friday night to the Chuckanut Manor for the seafood and prime rib buffet, Saturday night was the big potluck, and breakfast Sunday consisted of blueberry pancakes, sausage and scrambled eggs cooked on the charcoal firepit.6 Jun, Fri - We didn't get started until 1015 (and still forgot several items) but we made it to Burlington for gas at Costco and a stop for cash at a BofA ATM. Stacy helped us into a small spot between some of the big cedars, leaving room near the fence where we had parked the last two years for expected big rigs like Mike Daily's. Murdoch and Jan offered us a ride to the top with Sid, and, later, gave us a ride back to the Becks. It would have been nice to have an hour of soaring the way folks who launched at 1800 had but we flew earlier so that we'd have time to get cleaned up to go to dinner. We both got to thermal and climb over launch but then lost the lift and ended up with 20 minutes or less. After cleaning up and changing clothes C.J. and I drove down to Chuckanut Manor where we had reservations for 1930. We had a table for two right against a window looking out on the Bay. We ordered a drink (Porch Swing for C.J. and a dark stout from Bellingham for me) and then loaded our plates with salads, shrimp cocktail, salmon, oysters and prime rib. There was no need to be concerned that the restaurant would stop bringing out more food - the serving trays were still full when we left at 2100. To really fill (overfill) any empty spaces, the NY cheesecake and Kahlua chocolate mousse cake were irresistible. Back at Becks Jeff had kindled (read, used propane blowtorch to ignite a stack of split logs) a fire in the BBQ pit and that drew a crowd, even from the tight-knit group around Murdoch and Jan's new 1958 travel trailer. It never got cold but we were ready for bed way before the diehards left the campfire.
7 Jun, Sat - Since we were meeting the DNR at the lower trailhead at 0900 we needed to get up at a reasonable hour, fix breakfast and get on the move. We gave Janet and Joris, Blackcomb PG guides back when we flew there in the 90s, a ride. The parking lot was already full but I double parked and hoped that no one would need to leave before I did. REI wasn't a sponsor this year but there were lots of Costco snacks for the 90 or so folks from the foot launch community plus the mountain bike, backcountry horsemen and trail runner contingents. Fifty or so of us pilots and friends went up to launch to weedwhack and generally spruce up the area. The big job was to move all the branches from the large trees that had been cut a few days prior down in front of the west launch. C.J. borrowed a hard hat and went down there while I puttered around the overlook area. We were running out of things to do about the time Matty set up to do a tandem with a DNR official. When he soared, people began to put away tools and get out the wings. C.J. and I hung out for a while then went down to the lower trailhead for the lunch. Guy and Sid were cooking up sausages and burgers on Guy's BarBeChoo, and there were fruit salads, chips, soft drinks and fresh cookies. After lunch we went back up and C.J. flew. It didn't look all that soarable so I drove down to pick up C.J., Chris A. and John Schneebeck. We went back to launch and this time when C.J. got 100-200 ft over launch I took off also. I found the same lift to the right of the west launch and thermaled up enough to be on top of the stack for a short time. Then the lift seemed to shut off and I ended up in the LZ with only 15 min of airtime. Fortunately Beth wanted to go back up for another flight (she had driven down after Ernie flew) so I could ride up with them while C.J. and Chris went to Becks by a somewhat roundabout route with Vince. By the time I had retrieved the Sorento down the dusty road food was being brought out for the potluck and Jeff was starting to cook the chicken and salmon. There was a great assortment of tasty food - more than enough to feed everyone. Jeff and Stacy had acquired more picnic tables and patio seating this year - we didn't need our folding chairs at all. Later, just before dark, Jeff torched off the huge bonfire and there was no reason for anyone to feel chilly at all. We went to bed around 2230 but had some trouble getting to sleep because the guy parked just behind us was running his noisy truck engine on and off until after 2300.
8 Jun, Sun - We slept in a little later and then heated up some water for tea and cocoa. Pretty soon Jeff had a charcoal fire going and had volunteers flipping blueberry pancakes and making scrambled eggs and sausages. There was also some of the yummy fruit salad left over from lunch. Another delicious Blanchard Bash breakfast! Well before noon we returned to launch and found Jeff, Lenny and Tom Johns setting up their hang gliders. They launched and had short flights. I guess they then went to BJ with other hangies and got great flights (to 6200 ft, I heard). Mattie launched with another DNR official and managed a soaring flight from the south launch. Wayne Maxwell also got up and milked the lift for a good long flight. Pretty soon the wind clocked around and came up the west launch so everyone moved over there. Even later I went to look at the south launch and it was working again so I carried my stuff back there with C.J.'s help. Everyone was very helpful and encouraging - I was definitely in line to be the sacrificial wind dummy. And that's what happened - a good cycle got me in the air but then there was no sustaining lift at all and I had a seven-minute flight. Joelle launched after me and also had a sledder. Then there was a long wait before conditions improved. Eventually I got a ride up with local hang pilot Sean. C.J was just launching as I got to the Overlook and she found good but somewhat rough lift to 1000 ft over. I drove down and ate lunch then packed up the trailer. I left a message with C.J. and she called when she landed. The plan was to meet her at Colony road with the car and trailer. When I got there she was just arriving in a convertible sports car. It must have been after 1600 when we started home, Since there was little traffic we made good time and were home by 1730 or so. We were sorely in need of a shower and some rest but it had been a great weekend.
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