Tibbets to Chelan

Looks like the summer pattern of blue skies and strong lift are starting to come to fruition. Been wanting to fly this route to Chelan for awhile now. I thought it could be done. With a classic leeside thermal taking me to 10,500ft over Tibbets at 3pm, I blasted off to the North over Burch Mountain where I dont wanna ever be low again If I can help it. Luckily I was high today to just keep on gliding past it. Working with the SW winds strong at times in the dry desolate mountains to the North I worked a snaky thermal there before crossing the Columbia River at Orondo. Arriving at the rim high enough the SW winds were hitting the rim and blasting apart the lift. I took what I could get there and headed in to the flats a little bit ( my least favorite place to fly or unluckiest!) and worked some strong cores but they would only top out around 7000ft. Working this lift for awhile, wondering where that 11,000ft boomer was, I went North more directly to the rim again and worked some squeaky wind battered lift there. From then on I just followed some broken lifty lines to the soccer field. It was late around 4:30 or so when I arrived, launched Tibbets at 3pm a late one to find the big boomers over the flats that I keep hearing about so much lately. A fun flight in the blue sky, wishing I had some more friends to join me along the way. Nary a soul at the Butte or in the LZ when I arrived. Lots of walking, thumbing, a bus, and a couple friends on either end to help me get home. SM