Reward!

Well today I was determined not to stay in the house and I was desperate to make sure I eked out as much from the day as possible, so I packed a cool bag with juice, water and a snack of Cheese and TUC biscuits yum! and set off expecting an awful lot of sitting around and waiting.  When I arrived at the hill (about 10:30) I was pleasantly surprised to find that the hill was on! a slight Westerly wind and very nice constant wind was blowing and after 15 minutes of watching and assessing I decided to get my glider out and give it a bash!  No sooner had I laid my wing o the take  off than the wind died away to nothing and a few minutes later it was blowing over the back of the hill from the North!

Oh well I thought at least I was prepared for this!  I walked about the hill for a bit and decided to tidy up the mats as some of them had wondered away from their original positions.  Quick check of the wind and it was still off so I sat on the rock to the right of take off and it was then that I noticed the Harriers flying out to the ranges from Akrotiri.  I know it's cabbagey but I like that sort of thing.  a few minutes later there was a plume of water went up on the horizon followed by a whooshing sound hmm? the Harriers appear to be bombing the sea I thought!  and this made for about half an hours viewing whilst I waited!  Well I waited until 14:00 and had nearly decided to just go home when Dave arrived he took one look at the hill and said "well it's on the strong side but looks doable! you want to go first?"  I accepted and gingerly got my glider out!  It felt strong but with the added confidence of a buddy standing by I lifted up on my A's and found it very difficult to launch, as though I wasn't penetrating so I pushed my hands up as far as they would go and after a quick step to the left I was off and soon very high over the ruins.  Dave followed me up and played around for a bit on the Eastern side.

Graham turned up about half an hour later and I noticed Dave top land to greet him and they made their way to the sandpit to try out the tandem.

Graham was in a fairly good mood as he had finished for the day and is going home in the morning! I told him you're not home until the jet has landed in Brize Norton and then you're at the mercy of MT!

A good launch from Dave and they were in the air (briefly) I top landed and drove down to pick them up!  Graham had enjoyed himself but Dave was fairly nonplussed with his flight! he was muttering under his breath about the wind appearing to be good but it's just not enough mutter mutter!  we drove back to the top and Dave had a look to see if he could launch the tandem from the top but later decided against it as it was quite gusty there.  A quick walk later and a much better launch saw them back in the air for a reasonable 15 -20 minute flight!

I drove down to the bottom and picked them up again and then had a nifty 30 minute flight in very pleasant air before packing up and going for tea at Dave's house.  Cheers Dave and Elena!