Boys Toys and Todd flying, nice
Well it was for Todd A and can't say it was a bad one for me either. With Todd heading off to France on his holidays he was keen to get his hill endortsement sorted before leaving tomorrow! the weather had not played ball over the last few weeks so things were getting tight.
Still with a forecast slot for early in the morning we got set for an early start with Todd arriving at base at 07.00 having already ridden down on bis motorcycle from Totnes. A quick cuppa to warm up and we set off for Sennen with me on the Bonnie for what turned out to be a cracking ride as we took the coast road, lovely.
Arrival in the carpark and only one other vehicle in it but it was a big one! men in masks, what could be going on?? The wind was off and light but the signs on the water looked good so we wasted no time in rigging, by the time the gliders were out the wind was on so i was up and away into nice lift to test the air. With Todd ready to go I was back down just as a visiting [pilot from the Southern Club, paul arrived to join in the fun.
With a rattle and a flutter the large vehicle suddenly exploded along it's sides and a few thousand pigeons emerged. Quite a sight as they circled around before heading off in a northerly direction, an enquiry from the driver revealled they were heading for Ireland, rather them than me.
it's along way to Ireland !
Luckily Todd was not yet up there but he soon was and had a fun time for 20 minutes soaring the ridge whilst we waited for the lorry to move from the ideal landing spot! Paul joined him briefly timing It just wrong as the lift dropped off seeing him on the beach followed by Todd a few minutes later!
Strange cloud as visitor Paul floats by
Paul hitched a lift back up with the refuse truck and i sold a course to the driver, ideal :) Todd arrived by foot but ready to go again as conditions improved which the did steadily. Paul popped in another flight which whilst a little longer than his first still saw him on the beach, Todd waited. Patience is a virtue and it paid off as a few minutes later he was away in good lift and loving it, a nice soaring flight and top landing was followed by 3 more with the being a cracker in the freshening conditions. To say he smile was big would be an understatement!
Totally Happy Todd
The breeze was now fresh so we called it a day and headed home for another smashing ride on the bikes and more tea.
A few hours work at home where it was a little misty and the sun came out so it was pop the new hangy on the van and off to St Agnes to try her out on the ridge before the upcoming comp,. There were plenty at St Agnes but no one flying although a few floppies had flown and Carez had flown his stiffy reports were mixed with only a few hundred feet o be had. still conditions were changing as the sun came out so I rigged as Carez derigged.
Super Babe gets her first taste of Cornwall, what lovely clean tips
It's always good to take caution and even more so at StAgnes and even more so with a new wing. After a bit of a delay to check conditions and the performance of the seagulls it was time to go for it. Yep conditions were a bit weird or was it the glider?? Squirrely would sum it up and whilst never a fear of going down things were strange on the ridge. Settling down and climbing out a nice section of smooth air appeared and next thing it was dead smooth in a 40 feet per minute climb, wave :) That would explain it, topping out at 1300' ATO the view was lovely and it was time to play with the glider , yep it's lovely and look forward to getting some proper thermalling in soon.
So a cracking day and whats more rounded it off with fish and chips at Godrevy to watch the sun go down, nice.
Tea at Godrevy for seagulls
Quote of the day "well that will be you then!"
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