May 2009
Monthly Archive
Sunday, 24th May 2009
Geoff writes: a very light wind forecast, some component of South. So after much discussion, we finally opted for Bache. We had thought about going to Elan Valley again, but people who went there said it was too far off to the east, and arrived at Bache later.
It was light wind, but basically on, except when dragged off by the thermals. Not really enough ridge lift, so it was just launching into thermals. I tried three times, and got very little, each time slope landing, whilst others did get up, but the best height they were getting was around 1600 ATO, then they hit the inversion. Some people went down to the bottom too. Eventually, everyone left in the air top landed for a while. After a break, a few people launched and it seemed to be better, with them (including Judith) climbing right in front. I launched, and got in the thermal and went straight up, to about 950 metres ASL, with three or four others in the same thermal. Judith had already gone on a glide, and was getting low (and eventually landed). I glided off too, though the others went back to the front.
The climbs were reasonable after that (though it was blundering into them since the day was blue, rather than any proper plan to find them) though my best height gain was around 2100′ – again, the inversion was the problem. Very little drift meant progress was very slow. After a couple more thermals, I finally lost it and landed just NW of Knighton, for a straight line distance of just over 12k – not a lot for an hour and a quarter in the air, but an enjoyable flight, if a bit rough at times.
And it did get me up five places in the League! Track log on XC pages as usual, link on right.
Judith writes: I launched early on after seeing two buzzards thermalling. Wayne, Alex, Steve and I went for it, but all of us struggled. Steve flew into the gully and got up to the higher take-off height while the rest of us slope landed. It was a hot slog back up to a ledge, but I wanted to be in a good position to be able to reach a thermal once I saw a good reason to launch. Read more »
Saturday, 23rd May, 2009
Geoff writes: Amazing, a flyable day….eventually. We thought it would be SW, eventually going round to west, so decided to drive the hour plus to Elan Valley, on the hope of launching before it got too windy, and getting some distance. Didn’t work, too windy, even for HGs. Eventually, we gave up and went back to the Long Mynd, where it did eventually drop and go west, for a very pleasant few hours of soaring, though no chance of going XC. But ridge soaring on a pleasant summer evening (well, almost summer) has a lot going for it.
Hopefully, though, tomorrow is an XC day!
Friday, 22nd May 2009
Judith 22 May 2009 | : Archery
Overcast, windy and chilly, there was no way it was flyable for paragliders. We took the hang glider up the Mynd in the afternoon, but it was gusty and off to the south, so we decided to wait and see what happened and went to do archery instead.
Rich came along to have a go and he’s a natural. After about half an hour he moved on to 30 yards and he’s really accurate. When I first started I couldn’t hit the stand, never mind getting golds!
On the way back it was even further off and we didn’t even bother to stop and check the wind.
Thursday, 21st May 2009
Geoff 22 May 2009 | : Archery, Flying
Geoff writes: well, amazingly enough, it was flyable, for hang gliders at least. In the morning we loaded up the van with my hang glider, the paragliders and the archery stuff. Drove past the Mynd launch. It was windy, big clouds, but probably ok for hang gliders. We carried on driving and went to archery for a leisurely few hours, doing some shooting, getting some coaching advice, and chatting.
We then drove back to the Mynd, late afternoon, where the wind had picked up, but the sky was perfect. Pete had flown his hang glider a couple of times already. I rigged, and though the wind was still strong, had a nice flight for an hour, getting around 1600′ ATO, before leaving the thermal and coming back to the front – I could have gone with it, but it was late in the day and not worth it. I thought it was quite smooth, though Wayne said it was a bit rough.
People were still flying hang gliders when we left, getting quite high (maybe there was some wave about) and a red streamer, Stewart, was about to launch. Hopefully, you had a good flight Stewart!
The wind never really dropped enough for paragliders (other than Nigel on his Bobcat, a speedwing), though right at the end of the day, as it was getting dark, we did see two PGs flying.
So for me at least it was a fun day, and the first flight on the HG for a few months.
Wednesay, 20th May 2009
Geoff 20 May 2009 | : Boring stuff
Geoff writes: Is this the worst May ever? Well, it’s getting that way. More wind, more rain. Did work, DIY, and Judith went to the gym this evening.
But, just maybe, it might be flyable tomorrow, at least for the hang glider. We’ll see….
Tuesday, 19th May 2009
Judith 20 May 2009 | : Miscellaneous activities
We drove down to Cirencester to spend the day with Geoff’s family. It made a nice change to be out of the house, and we were fed and watered in style. Still no change in the weather. Wind, heavy showers, but a lovely sunny evening to have dinner in the conservatory.
Monday, 18th May 2009
Judith 19 May 2009 | : Miscellaneous activities
I won’t even bother mentioning the weather. I am getting bored writing about it. We had a very productive working day and then tried to get the video to record. Geoff is a techie, but even he couldn’t get our VCR to get smoochy with Michaela’s TV. Just means we have to watch Martin Knight in 1066 – The Fight for Middle Earth online at Channel 4.
In the evening we went to music night at the Bridges with Michaela, Wayne and Andrew. Always a good night, but last night there was a surprise set from The Wonderstuff. They were excellent.