May 2011
Monthly Archive
Tuesday, 31st May 2011
Geoff writes: an epic (in the true sense of the word) sky, bang on at the Mynd, but – of course – far too windy for paragliders. Hang gliders flew all afternoon, and I was considering taking mine out in the morning, except at one point it started pouring here, and there were some very big clouds around. However, as forecast, the sky did clear, which was when it turned into a really good XC sky, and, but for the wind, it would have been a good day for PGs. In the end, though, I decided to opt for archery. Driving back home late afternoon over the Mynd, it was even windier, though at the time of writing this, about 8.00pm, I can see one PG flying.
Monday, 30th May 2011
Geoff writes: finally, a forecast where it might just be flyable. The forecast was light westerlies in the morning, cloudy, with some rain, and winds picking up later. By and large, that was true, but somewhat of an underestimation. There was a lot of rain in the morning, only stopping around 2.00pm or so. People started flying around 2.15 or so, and I went out shortly afterwards. It was nicely soarable, and surprisingly thermic, given how wet the ground was. It was easy to get high, and an XC was certainly possible, but base seemed low, and the clouds were still quite big. After an hour in the air, the wind seemed to be picking up, so I landed. The more the sky cleared, the windier it got, until everyone was on the ground, even the speed wings. The one hang glider which rigged, de-rigged without flying for some reason, though it was certainly OK for a hang glider.
And that was it really, no-one flew again since the wind never dropped off. Still, nice to fly a bit, at least.
Sunday, 29th May 2011
Geoff writes: too windy to fly, of course, so a day of house jobs, gardening, and finally something more interesting, archery, trying out my new bow some more. It is much better, much more accurate at greater distances; but I’ll still talk to them about getting a better one.
Saturday, 28th May 2011
Geoff writes: well, as usual, it was very windy. It was also very, very cloudy in the morning, I couldn’t even see the Mynd, so that ruined Plan A, which was going walking in the Berwyns. So, after doing a few things around the house, the weather improved, the sun came out, and I went to the archery club to try out my new bow. It is a lot better than the old one, but I’m not absolutely sure it is the right one yet. I’ll try it again in the next few days, and if not, it’s a trip back to the shop to get a more expensive one.
No-one, as far as I know, flew on the Mynd today. It was very top end for HGs too, and I didn’t see any in the air, or at the parking as I drove past, and I didn’t want to fly on my own.
Friday, 27th May 2011
Geoff 28 May 2011 | : Archery, Miscellaneous activities
Geoff writes: it was flyable for hang gliders all day at the Mynd, but this week, I wasn’t that motivated to go and do some ridge soaring. Instead, I did what was planned for Tuesday – went to Wroxeter Roman city. This was the fourth largest city in Roman Britain, and is, I think, the only one which has no modern city built over it, being entirely in green fields. The interpretation and museum were pretty good, but what surprised me is how small an area has been excavated – just some of the basilica, the baths, and a market area. This is primarily a money issue, with most archaeology being rescue archaeology – done in advance of building work which would destroy the remains for ever. Given that the Wroxeter remains are under fields, not going to be built on, there is no rush to excavate; also, recent geophysical surveys have given a good idea of the extent and layout of the city.
Nevertheless, it is a shame more has not been excavated, and it’s a least possible that excavating more would attract more visitors, and at least partly pay for the work, as well as providing a better educational experience for visitors.
Still, even so, well worth a visit.
After that, I went to Bowsports to buy a new bow. I’ve been meaning to do this for a while – something a bit more powerful than the bow I’m currently using, which I’m not that happy with. Cheaper to buy from them online than in person, but at least this way I could try it out there and then. So I came away with a nice new bow.
Driving back over the Mynd, some hang gliders were flying, but, as I said, I wasn’t that motivated.
In the evening, went to see Nikki Rous with Wayne and Andrew. She is a brilliant singer and writer, who we have seen before. Tonight, she was playing, free, at the Lowfield Inn. They have free music every Friday, but I don’t think they advertise it at all well, and the couple of times we have been, the audiences have been very small. Still, it was a great night. If you ever get the chance, go and see her!
Week beginning the 23rd May…
Judith 27 May 2011 | : Holiday
I’ve come up to Scotland for a bit of a ramble and to see family. The weather’s mixed, but at least it allows for walks along the seaside.
Sunday, 22nd May 2011
Geoff 22 May 2011 | : Archery, Miscellaneous activities
Geoff writes: whilst yesterday was windy, today was howling (and tomorrow is forecast even stronger, with gales of 70 mph). It was also very thermic, which added to the strong winds. Way to windy to fly, of course, so we went to the Midland Gliding Club open day. Like all gliding clubs, in Europe at least, they are suffering declining (and ageing) membership, and hoped to get more members through this. Unfortunately, whilst it was well-attended, the wind was too strong for them to take up people on taster flights, but maybe they will be able to do that later on this week or next. Presumably numbers are declining because of a) cost, b) people just aren’t as physically active as they used to be, and c) people are more selfish, and gliding involves a lot of co-operation to get off the ground (unlike paragliding and hang gliding, which seem to attract a relatively high proportion of selfish people – though still, fortunately, a small minority).
We then went to the archery field, where it was OK to shoot, since in this wind direction it is quite protected. I badly need a new bow, more powerful, and spent most of the time chatting to people trying to work out what to buy. I’ve plenty of time to look around this week, since the winds are forecast strong for the rest of the week.