Geoff and I at the birthday bash.There was some discussion in the pub last night amongst the comp crowd whether it would be flyable today or not, and I thought not. It was windy at 7.30am and when we drove up to the Long Mynd with the hangie, the comp guys were coming down the hill towards us, having cancelled the day. So no tasks for the Nationals at all. Shame, after the good week last year.

We got to the top of the hill and it was howling. Too strong even for the HG. We went back down the hill and had coffee with Pat Dower and then did a couple of hours of gardening. By 4pm the wind was dropping and a HG launched. We drove back up and Geoff flew.

At night we went off to Newcastle-under-Lyme for Dave B.’s 40th birthday bash. Great do and nice to see old friends again. Haven’t seen Dave and Jenny for a couple of years, but it was just like old times!

Geoff’s comments: I flew the hang glider for about 30 minutes or so. It was actually flyable for HGs for much of the afternoon and evening, but earlier on it was quite strong. My flight wasn’t up to much, really I was just flying for the sake of flying, need the practice on the HG. There was no chance of XC, base very low, and sky indifferent. And I only got to about 500′ (though before I arrived, Wayne had got to 1000′ a few times). But for me, it was essentially ridge soaring. Some people found it rough, but I – even with my low tolerance for roughness – thought it was OK. I think maybe there was a bit of wave, and whether or not you found it rough depended very much on where you were on the ridge. Also, the wind was well off to the south, which doesn’t help at the Mynd.

As we left around 6.00 (to get ready for the drive to the party) Graeme started flying on his PG, since the wind seemed to be dropping. Possibly it will be flyable for PGs for the evening – though at the moment, just before we leave, I can’t see anybody flying.

Still, I flew, had a nice landing, so much, much, better than nothing!

See flying photos of today.

See party photos of tonight.

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