The forecast wasn’t convincing enough to rush off to the Peaks and the report from Elan Valley was windy, so we met up with Alistair Brown, Dave and Beth Thomson and headed to Clatter. It was an early day and we arrived at 11am. The sky was overcast and it started spitting as soon as Alistair and Dave launched. Geoff and I launched as well and as we were flying, we could see a lot of rain heading our way. So the decision was – have a short flight or go over the back and try to outrun the rain.

We all opted for the XC. As soon as we got high we could see rain showers all around us. Never mind. The lift was incredibly weak but I got to 1400-ish ATO and headed over the wind farm, which was quite exciting. Geoff and Dave were higher and Alistair and I struggled once we lost the thermal and had to go on a glide. He landed and I managed to circle in zeros until I landed in Adfa (2km further) on a verge next to the road. It’s good to practise your spot landings.

As soon as I landed the skies opened and I and the glider got soaked. A farmer came by and excitedly talked me through my flight (“You were circling and then you came and landed here!”) and then remarked that he’s only ever seen paragliders on a sunny day and what was I doing out on a day like today? Good question, that I didn’t really know the answer to. He told me that Adfa has no pub, no shop and no bus shelter. The place where people shelter from the rain is the holly bush, which he kindly pointed out to me. I was expecting a crowd already there, but everyone else obviously has homes or cars, so there were no other takers for the famous holly bush shelter today. I dumped my gear and waited to be retrieved. 20 mins later the farmer came back and gave me a big thumbs up to indicate that I was standing under the correct holly bush. 10 mins after that the rain really started and it was bouncing off the tarmac. Holly bushes have holes between the leaves, so whilst I am now pretty convinced of their sheltering properties, I got very, very wet. Nothing for it, out of my harness came my flying trousers, which I draped over my head. I must have looked a sight because cars started slowing, people were pointing and one car turned round to have a second look. Wales is full of eccentrics, so I was just trying to fit in with the locals.

Alistair and Beth rescued me in the end and we picked up the others. Fun day out!

Geoff got to Llanfair Caereinion (14km) and Dave to nearer Welshpool (20km or so). Oh, and we should have gone to the Peaks where someone flew 50km.

See photos of today.