Easter Flying
Had to miss saturday, today we have decreasing clouds with increasing dewpoint, which must the result of increasing stability.
Nontheless I shall celebrate Easter in the air. Looking forward to whoever else shows.
I'm kind of wiped from yesterday but I hope you get some good flying, Brian... looking forward to your report if you can make one.
Mike
Coming up on Pine Bush I began seeing major wave cloud, which killed all my enthusiasm for flying. Drinking and driving seemed the safer option. But I stopped by to see if anyone needed to be scraped off the LZ, then went up top to see what it looked like in wave conditions. The valley had much less obvious indicators and thought I might point out what I had seen to any pilots coming from the north.
It was cross for a long time, then dead for a long time, then straight in for a long time - systematic wave patterns, not thermals. Jane was up there - she had seen the same clouds and had the same reaction. She was setting up her blade wing she hadn't flown for a decade just to inspect it with hopes of eventually flying it again, but not today. A couple paragliders who looked vaguely familiar were up there; one launched while it was looking good and stayed out front. Lindeman showed up and started kiting. Jane convinced me I may as well get my glider because if it stayed demonstrably nice I'd regret leaving it at the bottom.
I got down to find the wind blowing strong and cross at the LZ. By the time I loaded my glider it was blowing strong in the wrong direction. A dust devil was whirling over the bridge. I went up top to find it howling. The PG had landed safely in the briar patch cut-out straight out front. Even Lindeman had seen enough.
I was glad to confirm my original diagnosis, and glad we didn't get any more gliders in the trees. Hit Rough Cut brewery and took the scenic route home.