Thursday, March 29th at Mossy Banks
No one seemed real interested in flying today except Bob and Scott Wise. Scott got hung up working on his new rack but Bob met me at the bottom of Mossy after I had hiked in on top ( no gear ) to be certain it was going to be worthwhile. The day's forecast was frustratingly North, or NE or NNW and it had the potential of being everywhere and nowhere. I had thought Mossy would be too strong, but the hawks climbing out in front were telling me another story. So we get up top and Bob can get at least to the cell tower so that's what we did. The launch may have been clear, may not have been clear- I am not certain. Because I never looked over the edge at all. Bob took half a second and plunged off- didn't look so good at first. He was just below launch for way too many passes even after getting up some initially. I was set up 5 minutes behind him and, like him, spent no time contemplating the dive. I went into a better cycle than he did so I was 200' over in no time. But when I searched for him he was way high now, at least 700' so I started the hour long atempt to get higher than he was. Never happened. The thermals were very strong and organized the higher we got. It was mostly due north with a little NE mixed in. Bob had my max alt2 by 50 feet and was pretty much on top the whole flight. The air was fun, sometimes kicky, but classic Mossy, and it has been so long since I have flown there. It used to scare the shit out of me (the launch still does!) and maybe it's due to the high pressure nature of a north wind, or maybe it gets blown out so easily, or I don't know what. But today was good, and the stress level was low in-flight, although it was colder than I thought it was going to be. Bob flew with no gloves and had to land after an hour. I flew WITH gloves and my hands were pretty numb after an hour. We had a lot of birds playing there with us too. Their hands were probably cold, too.
So, airtime: 1 hour, max A2 1322', greater than 1000fpm spike on the climb, and the approach was better than my landing.

Sunday March 25
After hearing about the desperados that hung out at Italy Valley in the pouring rain all day and night on Saturday, Mark and I waited for the sun to come out Sunday afternoon and headed down. All the way there hawks were circling, but the leftover clouds were so low, it looked like they barely cleared the top of Bristol Mountain when we passed by. But it was even drier at Italy, and Doug and Mukrim were looking pretty sweet several hundred over. We waited at the LZ since Doug was coming out to land, and headed up top with him. He had a report about the landowner of the launch, not too favorable. (See the RAF Yahoo group for details). We carried in - Mark with is PG and me and Doug on my HG. It seemed so light at launch, and Mukrim was struggling low- a few times I thought he was toast, but he managed to squeak back up every time. I set up and Mark Andrews (canadian PG) and Doug both launched again. My Mark went to retrieve them, thinking his shoulder wasn't up for a flight after all. I was all set up and waiting, and now it was coming in much better, but I really wanted a wind dummy- I mean, technician- and I saw nothing else soaring. So I waited and Mukrim launched right away after they got back. He got up pretty easily, so I launched and it felt really good- at first. I went to the east where he was up a little and got knocked around at ridge level a bit. I headed back to launch and lost some more altitude- 90 feet below launch now. Tried again where Mukrim was and just couldnt get a good bite in to turn well. So back in front of launch I go, almost 200' below when I get a decent tiny column of lift. I was so pleased with the way my glider was handling so I just started cracking some seriously tight turns and it all gelled together and got me up. I eventually got to 1285' over and mostly stayed between 800 and 1100' the whole flight. It was 200 to 600 fpm lift and very smooth. The sink was strong as well, but easy to avoid up there. No real ridge lift, just thermally- wind was 6-9 mph up higher. Less down low I guess. Mark Andrews launched and then my Mark launched which really scared me since he can't move his arm much. I guess he figured the arm wasn't up to snuff so he went out and landed. The last 20 minutes of my one- hour flight, I was stressing out about the landing. The wind was obviously light and switchy down there- I hate to commit to a direction and have it change- so easy to happen there! I kept putting it OUT of my mind deliberately, until I couldn't do so any longer. Worrying about it just ruined the last part of my flight- and the execution of the landing pretty much ruined what was such a rewarding flight otherwise. So I had a good long look at the LZ socks and they were doing different things. and I floated over high. I finally decided to land to the east since I was seeing more of that and came in headed that way. Mistake.... but a good bonk was all I got after a very fast final across the ENTIRE LZ..... I have been pining for the big flat fields of Florida and soon I will be there. Plus I hear the wind is pretty steady there- and STRONG lately!
Okay so anyways, nice day nice flight, good company. Doug even drove my car down so we didn't have to hike up. A meal at the Middletown Tavern ended the day.
Flight: 1
Airtime: 1:06

Sunday, March 11- Harris Hill
After a HUGE carry in from the bottom by the gate, Harris Hill made it worthwhile! Doug Stoner, and then Mark, helped me heft my sweet HeavySpeed up the hill, and Dan carried my harness. After two trips up carrying gear, I was really in horrible shape to fly. But once my sweat dried, I was setting up fast to take advantage of some of what Mukrim was already having. My dog was having fun chasing deer like she does, and pilots were showing up steadily, although wearily, at the top while the sun came out. It was good to see my glider again, and launch was a piece of cake- straight up and 200 over. I couldn't zip up all the way, but I was comfortably warm the whole flight. Warm probably because it took an extra effort to keep my speed up- might have to change the CG on my hang point- and warm because of working against the slight left turn my glider favored. After 5 minutes I knew I would be pretty tired out. Oh and did I mention that I had taken a Spinning class first thing in the morning before all of this???? Everyone launched and took to the sky- first I was getting 500' over, then later 1400'over. Dan Walters reported 2K over. It was easy to fly all over even though sometimes it was blowing a bit hard- I saw 16mph a lot. Hawks came out and played and later I watched as Ed waited for a cycle to launch his New-To-Him Sport2. I was looking to land, but figured I would wait to fly with Ed a little. He did launch and it looked like he had everything under control. Dan and I set up landing approaches at around the same time- at this point it was difficult to find sink enough to get down. After 1:40, I landed, and on my feet! I was pretty beat, and everyone was grinning about their flights- all except HG-RW-PG Bob, who was MIA suddenly. Bob and Ron and Scott and Dave and Doug and Mukrim and Dan and Matt and Ed and Me and Mark. Good crowd for a Sunday in March. We went back up for a car/gear/dog retrieve, and my poor mutt couldn't walk well- she had worn the pads of her feet from their usual black to a newborn baby pink. She had nested in the leaf pile while we were flying and gingerly got up to make the trek back down with us. How pathetic!
But yay! We flew! Now I a sick and nursing my first cold of the season. Well Spring is definitely springing, and it was soooo good to see everyone again!

Just to change the same ol' same ol'..... Hi!
Getting ready for Florida comps, Arizona comp... maybe ECC.... weather has to break here soon, no flying for 2 months and counting.... ugh. Be back soon with reports, thoughts, and lots of angst!