Yep, did it again. I bombed out at the start circle. I was top of the stack at the start gate and decided to leave with Kevin and Corinna. We headed to the lee side of Buffalo towards a towering (but soft) cloud. About 3/4 of the way there Kevin turned and started turning in some weak lift. Since I was now in front, it took several minutes before I noticed he stopped in something. I turned around (losing altitude) and tried to find whatever he and a couple other gliders had. Alas i didn't find it so I continued on to Buffalo. I would have reached Buffalo at the top if I had not turned around, but since I did, I came into the mountain about 1/2 of the way up. I spent the next 2 hours struggling to get up and away but finally gave up and tried to find something on the other side of the valley. There wasn't anything there so I ended up landing. Bummer.
I did get to fly with an eagle that was screeching at me the entire time. I also got to fly close to a large cascading waterfall that was quite the sight to see. (Believe me, I was close enough to appreciate it!) I also landed on farm run by a gentleman named Manual. He was very friendly and showed me his pet deer, his old tobacco shed, and most of the rest of his farm. He explained how the entire valley was burned a couple of years ago. He also filled me in on his struggle with fox and dingos taking his chickens and goats.
The weather is starting to go downhill so we may not fly much more. The current scores and places might be final. I really hated bombing out today. I seem to have a problem at the start gate. I thought I had the problem under control, but I guess I don't! Just shows that I have tons of stuff yet to learn.
5 comments:
Hi Tom,
Sorry to hear about your bombing out, but anyway there is always good things (lessons) to take from a flight as you mentioned. You are having a great adventure and an experience of a life time. Free flying is a constant learning experience! Enjoy it...
Cheers from the cold...
Marcelo
Painful is the 15 degrees below zero expected tonight after 20 below last night. Now THAT's painful1 Enjoy.
Painful is the 15 degrees below zero expected tonight after 20 below last night. Now THAT's painful1 Enjoy.
Tom, thanks for the frequent posts and great stories!
Lesson learning is hard but in the long run should be for the best. I have the same problem as you if I get high at the start circle early; wither get lazy or I take un-needed risks waiting for the start clock. Wish we could go when we wanted and use the GPS time as the start time.
The eagle you were with was probably a Wedgie. They are about the size of a golden eagle and their tails look like a V or 'wedge'. They are beautiful birds but have been known to tear up sails. Ask the locals and they will recite alot of stories!
Have you had enough driving around the Australian country side yet? Hope you guys get to fly Pine, interesting place. Have you had time to visit the wineries and cheese farms outside of Bright?
I (will) feel the pain of the cold in just a couple of days. I leave for the bitter cold of New England USA on Tuesday.
I learn (or relearn!) stuff on every flight. On some flights the lessons are fun, some exciting, and some disappointing. This last flight was very disappointing because I just couldn't get up but yet I wasn't slammed to the ground either. I was just suspended over this beautiful landscape watching the clock tick away!
The bird was a wedgie and yes I have seen the damage they could do. Another pilot had large gashes cut by a wedgie while he was flying around Mount Buffalo. Although this one was scolding me, I think he (or she) knew I was in no mood to be messed with!
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