no screw driver or even screwing but lots of fun flying

[Lauren Tjaden]

Like Paul said, yesterday was good, though it was challenging to punch into the wind. I had a long flight, but when I decided to race back to Quest to check my 5030s accuracy (about the alt I would arrive with) I was pretty much forced to land. However, I pried some upwind flying secrets out of Kevin, and I had a great, very short-field approach (part of my exercises to overcome my tendency to fly the ground and the fields too much).
Later, Jim Rooney needed some ballast for the tandem glider, since he was testing a new camera that he'd rigged up. That perfectly capped off the evening, a quiet, sweet flight with an old, good friend. Jim asked me if I wanted to fly. I didn't (though I DID end up flying for a bit. I don't know how the tandem pilots do it from up top).
Jim also asked me if I wanted to get crazy. I didn't. I have lots of thrills. I liked what we did, soaring into the quiet evening.
Today the lift was crazy good and crazy rough. I saw over 800-900 fpm SUSTAINED. My fingers have blisters from grasping the basetube. REALLY. I used Kev's tricks and felt I flew better than I ever had into the driving wind. Andy thought he was going to tumble when his glider nosed down, and Paul had a bad wingover. I sometimes totally lost control of my glider. I kept checking the VG to see if I could loosen it more.
Anyhow, it was also fun. Until my lenses slipped halfway out of my Blu-Eye goggles. Had my gloves stuffed in my teeth; damn Angel was spiraling in incredibly rough air while I tried to reassemble my goggles. The lenses are 35 bucks!
I couldn't get them together again but did finally unzip a harness pocket and got them stashed. Then my eyes were watering and I'd already been flying a couple of hours, so I headed for home. I'd had Wallaby in for an out and back but I was still 13 miles away since the wind (absolute head wind that way) was so strong. I figured I'd just make everybody mad if they had to drive down and get me.
I blew off my short approach since it was very gnarly on the way in. Too bad. They have been building my confidence, but I was just happy to be on the ground in good form. Tomorrow I'll strictly go back to learning, no matter the conditions.
It was a great day, spent with great friends. Peter from VA, Kev. Paul, Davis, Andy, Jim from Canada, Jason- the- supprone- pilot, and Ray, as well as MANY others that I'm too feeble to remember, flew.
Lauren

[mcelrah]

So is this the new excuse? "Sorry, baby, I'm too tired from flying in gnarly conditions all day." (kidding, kidding) You rock! - Hugh

[Paul Tjaden]

So is this the new excuse? "Sorry, baby, I'm too tired from flying in gnarly conditions all day." (kidding, kidding) You rock! - Hugh

Paul writes:

There is much truth in what you wrote, Hugh. Unfotunately, It's as likely to come from me as it is from Lauren!!!!!!!

[Batman]

They have little blue pills for that Paul....