So, ever since I sent that post about my nice 44 mile out and back and smirked about you guys sitting around just talking about flying, We have been sitting around getting rained on virtually every day while reading posts about great flying at WS and at Highlands. Payback truly is Hell!!! Lauren and I did venture into the skies last Friday. The soaring forecast was so so but the sky looked great. Problem is that with Florida's high humidity, the sky can look much better than it is and we found ourselves back on the ground after just 30 minutes or so. While it is common for Florida to have pop up showers in the summer months with the usual day having a 30% chance of rain, for the last two weeks it has been a guarantee of daily monsoons with huge T-storms and lightening strikes making it look like the 4th came early.
The solution.....we're leaving again. Lauren has it in her head that the Women's World distance record might be doable (although a long ways, It's considerably shorter than the Open record) so we're heading for Zapata in a couple of weeks. It seems that it doesn't work well to have a driver chasing more than one pilot due to the necessity of maintaining radio contact and the fact that retrieves a few miles off the road can sometimes take hours so I am going to pretty much drive for Lauren. If she gets too tired after a couple of attempts or she actually gets the record, I will probably give it a go but I have VERY little faith that I could fly over 435 miles. Not too sure I'd want to be in a harness for that many hours even if my skills and conditions would allow it. It would, however, be fun to have a two hundred mile flight in my log book so we'll see.
Paul
Bad Karma (not Hank's wife)
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
Re: Bad Karma (not Hank's wife)
I'm envious. Seems like every day that I've had available to fly, its either raining or storming. All of the beautiful days seem to be coming on days with too many commitments. The Culinary School that I will be attending is only 4 days a week so I'll get a year of 3 day weeks so hopefully that will help my flying season. It looks like the GI Bill will be approved this week so if everything goes as planned, I will be starting school in January. Lets hope the Republican's don't F**K this one up...
Re: Bad Karma (not Hank's wife)
Hey Lauren. If you succeed I'll break your record next year, so why bother?Lauren has it in her head that the Women's World distance record might be doable
Seriously, best of luck, this is freaking awesome!!!
#1 Rogue Pilot
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Lauren Tjaden
- Posts: 371
- Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2005 6:27 pm
Re: Bad Karma (not Hank's wife)
Thanks Janni! I am SOOO excited I can't stand myself. Ha, you MIGHT be able to break the women's record -- but you know, there'd be a steep price to pay (like, saying goodbye to "Mr. Happy").
I decided the Worlds in Italy this year would be too expensive and I'm not tuned up for the low, technical mountain flying that I've been warned of, but I have been horribly envious of my buddies as they make their plans. So this is a great way to get to do something new and stretch myself!
You would laugh -- I got this email from Gary Osaba (the organiser of the WRE) saying that Davis had told him the women's record was well within my reach, so I was getting this special invitation to attend the WRE. Paul translated it for me: "We are stroking your ego so you will give us your money and help fund the WRE."
Really, everyone has been great. Pete L has sent me some of the routes he has flown (good and bad) and spent hours discussing the preparations I'll need to make, Mike B has helped lots, and even Kari sent me a note telling me I should-- in her words -- go break her wimpy record of 250 miles (BTW, Kari is no friggin' wimp and she is a fabulous pilot).
I am told the land is all mesquite and prickly pear cactus and that if I land in the desert I may be stranded for a long time. Other tidbits like I may die if I don't have enough water, and that I should bring pliers and tweezers in my harness to pull out the thorns after I land.
I must be one sick puppy, because I can't WAIT!I can't sleep at night because when I close my eyes I see the terrain I study every night on my possible routes.
BTW-- this is to Janni -- congrats on your XCs. Pretty cool. And good for you going out to Highland for practice.
I have been missing everyone terribly since I left. When we left VA a few weeks ago we drove by Woodstock and I started crying when I saw Signal Knob poked into the sky. I remember flying my little Eagle down over it and feeling like the queen of the world.
Fly safe and send me wishes for soft thermals and a wind up my ass to rocket me across the bad country in Texas.
Lauren
I decided the Worlds in Italy this year would be too expensive and I'm not tuned up for the low, technical mountain flying that I've been warned of, but I have been horribly envious of my buddies as they make their plans. So this is a great way to get to do something new and stretch myself!
You would laugh -- I got this email from Gary Osaba (the organiser of the WRE) saying that Davis had told him the women's record was well within my reach, so I was getting this special invitation to attend the WRE. Paul translated it for me: "We are stroking your ego so you will give us your money and help fund the WRE."
Really, everyone has been great. Pete L has sent me some of the routes he has flown (good and bad) and spent hours discussing the preparations I'll need to make, Mike B has helped lots, and even Kari sent me a note telling me I should-- in her words -- go break her wimpy record of 250 miles (BTW, Kari is no friggin' wimp and she is a fabulous pilot).
I am told the land is all mesquite and prickly pear cactus and that if I land in the desert I may be stranded for a long time. Other tidbits like I may die if I don't have enough water, and that I should bring pliers and tweezers in my harness to pull out the thorns after I land.
I must be one sick puppy, because I can't WAIT!I can't sleep at night because when I close my eyes I see the terrain I study every night on my possible routes.
BTW-- this is to Janni -- congrats on your XCs. Pretty cool. And good for you going out to Highland for practice.
I have been missing everyone terribly since I left. When we left VA a few weeks ago we drove by Woodstock and I started crying when I saw Signal Knob poked into the sky. I remember flying my little Eagle down over it and feeling like the queen of the world.
Fly safe and send me wishes for soft thermals and a wind up my ass to rocket me across the bad country in Texas.
Lauren
Re: Bad Karma (not Hank's wife)
Lauren,
You know better then believe the scary stories Hang Glider pilots weave. I think some of them come from the old days when they truck towed and landing out early was a bigger problem. I only went to Zapata once with only one flight....but I remember it wasn't a big deal once you got past Laredo. So it is the first 30 or so that seem tough (although not nearly as bad as the stories), but even then I remember good roads, real roads. Then again, haven't you gotten sucked down in Bronson? more then once
.
Bring books/work and have a blast. It is very cool.
Kev
You know better then believe the scary stories Hang Glider pilots weave. I think some of them come from the old days when they truck towed and landing out early was a bigger problem. I only went to Zapata once with only one flight....but I remember it wasn't a big deal once you got past Laredo. So it is the first 30 or so that seem tough (although not nearly as bad as the stories), but even then I remember good roads, real roads. Then again, haven't you gotten sucked down in Bronson? more then once
.Bring books/work and have a blast. It is very cool.
Kev
Going Where No Woman Has Gone Before
YOU GO GIRL!!!
Matthew
Matthew