Great flying in Florida continues

[Paul Tjaden]

Not sure what we have done to deserve this but mid winter flying continues to be great. Yesterday, Jamie Sheldon, her friend Carl, Linda Salamone and I launched early and headed north after hanging around the field for a bit trying to get high. Carl left ahead of us and managed 109 K's. I towed up last and stayed with Jamie and Linda for about 35 miles.

I had forgotten to lock my radio frequency and it changed in flight so I couldn't communicate. Anyway, at 35 miles out, I went ahead to find lift and then hung out waiting for the girls. They never showed so I decided they must have sunk out so I back tracked a few miles and landed at a grass air strip thinking it would make our retrievals easier if we were close together. Later, I found out that they had gone 90 degrees to the west and continued on around me rather than landing.

Bottom line was that both of the girls kicked my ass by at least 10 miles. (I hate it when that happens.) Mark Fruitiger picked us up and we had a great dinner and got home late due to Jamie landing about 1 1/2 miles away from any roads and she and Mark carrying her equipment out.

We have had many days of good flying conditions in the last week. I keep wondering when it's going to end. This is definitely NOT normal winter conditions.

Paul

[mcelrah]

Thanks for these reports. Even though we wage-slaves are stuck in our offices while it's cold and damp outside, it's better to read about good flying somewhere than not to. - Hugh