Sunday 11/1 Flying

[XCanytime]

Looks like a possible repeat of 10/25 (Pulpit). Shouldn't be a lot of north in it like last Sunday, making for much better conditions. Bacil

[mcelrah]

So maybe we have Halloween at Ridgely, then meet at High Rock Sunday morning to discuss the new ram design, then continue to Pulpit. Thanks for the heads-up, Bacil! - Hugh

[XCanytime]

Looks like a good day for PGers and HGers tomorrow at the Pulpit. Hope the north doesn't occur until 5PM, and the rain quits early. Bacil

[DanTuck]

This time I will be there early...Don't forget the time change is tonight so sunset tomorrow is around 5:00.

[markc]

I dunno guys, looks to me like due North as of 10am, and the front isn't exactly
zooming through. If there was more wind I'd be thinking the Sac, but it's
supposed to be 5mph (surface) up there.... Pretty light for that long a drive.

I'm thinking that High Rock might be the best chance for today?

MarkC

[Matthew]

Anyone up for playing on the training hill? We may head up to Hallam Hill if it dries up this afternoon. Hallam faces North and is near York, PA. Give me a call if you need more info..

Matthew

[Danny Brotto]

I'm headed up HR way, might bring the HG gear with me.

Is the cube off limits?

Danny Brotto

[DanTuck]

I agree Mark. Looked a lot better yesterday. I'm even seeing NNE at High Rock after noon. Stupid front...

But I think I'll throw my glider on and head up to HR, I don't think the county has blocked it off. See you up there Danny, Mark(?) and hopefully some others. We can talk about launch options.

[markc]

I'm a definite maybe

Pouring rain at home at the moment.... If it lightens up
within an hour or so then I might follow your lead Dan,
and wander up to HR for a bit.

MarkC

[DanTuck]

That'll teach me to ever go to a flying site without a glider....
Here are some pics of Danny and Mark.
These are Danny....

[DanTuck]

....and these are Mark.

[DanTuck]

A few more of Mark...

[mcelrah]

Awesome photos, DanTuck!

Saturday, Dan Tomlinson, Ellis, Karen and Matthew, Judy McCarty, Brian Vant Hull, Sallie and I had some paragliding kiting practice at Colmar Manor, a retired landfill "Mt. Trashmore" with ball fields near Hyattsville/Bladensburg. Judy had her crispy new Ozone "Buzz n" model, anointed it with some grass stains and mud for the first time. Winds were in the teens, presented some moderately challenging kiting. Sallie got in some reverse inflations. Brian , too (careful, another dyed in the wool hang-glider pilot may be starting down the slippery slope...). After ward, several of us repaired to Hank's Bar & Grill in Hyattsville for burgers, fries and adult beverages.

Brian and I made it to Ridgely for the Halloween party - the hangar was well decorated, many folks showed up with interesting and creative costumes (Bruce as a '70's hang-glider pilot with bloody knees and a nosewire penetrating his face - as well as Sunny as a gay/fascist cop - were just two of the better ones...), and Kristin was able to raise a gratifying amount for Cancercare.

Today, we made the haul up to Hallam Hill, a north-facing training hill near York PA. Judy got her first flights with her new wing and Sallie was able to progress from yesterday's reverse inflations to a couple of reverse launches - but at the price of a sprained ankle. Brian got two flights on the Sport 2 and thinks he will make it his new number one glider, retiring another one from his fleet.

The proprietor of Hallam Hill showed up, a young man named Josh Heindel, and politely asked us to give him a call the morning we are coming to use the site so he can put the stock (cows, horses and a goat) away. His cell phone is 717 817-2769. Josh possesses a hang-glider that someone gave him...

- Hugh

[markc]

High Rock really does tend to make its own weather.... The 'cast was N going NE
by early afternoon, but from about 1:30pm onward there were PLENTY of good,
launchable, and borderline soarable, straight-in cycles. I think we tend to forget
that, with fewer pilots flying there. But if it's north and sunny, it's often a good
idea to be at the Rock!

My flight was short, maybe 15 minutes. I did get 100-150 above launch for a
bit, but made a bad call and was soon struggling at/below ridge level . If there
had been more pilots, there WOULD have been some good soaring flights.

Thanks to Dan for sticking around long enough to help launch us, and for Danny's
second flight. And the pics are much appreciated!

Emma-Jane would love to have more pilots stopping in. Keep it in mind on the
next light north day.

MarkC