Tom of course babbling about XC and that it might be doable and that with this low cloudbase, it would be tough to cross the Shenandoahs. So, the thing to do would be to go north on the woodstock ridge and then head over Front Royal and circumvent the Shenandoahs altogether.
When we got there, conditions were nice, but not stellar: almost no basewinds, gentle thermals swirling in the slot. Gary Smith waiting on launch. Jim and Matt went first. I think I was third. Was thinking of doing a foreward to intercept a thermal, but then got lucky a thermal wandered straight up the slot, no squirrelyness and I stepped into the air.
Had to work it like crazy - vario sound was muted - and it took forever to get up to have a hand free to turn on the vario. Tom had a hard time launching. Much squirrelyness in the slot. Jim and Matt were nowhere to be seen. Specked out somewhere, while I was still bobbling up and down around ridge level. Finally heard Tom and Jeff had launched. Later on Randy and Laszlo came up. The squirrelyness prevented new P2 Randy from launching, but Laszlo eventually got in the air.
Meanwhile I'm heading towards the north. I take a thermal over between the ridges, but then remember what Tom said and not wanting to bomb out in Fort Valley, beat it back in front of the woodstock ridge. So, now everytime I lose lift, I search further north. Thus I bobble towards Strasbourg. I have Strasbourg made on glide, when I hit a good one. Woodstock is at 1100 ft msl on my altimeter. And up to now I've been making it to 2500 and then sinking down to launch level. Like a yoyo. But at Strabourg, at the point I hit a good one and it takes me all the way to cloud base, moving east. Paying attention to vario only, I suddenly find myself whited out. OOPS.
This being one of the rare times that I actually fly with gps - on compass, I point east and pop out of the cloud - over the Front royal airport! I've always wanted to make it to the airport! Yee haw!!! I have it made! I'd have to spiral down or something, but heck... Maybe I can go further. Can't remember what Tom had said about what to do after Front Royal (hadn't even dared to imagine making it to FR). Well, I'm not at Front Royal yet. I head over there to play with a sailplane in a thermal and radio Tom to find out what I'm supposed to do from here. (pick a good cloud and go downwind)
I end up behind Dickey's looking for a good spot to get more lift... hmm... "look for the antenna". what antenna? I do see too many airliners though, waved at some passengers looking out the windows, with my heart beating like the percussion at a rock festival.
I find lift typically not under a cloud, but on the downwind side (thanks, Tom!) We are following basically the big powerlines eastsoutheast and every once in a while we catch glimpses of each other. I once prematurely reported Tom as landing, but he pulled off a low save and blew past me after I had landed - south of Bealeton, just off route 17, at a quarry entrance. I think he made it a few more miles.
Counting the leg up to Strasbourg, I think it was almost 60 miles. Straight line distance from Woodstock - about 40? Not sure how to tell in google maps.
Nice day. Personally best by FAR. Tom said this has been the furthest he's been in Virginia.
Matt picked us up. Major brownie points
He had made it to cloudbase himself. I hear Laszlo, who had shown up much later had loads of time in the air which had turned magic. He flew up to the Strasbourg and back, playing with two hang gliders - I presume Gary and maybe Joe Schad?
Jim had to cut his flight short and Jeff, who was only around to throw some cobwebs out of the glider, thoroughly cleaned it of anything that might have been lurking in it. I wish he had gone XC with us. Maybe when he comes back for good.
What a day.