Quest

[mcelrah]

Dan and I left Friday AM, stopped for the night at my mother's retirement community. Made it to Quest early afternoon for a happy reunion with Paul and Lauren. Set up, launched at 3:30, climbed to 5600 in one thermal (bit chilly in just a shirt), looking down on a rigid and a motor glider. Got a low save to extend my flight to an hour even. Exhausted (up late with mom). Tomorrow is supposed to blow out...
-Hugh

[cthornberger]

Very cool, Hugh! Sounds like a blast. I hope you catch more nice air.

[mcelrah]

SUnday was blown out, so Dan and I went to Wekiva Springs and paddled a kayak, observing the scenery (also the trees and flowers). About a mile downstream, we encountered a party beach with bar and band.
Today was good flying with consistent lift marked by cumulus or wispies, just enough searching to keep it intereating. I got to 4500 toward the end, landed voluntarily with 2:15

[mcelrah]

THe Wills Wing trailer with c. 20 new gliders, demos and deliveries, arrived early this AM. Steve Messman says the T2 matches the T2C in weight and performance, but pilots insist on paying $2k extra for the carbon.- Hugh

[mcelrah]

Personal first: peeing in flight. Have not figured out how to do this in a paraglider... - Hugh

[rasmussenv]

Hugh - you show off! That particular need was high on the list of what brought my personal best 3+ hour flight to an end. As a female, maybe I need to check out those NASA diapers made famous a few years ago ...

[cthornberger]

...I've wondered about that ...
Certainly a new epoch.

[mcelrah]

Well, Depends may be the way to go for males also, since some portion of the output gets sprinkled on the harness (eww). On PG, crossing the risers, turning backwards, and getting up in the leg straps - seems a bit much for comfort. Ya gotta be able to relax (which I was yesterday with the glider thermalling automatically in a big fatty).
Ellis was confronted last season with a choice of landing or moistening her harness - you can guess her decision...
Some years ago, Paul Tjaden and I were running around to medical supply stores looking for surgical tube to go on a nipple he installed in a boys' cup (used to protect tender parts in athletics) - all this as an alternative to diapers for Lauren. Guess it works...
Dan and I have risen in the social heirarchy here: moved into a private room - sheets and towels!
- Hugh

[Dan T]

Yesterday was a very pleasant flight for over an hour in widely scattered but prevalent lift to about 4,000 feet. I spent most of the time trying to catch up with Hugh who was typically 300-500 over me. I came down because I got tired. It was my first flatland soaring flight in 9 months.

Dan

[dbodner]

Personal first: peeing in flight. Have not figured out how to do this in a paraglider... - Hugh

Weatherman says chance of scattered showers.

[sailin]

Sounds like good times down there! I can't wait to get back to Quest!! Please say hello to Paul, Lauren, Mitch, Jim and all the others down there

Jon

[mcelrah]

Quest to Wallaby (21 miles) in 3:20 - possibly a record for the slowest, most timid XC flight. Our gliders were still set up, so we lolligagged all morning, waiting for it to turn on. Cumies started popping before noon in the light SE. Then the true thermal indicator presented (Davis Straub carrying his glider out) and we all grabbed carts. I jumped on the first tow in this set at 1:45. Mitch dropped me in a big fatty at 2346 feet; I demanded a refund for 154 feet worth but he said I made that up autothermalling while zipping up and putting the tow bridle away. This "high school" thermal (the largest building by far in bustling downtown Groveland) was my home for the first hour while I talked myself into going XC. Finally moved to another one SW of Quest, then toward Seminole gliderport 9 miles south. Met a squadron of 4 sailplanes headed north. Paul Tjaden had gone to fly his sailplane there and I could see his red truck - could land there and catch a ride home. I hung around there for another good hour trying to figure a route under cumies and near big roads, finally just struck out cross country as my confidence in the lift markers built. Stayed stinking high (4-5k) until 5 miles from Wallaby, where I spent all my altitude to get t oa cloud near the main road before a forest. Arrived with 1400, then smelled orange blossoms and took it up 4400 feet. I was being ridiculously careful (had never seen Wallaby from the air only had GPS coords) arrived with 3500. Exhausted, whacked, but they gave me beer anyway. Dan came and got me - thanks!

[Dan T]

My flights weren't as productive as Hugh's but I had a good time anyway. First day was about a 15 minute sled. I had the last flight of the day and missed the lift window that everyone else captured. Second day was blown out and had a very pleasant short kayak trip down a nearby river from Wikovia (sp) State Park. The 72 degree water was full of Spring Break swimmers and sunbathers and 3/4 of a mile or so down river we unexpectedly reached a riverside bar full of people and entertainment. It was a little like the Disney movie the Princess Frog with all the singing in the swamp. On the third day I boated around for about an hour and came down because I was worn out. On the last day I managed about 2 hours and came down worn out once again.

Hugh, having achieved his goal of flying to Wallaby quickly agreed with my suggestion to call it a trip and head for home the next morning. On the way home we kept passing these huge fireworks stands. For some reason I can't understand, every time we went by one I couldn't help but think of Mark Cavinaugh.

Dan