Bailed on Woodstock thinking it would be too strong for much of the day. Headed down to Big Walker, departing at 5A
. Arrived at the LZ around 11:30A to breezy conditions and an awesome looking sky with cloud streets galore. 5 other Big Walker regulars showed up in the next 2 hours: Doug Frank, Shane Moreland, Wayne Baker (supine pilot), Bill Bunting, and Casey Cox. The landowner Jim Bogle hitched up his trailer and carried all of our equipment up to launch by 2P. Strong cycles at launch while Doug and I set up. The remaining pilots took their time (good idea!). I planned an XC to the Virginia Tech Airport. 25 mile ridge run, then a 1 to 2 thermal ride over the back. Took off in a mellow cycle. The launch wasn't ideal. Nose yawed left into a crossing wind from the west starting out, but the launch slot is so wide I jumped on it and straightened it out quickly. If this happened at Woodstock it would have produced a collective gasp from the crowd. Turned left into the crossing wind (WNW) and got up pretty easily, but it was very turbulent! For the next hour and a half I flew in the worst air that I have experienced in 20 years of mountain flying. Countless unloadings of the frame, uncommanded turns, over the falls, and blasts of strong lift had me holding on for dear life! I would go from 500' over to 1500' over max during that time. Frustrating to say the least. Finally found a cohesive climb at 4:30P about 5 miles ENE of launch and climbed to 2500' over (5600' MSL) drifting over the back. Decided to try for the Dublin airport instead. Radioed my intentions. Plus plenty of lumpy wide open areas versus the lumpy main LZ. Spotted the airport and drifted OTB. At Little Walker Mt. I hit sink and went on glide towards the airport. Came up about a mile short to the west and had to put down in fenced in horse country. Picked an uphill grassy knoll and burned it in and had a decent landing. Luckily a little forested area was close by providing much needed wind shadow to break the glider down. Had to climb 2 fences to get to the gravel road accessing all the beautiful houses. Sherpaed the equipment a good half mile down Miller Ridge Road while texting Shane about my situation (texting is FANTASTIC for retrieval info). Hit a paved road and started sherpaing the equipment down the road to the east towards Rt. 100. A nice young fellow named Kelly White was coming out of his driveway in a large pickup truck so I asked him what was the name of the road and how far to Rt. 100. Black Hollow Road and 2 miles
. So I garnered a ride out to Rt. 100 with Kelly and had a nice chat w/ him while waiting for Shane to retrieve me. Back at launch the remaining pilots were soaring in SMOOTH air till 7:30P. Smiles all around. Shane and I hit the road after 8P while the remaining 4 pilots camped out for another go at it today. Got home around 2:30A
red-eyed but dog tired satisfied. I know that the air at Woodstock between 3 and 4P had to be similar. Bacil