Woodstock Wed 11/13

[sailin]

I know it is going to be cold as @#$%, BUT, the sun should be shining and the northwest winds blowing. Any one want to give it a try? I should be able to be up at launch around 2pm.

Jon

[sailin]

Thank you to Amy for helping me get my airtime fix I couldn't of done it without you!!!

Woodstock was beautiful today. Here is my description of the day from the "Weather" thread posted by Matt. I posted over in that thread because there was some good discussion about forecasting and specifically the forecast for Woodstock today.

With Amy's help, I flew Woodstock today and it was most certainly PG'able. In fact it was very light. I had seen some gusts earlier in the day from Winchester airport to 18mph but by the time I was driving past Front Royal it just wasn't that windy. I arrived at launch at 2pm and the biggest, baddest stuff coming through was 10-12mph....and only occasionally. Things "ramped" down from there. I ended up launching at 4pm ( I had to wait in the slot for a long while just to get something that was going to give me some free airspeed.....the cycles were few and far between) Most of the stuff was 5-6mph and crossing from both the west and the north at different times. Above the ridge (I maxed out at 800' over) the air was buoyant and smooth......magic. I believe earlier in the day... maybe 10am-12pm, may have been a handful, but the rest of the day was very flyable by all wings. Man that ridge is beautiful in the last light of the day!!
I was a little worried about the cows in the main field at the end of the day but they stayed at the top end of it as I was landing. I am pretty sure a few of the really curious ones started chasing after me as i was carrying my wing to the gate. I would stop, turn around, they would stop but they were closer. I would pick up my glider, move closer to the gate and they would start moving at me until I stopped, turned around and talked to them....and they were closer. I know they are a curious, docile animal...but when there is 20plus of them and they are that big

Big thanks again to Amy for braving the cold (surprisingly it wasn't too bad.....sunshine always make such a big difference) and helping me out. Thank you!!!! Good day!

Jon

Jon

[chgpa]

Ever seen Hitchcock's "The Birds" ?

Sure sounds like those cows have!

*smile*

BTW: "Eat more chikin!"

[Lostgriz]

Congratulations Jon! Wish I could have joined you...

Matt

[dbodner]

I've had the herd slowly walk toward me in a creepy way, too. It felt like they knew I'm a carnivore.

[deveil]

" I am pretty sure a few of the really curious ones started chasing after me as i was carrying my wing to the gate. I would stop, turn around, they would stop but they were closer. I would pick up my glider, move closer to the gate and they would start moving at me until I stopped, turned around and talked to them....and they were closer. I know they are a curious, docile animal...but when there is 20plus of them and they are that big."

"I've had the herd slowly walk toward me in a creepy way, too. It felt like they knew I'm a carnivore."


Yeah, that's a chuckle there. Just wave your arms abruptly and like you're making a snow angel and say "Shoo!"

You may need to do this a few times while advancing on them before they move much, but yeah, they'll keep coming back.

Farmers will spread silage off the back of a moving wagon and they'll chase that through the field with gusto. So that look on their faces *is* probably about food.

But they are pretty damn big up close aren't they.

[deveil]

Or, in Dave's case, maybe hold up a bottle of A-1 sauce while staring threateningly. Could work.

[dbodner]

Next up: my fear of bunny rabbits.

[DanTuck]

They've been known to attack.



BTW, Jon - nice flight. Seems patience has been a virtue lately.

[lbunner]

I landed in a cow infested field led by one big old bull. Shuttled my glider to the fence line and threw all my gear on the other side. The bull kept getting closer and closer; I finally had to leave the glider and bail over the fence. The fence was hot so it was quite entertaining for my driver as he sat on the safe side. That old bull nuzzled his head under my wing and snotted all over it before the rancher came over and shooed him away. Luckily there was no damage!

[theflyingdude]

The old Zirks LZ used to have a resident juvenile bull who would approach pilots tearing down their gliders and stomp his front hoof, snort, and flare his nostrils. If there was more than one pilot present, he would approach each one individually and do the same thing. When he found the pilot who exhibited the most fear, he would terrorize them and ignore everyone else. It was a pretty funny thing to observe and I don't believe he ever actually butted anyone, although he did butt vehicles on occasion. The farmer eventually lost patience with the bull's behavior and he (the bull) became meat product.

JR

[sailin]

I've been getting a good laugh out of this thread!!! Amy got a hold of my flight video from that night. She is a much more capable video editor than me and is planning on posting a short clip of the terrifying encounter with cows I am looking forward to seeing it myself.

Jon

[A0213]

I had too much fun with this one

http://vimeo.com/79526703[/vimeo]

http://vimeo.com/79526703

[thermalup]

Jon, I too am looking forward to your video. I experienced a large cow gang similar to yours some years ago in California and my landing time was just before sunset as well. I was happy to get on the other side of the gate with no hoof damage to me or my glider. Not long after that incident someone told me that cows have poor eyesight even in broad daylight but it is worse at dawn and dusk. At those times, cattle perceive any non-cow as a potential predator. Hmmm ... I wonder if pretending to be a cow by giving a loud 'Moooo' would make them back-off?
..::JG

[thermalup]

I just saw the video after submitting my post! Great video ... and it looks like the 'Mooo' worked!!
..::JG

[rlweber]

Great video, cows are curious beasts. The Oz report would love this one. Once had a bull stare me down as I was on final. I yelled, he would not move, flared approximately 15 ft in front of him. A perfect no stepper.......okay, two stepper. We just stared at each other. Then I went my way and he went his. It happened at Daniels.
Randy

[CraginS]

Many years ago I was on final into the Woodstock main when it was fairly full of cows (no bull). I was whooping like a cowboy (Yeehaw!) as I came in. The cows all ran off to the sides. One calf, however, ran right in front of me, toward the back fence. Luckily I did not catch up with him before touching down.