We've had LOTS of flyable days this winter but it's been a long time since we've had a day that was REALLY suitable for XC. Pretty rare to get one in early January but we got it today. The forecast called for fairly strong lift to 4,000 plus with light ESE winds so I decided on a flight upwind to Wallaby and back to Quest. Launched just after 1:00 and headed into a fairly stiff 7 to 9 mph headwind. Probably should have switched gears and headed downwind at that point but decided I needed the upwind practice and doggedly pounded into the gail (well....maybe gail is too strong of a word). There were some great streets going my way though, so once I got to CB I was able to cruise along upwind loosing very little altitude with only a little time spent circling. Made it to a point about 4 miles crosswind of Wallaby and cruised over to the field arriving in about an hour and 15 minutes at about 1,600 feet with several gliders circling high overhead.
Plan was to get high there and then head back for the easy downwind cruise back home. Trouble was....I couldn't get above 2,200 feet . I fought weak lift over the field for 45 minutes dropping as low as 700 feet and climbing back up but could not get really high again. In talking with Mike Barber later, he said he thought there was a weak inversion at 2,200 and once below that it was nearly impossible to get above it again. I suppose I could have drifted towards home and maybe gotten lucky but a friend who had made the trip with me had already succumbed to gravity and I swear I could see him sipping a cold beer below while he broke down his glider. Besides, I had wasted so much time over Wallaby trying to get back up that the lift was dying so I joined my friend Dave on the ground. Still..... a fun flight for so early in the year and I got to see Carlos who is hanging out at "the ranch" getting dialed into flying the U2.
Oh, the bird!!!! About 5 miles south of Quest I was joined by a friendly Osprey who flew in tight to check me out and then joined me in climbing from about 1,600 feet to CB at 4,400. When I went on glide he happily joined me cruising just to my side as though we were old flying buddies. I stopped twice to make a few turns and he stayed right with me and then again went on glide when I did. This continued for several minutes until I neared Rt 27 and realized he had finally left me. REALLY cool, he never acted threatening or even overly curious...just seemed to accept me as a buddy and we went flying together. Only problem is the bastard pimped off me the whole time and never once offered to take the lead.
If you're interested, I have logged my flight into the OLC and you can view details there.
Happy flying
Paul
More friendly birds in FL
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