Matt and I are looking to head to Daniels to remove the punji sticks that are in the primary "blown launch" path and do some other work tomorrow. There is also chance of flying. There is a south wind and any rain will come in the evening.
We need at least three others to go to make the work trip worthwhile.
Who else can go?
We will also visit a winery or brewery on the way back.
Thanks,
Jim
Cell: 703.973.4411
Work party at Daniels tomorrow
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
Re: Work party at Daniels tomorrow
There will be a work party and some flying at Daniels today. Matt, Ian, Thomas, Dan, and me are in so far. We will visit a winery or brewery after we finish.
Meet at Manassas to carpool at 10.
Text me at
703.973.4411
If you want to join.
Thanks,
Jim
Meet at Manassas to carpool at 10.
Text me at
703.973.4411
If you want to join.
Thanks,
Jim
Re: Work party at Daniels tomorrow
Thanks for posting this Jim! I haven't been to Daniels yet and really want to check it out. My brother and I were down at Taylors today sharing the wind with the Silverwings class.
Re: Work party at Daniels tomorrow
Unexpectedly nice day at Daniels. Friday’s forecast showed a chance of rain later in the day and 100% clouds. Saturday morning the chance of rain was pretty much gone.
The wind was good on launch when we arrived with some sun poking through and some cycles coming up so Ian took a quick intro sledder. The rest of us did some clearing with hand tools (the chainsaw and weed whackers weren’t available this weekend unfortunately). We made some good progress on clearing punji sticks, but a lot more work is needed. If we go back with some power tools we can probably clear most of it in a few hours.
The birds were soaring so a few other people also took off and got some lift, but had short flights. I took off around 4pm. There was sun in the valley and gentle cycles coming up. I found a nice thermal over the house, but didn’t have my vario audio on so just had to feel it. I topped out at 800 ft over launch - 2500 ft msl! Wow! The valley to the west was shaded so I flew east towards sun and cumulus clouds and found another good thermal, but my muscles were really cramping up from dehydration so I chose to fly into the valley and land in the main LZ for a 16 min. flight. Not bad for winter! If I had been smart and drank more water before working I could have had a much better flight.
On Friday I thought Daniels was going to be completely overcast and all work with little chance of flying. I was completely wrong. This tells me you have to closely watch the weather. If you see improving forecasts it may be worth the gamble. On our way back we stopped at Prince Michel winery for a tasting. The combination of site maintenance and a winery were reason enough to make the trip. The flying was the icing on the cake.
Photos on the facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chgpa/
Matt
The wind was good on launch when we arrived with some sun poking through and some cycles coming up so Ian took a quick intro sledder. The rest of us did some clearing with hand tools (the chainsaw and weed whackers weren’t available this weekend unfortunately). We made some good progress on clearing punji sticks, but a lot more work is needed. If we go back with some power tools we can probably clear most of it in a few hours.
The birds were soaring so a few other people also took off and got some lift, but had short flights. I took off around 4pm. There was sun in the valley and gentle cycles coming up. I found a nice thermal over the house, but didn’t have my vario audio on so just had to feel it. I topped out at 800 ft over launch - 2500 ft msl! Wow! The valley to the west was shaded so I flew east towards sun and cumulus clouds and found another good thermal, but my muscles were really cramping up from dehydration so I chose to fly into the valley and land in the main LZ for a 16 min. flight. Not bad for winter! If I had been smart and drank more water before working I could have had a much better flight.
On Friday I thought Daniels was going to be completely overcast and all work with little chance of flying. I was completely wrong. This tells me you have to closely watch the weather. If you see improving forecasts it may be worth the gamble. On our way back we stopped at Prince Michel winery for a tasting. The combination of site maintenance and a winery were reason enough to make the trip. The flying was the icing on the cake.
Photos on the facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/chgpa/
Matt
Re: Work party at Daniels tomorrow
Oh and the farmer in the LZ cut all of the nasty thorn bushes! The LZ is wide open! We did some trash cleanup and trimming of the thorns in the parking area. The road up is in it's usual shape, no worse. Passable, with rougher spots before the turn. The couch is still at the top of launch. Hopefully we'll get a truck up there soon.
Re: Work party at Daniels tomorrow
Here is the video I made of the day:
https://click.email.vimeo.com/?qs=4c99a ... b661bb224d
Disclaimers:
I should have gotten more pics of the work and workers. ( Jim swings a mean stump shattering ax)
The camera angle was not the best in the flight video. It was a sled ride and I wanted to make sure my priorities were right.
Randy
https://click.email.vimeo.com/?qs=4c99a ... b661bb224d
Disclaimers:
I should have gotten more pics of the work and workers. ( Jim swings a mean stump shattering ax)
The camera angle was not the best in the flight video. It was a sled ride and I wanted to make sure my priorities were right.
Randy
Keep Calm And Soar On