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4 pilots plus a kite flying daughter got the 4X4 up the hill around 11.20am after waiting for Snowie to gather his kit from around his house. It was quite hot and there was lots of development over the hills. On arrival at the south east face of big Myerton we were greeted by a gentle SE thermic breeze coming through in cycles and by Roy who had already had a few hops.
It was not long before the magic words came from Craig, "I'm going down to pick up Tommy, if any one fancies a flight down." With that, I was off. I was going down, heading towards the Marshall's farm when I got the first thermal in a long while. I managed to scratch around in it for a while, soon joined by Ronnie who picked it up and before long we were both well above take off. I think Snowie took off then and joined us in the sky.
Ronnie and I fell in and out of thermals that took us back near to the bowl. In a few of them there was the Quest smell to follow. I saw the 4x4 coming back up the track. Craig was nearly back with Tommy so I thought this flight better stick. Ronnie flew east towards the gap and Craig Leith while I sank and top landed, partly thankful as I was getting cold. I had a bite to eat and discussed our flight with Snowie while we watched Ronnie get to Craig Leith. A high pitched elevator took him vertically skyward. Not to be left out, I had a go at getting up again but couldn't hold any of the thermals to get high enough to have a crack at the gap. Ronnie to my surprise hit massive sink and had to land in Alva, he did however have a brilliant flight and looks to be very happy on his new wing.
Along with Tommy, Rab arrived on site and it was beginning to look like the good old days. We all had hops but the sky had become overcast and the activity dropped. After chatting for a while Roy took off and flew down. The rest of us sat it out and were rewarded half an hour or so later when it cleared and thermals began to pop off again. Rab had a good flight finding lift where me and Ronnie did and managed a save over the village to get back up to a decent height again. I flew around for a while and then caught my best thermal of the day that took me to base, above the second Inchna Burn and high enough, it looked like to me, to take a glide to Dunblane. I was in two minds. Go for it and may be get more lift on the way. Or go for it, hit sink and face a long walk back.
My lack of currency and the spread out nature of the lift hit my pessimistic button and I opted to have a go at Dumyat. Wrong choice. It was into wind and sink all the way but I arrived at summit height. Waving to the people on the top I hunted around a bit but it was rough and sinky. I turned tail and got 4 to 5m/s down. I could barley make the gradient of the hill and at one point was so close, I got out of my harness and prepared to land. Just making it I got away from the hill and over the village where it was more floaty. Landing in the park along side the rest of the guys I was very happy and there was a good buzz around. There was lots of chat with the locals and quite an interest in what we do. I think Tommy spoke to one person who said he was AP rated. Hopefully we will have a new member soon. Ronnie, who got the bus back, and I had a lovely refreshment in the Holly Tree to top off a good afternoons flying.
What a good day.
