Ms Palindrome blog

[Viv]

9th Sept. Heol Senni. Arrived late afternoon, several up and a nice cycle has us climbing over the quarry and soaring out over the valley in huge pockets of lift as the swiftly moving clouds cast their shadows across the vast landscape, not that I have much time to admire the view, the higher I go the more active it gets, speedbar on but still climbing, boat back towards launch and play nearer the hill, eventually get blown over the back and accurately land before the treeline. Another reverse launch later and the wind has picked up, I feel like a dandelion seed, pockets of sink and canopy rustle, time to make for the landing field methinks, but no, this time I head off beyond the quarry and land in the field. Nice walk, mostly downhill. Bit boggy there. 1 hour of scary fun.

[Viv]

7th Sept.  Nant-y-Moel. Warm and humid, a bit off the hill. Reverse launch 3rd go, help and advice from Ginge, very busy here today, joint services and two dealers, 20 mins cautious scratching and gradual climb, edge out over gap and back, another beat has me high over the trees, a sudden lightening in one wing and drop, pump and rustle, and carry on until the wind drops and we mostly all land, me on the slope and a hot walk up it is. Pilot lecture from Nick.

[Viv]

17th Aug. Rhosili. 4.30pm reverse pimple launch, great lift and 2 hrs of active fun, cautious swingovers, need positive input, nothing scary on my DHV 1.  A fern landing.

[Viv]

13th Aug. Rhosili. 6pm perfect Reverse launch, instant lift and untwist as we go, the parawait is worth the wait, a smooth wide fly out to previously uncharted points of reference, completely empty beach in August. The tide is out in the estuary. Sheer bliss for 1 h 25 mins, blown back over the pimple and c-stall for a nice landing in the field behind.  The sweetest, kindest and funniest pilots in the Worm's Head. Over 100 hrs airtime now.

[Viv]

11th Aug. Rhosili. Reverse launch at 1.35, 1 h and 15 mins of increasing breeze, blown back and land safely in field behind t/o. Too windy to continue, Francois and Chris having hairy moments.

[Viv]

9th Aug. Rhosili. Reverse launch in light wind, one pass along to the campsite and a slow glide down to a beach landing. 10 mins. Reverse launch later, and 1hr 15 mins of lifty fun, not too busy. Lovely sky, wisps of cloud dampening my cells. Accurate pimple land, dewpoint approaching, and another beautiful sunset in the pub.

[Viv]

8th Aug. Rhosili. 11.30 am reverse pimple launch in almost perfect conditions, 2 hrs scratching and climbing, the purple and yellow heather is particularly outstanding today, circling in the 3 hotspots to great height for fantastic views to the horizon, a lovely landing, comfort break and chat, 22 up today, busy sky. Reverse launch, 1 hr and a perfect beach landing nearest to steps. A chivalrous Italian carries my bag up and is rewarded with a tandem flight by Stevie G. Reverse launch, 1 hr, a less elegant but safe landing in intended spot.  44 hrs 35 mins airtime this year.

[Viv]

6th Aug. Rhosili. Reverse pimple launch in light wind at 2.15 pm. 40 mins boat about, and nice accurate landing. Reverse launch at 3.15, the wind stronger by now, good groundhandling practice! 1 hour and 30 mins of seeking lift had me almost to cloudbase, going out over the pub and surf, and the campsite. Landed a little too far back, dropped wing into ferns and dung-dipped my sleeve. The sky has a milky veil of cloud. Last flight 30 mins.

[Viv]

5th Aug. Nant y Moel. 6.15pm. Light wind. Reverse launch 2nd go from the flatter part.  A good 35 mins soaring above (and below) the ridge, pushing across the gap to the bowl on the left, and finally slope land by t/o. I have made bigger traverses this time. Top of the stack at one point! The views in the evening sun are beautiful.

[Viv]

2nd Aug. Rhosili.  Reverse pimple launch at 10.50. A good hour exploring the width of the liftband, and the length of the ridge.  Hunger forces me to land and go for breakast. The Surf Shack now has a computer link to weather pages, handy for latest conditions. It's a real pleasure to walk up the hill with no burden. By the time I rig up again all the others have landed, so not wishing to fly alone I pack up and go to the pub. The 2 Pauls go, but the others decide it's flyable and go back up. I follow hopefully, but it's too strong and southerly.  I inflate, dance around to Kim's amusement, I think it's too much pilot input, and fly like a stone into the bushes in front.  The photographer rushes over, not to help, but to take photos of my plight! Strange one, when I don't want or need help I have blokes taking it upon themselves to grab my edge to pull it out when I am trying to practise groundhandling, then when I obviously need a hand to get out from the bushes they stand around gawping! Stevie G explains that I am banned from the Alicante trip because I'm a girl, and people will touch my stuff abroad.  It's different when you are in a queue on a narrow t/o abroad, and the glider isn't brand new anymore, but I don't fancy Santa Pola anyway, it's too dog-visited by the residents adjoining t/o.

[Viv]

25th July. Rhosili. Got delayed by a caravan in the lanes en route, went round the north side after a long wait. Lines in a terrible knot after hastily packing up last time, Paul H is most helpful. Reverse pimple launch at 11.30, a slow scratch up to top, then cross the bowl for a glide to the campsite. This is the first time out with a footrest.  The wind is a bit variable today. Can't seem to get out from the hill. On the return leg I am pinned for a bit, then with horror I realise I am going backwards. This is not the first time  this has happened here.  Too low to pull ears in or stand on speedbar, so a nice controlled dump in the heather by the track. Nasher explains that on a day like today it's better to stay well out of the compression zone and cruise the beach. 10 mins.

[Viv]

10th July. Rhosili. Arrive midafternoon to see a dozen up already.  I rig up as quickly as I can, a couple of inflations, finally Norris pushes me off, it's a bit light, I scratch up to top and feel a spot of rain, then everyone already up goes to land. I drift on towards the campsite but turn back before I get to the end as the rain is heavier than at first, the wing feels different. I have loads of height, but don't want to pull the ears in case she sticks shut. Speedbar works until I get near the pimple, then s off till I can line up.  Francois grabs my heel, I don't flare hard enough, and we end up draped over the gorse.  She is soaking wet and takes 2 days to dry out. 10 mins

[Viv]

28th June. Bryncaws. Arrive aound 2pm, a good show of faces out.  Parawait for a good while, finally reverse launch and drift up and along the ridge, sinking and climbing until a lull below the north end dips me over the field, and a nice long glide to a standing landing in the lower landing field, thanks to Nick for retrieve, a gent. 25 mins in quite bobbly conditions, then the cool gust brought a spot of rain, so game over for today.
36 hrs airtime this year so far, 50 last year. All pilot tasks achieved, except the exam.

[Viv]

27th June. Fan G.  Arrive midafternoon, reverse launch in very light gusts, 5 mins desperate scraping and bottom land on south face meadow, long walk back to car, glad I took  flask of tea. 5 mins of fun is better than no fun at all.

[Viv]

24th June. Abernant. Warm and active. Reverse launch 12.30 in a lull, and a good hour of ridge soaring with Francois and Gerry, gradually moving out over the dump as we gain height, the farmer is ploughing nearby fields so huge bubbles take us almost to cloudbase, Francois disappears to the north and assures us on radio he's landed ok and will be back, Gerry slope lands across the gully and I have the whole sky in which to practice keeping the wing stable in the hottest part of the day. Pendulum stability? Perhaps I should put the bag in back for extra weight. Topland nicely and regroup, reverse launch for another half hour, it's picking up and I see Nick's car approaching from the distance, try as I might I cannot land by t.o, so put down further along and walk back. I feel it's too strong now, pack up and prepare to go on retrieve in case Nick goes XC, and then unpack again to reverse launch after him, 20 mins of active fun, there's no catching him up, so I land. We see his tracklog in the pub, nice!