| Flight details: | I arrived at the Dyke late hoping for a quick flight before going to a lunch do (that I was already late for). I hadn't eaten anything and thought it may have SB'd by the time I arrived. I took off and got a good climb within a couple of minutes, so I went with it. Cruising passed the amex stadium I congratulated myself on beating my UK personal best, and was rewarded with my next climb.
I flew over Lewes and Caburn then tracked slightly North, flying mostly by the clouds. I haven't done any flat land XC flying before nor have been lucky enough to see the SB convergence up close, so I had fun trying to figure it all. I spent a lot of time trying to get my GPS to display the air map!
I spotted 2 PG's in the distance and to my surprise I managed to catch them up. I was relieved because I thought it would be easier to fly in a gaggle, but actually flying with other gliders took me out of my little zone, and it seemed to get harder. I think it was a combination of the conditions and my plummeting sugar levels. The mentor 3 went on in a lifty line and then disappeared.
Desperately rummaging for the emergency chocolate bar whilst zooming inland at full speed and climbing. My instruments told me I was approaching airspace so I pulled big ears. Still going up. I pulled bigger big ears. Still going up. Franco was now just above me and also pulled in big ears so I thought it must be the right thing to do! Eventually we did come down, and despite lift everywhere I decided it was time for me to land because I was tired and really didn't feel I had the brain power to react if things got funky!
I chose nice big field and to my surprise Franco joined me. I got home at 8.15pm having missed lunch, but it was definitely worth it. I'm still buzzing now :-) |
