| Flight details: | Turned up at Milk Hill expecting light wind, with the chance of doing a little out and return or mini triangle. Spoke to the super enthusiastic Theo and his dad John in the morning who told me that a flight towards Peterborough was their aim! The strengthening wind convinced me that a short hop over the back downwind might me a better option and the next thing my Kobo was updated with a task and airspace reviewed with some other pilots.
After a false start, slope landing and a quiet word to myself I launched into an epic thermal all the way to cloudbase. It was the most fun I've ever had!
Didn't make Peterborough of course but I made it past Oxford for a new PB! Steep learning curve and the sight of Abbingdon airfield sent me into some mild panic. Wasn't expecting to see something that looked like LHR and a consultation with maps was required. By this time the Advance Iota (Nancy?) that i had been thermalling with had disappeared upwards while I had bumbled toward the ground whilst faffing. Luckily I confirmed Abbingdon didn't have an ATZ and was OK. I managed to find some other lift to take me over Oxford but my brain was frazzled and i was drifting towards Otmoor bird sanctuary. I wasn't able to push on and turned to land. A truly amazing and unexpected day, I even enjoyed the 4 hour journey back to Milk! |
