Flight

Yet another fine day at the Dyke. It took a little while to warm up; at first, it was a bit scratchy, but later got better. For a weekend, it wasn't that crowded. As the sun came out, some really good flying was to be had, with height gains to about 1500 above, in a gentle northerly. Later on, I got to 2,300 above, and was left to fly alone, only Jamie on his Antea with me. We floated about, finding lots of thermals while everyone else was grounded. Gloat factor 9 all around. After an hour of this, we landed, and waited for the next cycle. By this time, the clouds were looking pretty impressive, and the sea breeze started encroaching. It was a case of leap off the hill, and get up while you can. Ghandi ordered his milk and loaf of bread from ASDA off me. I should have taken his money. At the appointed signal, almost the entire field took off, and started thermalling up. I was quite impressed by the fact that everyone was thermalling OK, and co-operating, and that everyone was going up - no-one attempting ridge runs. Only 4 canopies were left on the deck, once the thermal started to work. Round and round we went, everyone but me and someone on a Golden still in the original thermal. They started to do much better, but it was too late - I was too far behind to catch it, and I hung on in to what I had. It took me to 1600 above, then down to 1200 above, where I stayed for 30 minutes, hanging onto anything going up, admiring the traffic queues below (London-Brighton bike ride). The drift eventually took me too low over Brighton to be legal, and I straightened up and flew towards - you've guessed it -ASDA. Oh, no, not THAT field again! Sink all the way led me to the first thermal low over the A27, coming off the road itself, on the slope up to the roundabout to ASDA. Round and round, waving to the cars (not far) below, and drifting towards the street lights, trees, and half a million cyclists. Not good. Oh well, land in the next field up from the usual. Still, it was bett