Sportavia - Day 5

Today we got to actually fly after 3 cancelled days. The task was for about 140km. Nice flat land flying over neatly plowed/patterned fields and crossing two interesting looking rivers. I broke a weaklink on tow causing me to re-tow and was last off the ground barely making the last start-tiime; and as a result I had to fly the entire task alone but I learned alot. I was trying to figure out how to get my ipod out of my harness to entertain myself midway thru the flight.

My last climb of the day was made in the sweetest dust-devil I have ever seen. The climb I was in was becoming very dis-orgaised at about 4000ft and I spotted the dusty about 3Km to the west and I went for it. It was tracking across the really smooth dry lakebed and perfectly formed. I reached it just above the dust level at 3000ft and KABOOM! Mouthful of dirt and 1100fpm climb rate to 5200ft.

It was close to the end of the day and I went on glide towards goal; I needed one more thermal to make it but was out of luck. I hit the deck 6km from goal. Another less-than-graceful-cross-wind downhill landing - my knees are never going to heal at this rate.

It was still an excellent flight - good times.