Last night's flight

Flew again last night and managed about 13 minutes. Not great, but considering that Carl (an XC comp pilot) and Eric (a very experienced local pilot) did the same, and the two of them whacked, and the fact that I timed my launch as then new thermal cycle was beginning, thus leading the guys behind me into the gnarly little thermal that I worked practically to the ground, I don’t feel very bad. I had a good launch, in fact, got complimented on it by Gordon (the chief instructor) later, and a good two or three step landing. It really is easy to time the landings in this new glider, now that I’ve adjusted the hang-point so that I’m not flying so fast. Mustn’t pat myself on the back too much, but it felt so good, again to fly.

Tom got 4500 over and flew over an hour, and Scott got to 5700 and flew up the valley about 30-45 minutes. Both came down glowing. Tom and I sat on launch watching the sunset with Emmalina, who, I had decided, needed a little away time from her brother. She thoroughly enjoyed being the center of attention for once, as people came and went from launch, including a twosome (not a couple, think more like cousins) from Vermont and New York, Susannah and Tom. Susannah has been taking lessons and is now a Hang 1, and Tom starts on Thursday in ground school. They’re here only a few days, but I can tell it’s dream of hers.

We sat discussing how hard it is to only come for a few days and how it feels as fi you’ll never clear the hills. I told her that it took me more than 160 hill flights over 18 months to clear the hills, but that it is definitely worth it; that when she has that first evening sunset flight when the air is golden like honey and you look down on the darkening valley and it seems you can't find down if you want it, then she will realize all that sweat was for something tangible and rich.