Flightlog 28th March, 2009

Spent the morning shopping with the young gentleman as the forecast called for a quick change from SE to NE. I figured it would be too crossed by lunch time so I thought I'd indulge the little bugger instead.
Upon returning home I noticed it wasn't as bad as I thought so I grabbed the Live and headed to Strezzie.
Tony Barton was flying a paraglider and Jimmy T Thompson had just taken off so I set up and made ready. The wind was appreciably to the east but not so bad as you couldn't get away.
First attempt saw the wing swing with the breeze to the southern end of launch and land in a bit of a heap. I built the wall again and walked it back towards the middle of the launch and got on with it.
Heading into the wind was painful and a bit slow and the downwind leg was quite brisk.
JT had headed over to Watt Street and was getting good height, but then again he should as he's flying a top of the line Advance wing and had just returned from the World's in Mexico. I decided to stay at Strezzie and was joined by Anton and another hangie.
It was quite nice but a bit light - I should have brought the Confidence - so there wasn't much opportunity to get out away from the ridge. Conrad was flying Tony's UP at this stage and made several attempts to top land but finally nailed it. After he had packed up the paraglider the launch site was clear of all craft and I briefly thought about top landing but then a few hangies threw their wings over the fence and started to get unpacked.
At this stage I had the ridge to myself so I tooled around for a bit then headed down to empire park as Anton and his mate had landed and I figured someone would give me ligt back up the hill.
As I crossed the park, I hit a bit of rotor off the headland which made me sit up and take notice a bit more as normally its pretty smooth sailing all the way in to the LZ.
The landing was Ok and my lift-up-the-hill prayers were answered when Anton's chum - Al - offered me a ride. Hurrah!
All up about an hour's flight (60 min).

Liam gets cranky!

liam shows off his cranky face (for demonstration purposes only)

Dining out with the Lavs

Brettles and Natasha asked us to join them for dinner at Restaurant II in Bolton Street. Superb meal! Brett brought along some of his wine stash of which we had much.
At one stage I was gesticulating (as I am wont to do) and ended up smashing my wine glass on the floor. How embarrassment! Fortuunately for us, we don't get recognised - unlike our hapless dinner companions!

Liam at Speers Pt

We attended Jimmy Vale's first birthday on Sunday

Flightlog 7th March 2009

Wind was forecast to be NW all day but swung around about Midday.
I headed on up to Strezzie where there were 3 hangies flying and a few more setting up.
It was a beautiful day and conditions were spot on if a little bit light.
Launched well and did the usual traversing of the ridge between Fort at KEP and Monument.
Hangies were by now in abundance but spread out over the ridge.
After 40 minutes Neil Bright, who had been flying at Merewether showed up and launched so it was starting get more crowdeder but he ended up going to Watt Street.
I decided against it as there was still a bit of south in the wind direction.
After an hour I burnt off some height over Susan Gilmour and headed for the park.
Made a nice landing and Anton cam down and gave me and Gary - a hangy who landed just after me - a lift back up the hill.
All up 60 to 75 minutes flying. Very Nice!!

Took the kids to the seaside last Friday. Beautiful evening. Drank a bottle of flat white with my favourite wife whilst the kids frolicked on the sand.
Gotta love Newy!

Run Aftermath

I got this new phone (Sony/Ericsson C902) that allows you to post photos directly to your blog. So I do.
I ran with the McPherson/Rabbitt chicks tis morning (6-March) and took this afterwards. We did about 7km in 35 minutes which we're all pleased with.

Flightlog March 1st 2009

Nice, steady onshore breeze a blowin' so I headed up to Strezzie around 3pm to give the new glider another hit out.
Neil Bright was flying off Dixon Park and a couple of hangies were aloft off Strezzie.
Ray Dunne had just shown up and Stewy Coad was setting up ready for a fly. Wayne Collison and Mick the Fun Flyer were narkling around and had been for some time.
The breeze was a little stiff but it wasn't white capping so I went ahead and unfurled the Live. Ray checked my preparation out as he's on the cusp of a paraglider purchase.
I got clipped in and ready. The launch was good if not a little overcooked as I hauled on the A's a little too much. The glider rocketed up so I had to dampen it a fair bit. I need to remember that its a lot smaller than the Confidence!
Once the glider was flying I spun around and was airborne before taking a single step. I traversed the ridge and made the occasional trip out over the rock shelf to try a few wing over/chandelles etc.
It really is a fun glider! Its a lot more nippy than the Confidence but still manages to feel quite forgiving. 2 punters in Gins were flying over at Fletcher Park decided to join us on the main ridge so now there were 3 paragliders, and 4 hangies now that Ray had launched as well.
The pilot of the orange Gin (who looked female and looked to be on the phone) seemed oblivious to the right of way rules and continued to hug the ridge in both directions! I made a few more passes and at one stage got quite low over Monument after doing one too many wingovers but pushed on in a northerly direction and regained my height. Susan Gilmore is once again a landing option with plenty of sand and a few topless chicks.
I flew for about an hour and then headed for Empire park.
Made a good landing and Mick drove me and some frog back up the hill.
Very enjoyable!!