Grain Run, Paraglding Flight 71, PDC, Brake Lines, Rain, Bumblebee, Boosters Event - Saturday

Ended up 6 of us from the club showed up and the winds were movin pretty good already.

Brendan and I hiked up before the other 4 and stopped at a mid point up the trail. He and I setup while the other 4 watched. I was the first one to be ready and in a slight lull in the wind I got my wing up in the air and in a moment I was in the air.

The winds were between 12 and 16 mph and as soon as I was in the air I was going up. It was super cool because I had almost zero forward movement but kept climbing in the lift from the ridge.

After launch I took a wrap of my brakes which ended up being a bit unneeded during the flight.

I popped myself into my harness and tried to sit back in it as much as I could.

Just about every single contour along the hill had lift to it. I was sitting in the upper bands that didn't have as much influence from the finer contours. The only way I was able to make forward progress was to put my hands all the way up to the pulleys to fully release the brakes which let me go slowly forward.

This was one of my higher flights I have had at Saltese and also one of my best takeoffs and landings.

As I flew out over the base of the hill I got into the area of less lift but was still being held up quite well.

My shoulders were a bit sore from hands uppping most of the time so I was okay with coming in to land. It took a bit of work to get down and I had to make a zigzag to lose the altitude.

I got a bunch of bumps of lift as I came down closer to the ground then here at about 15 feet off the ground forward motion stopped and I lowered perfectly straight down to the ground and my toes touched down nice and gently.

I turned and dropped my wing which fell perfectly.

I packed up my wing and harness then watched everyone else fly. I was surprised no one else was in the air as I had a great flight but it seemed they were all watching me more so. In the end everyone got flights in and we got to show the hill to the 2 new guys who had a blast.

I was stoked with my one flight so hiked back to the truck and headed for home. As soon as I was on the farm I backed the trailer into the sheep pen and emptied the grain out for them and the birds.

I was inside just in time to watch Barney play who then got beat by Smith.

I was telling Levi about my discovering the brake wrap and he told me Josh just cut 4 inches off his so no need for a wrap. Well... I didn't cut any line but I did tie the brakes shorter so I am quite curious to fly again and see how much more responsive my wing is.

The weather came in in the afternoon and we got a few serious down pours. Most of the storms just skimmed us though as they were largely to the west as they blew by.

I was out under the carport and moved a bag and heard a buzzing. I turned the bag over and this bumblebee fell out. I picked it up and it half flew off. I got these shots of it before it flew off towards the creek.

For the evening @stryeyz and I went to the school's Brews for Boosters event held each year. It is a fundraiser for the boosters and it is held at the Camden ranch which is a super nice venue. We got outbid on everything which is fine but we DID have a super conversation of the district superintendent, (who knows J and how smart he is). The conversation was why we were there and gives us both a much better feeling about the next school year.

We called at about 8:30 and headed for home. The sunset light was super cool through the clouds.

Later to soak and get out and the boys waited until super late to make popcorn.

Today the winds are going to be a good bit too strong to fly even though the club is trying to make a spot work, I'll likely go kiting if anything later today. PDC Euro tour event is finishing today, I have to set the closing time later on the coop door, then this evening I will build a fire in the pit and grill for dinner.

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