Dartmoor Gliding News – Sunday 2nd March 2014

Having read about all the successful flying that our fellow members have been enjoying the last couple of weeks, the Sunday Soarers turned up full of hope and expectation of once again launching into spectacular skies full of fluffy cumulus, thermals or perhaps could we catch some good wave flying to shake off our damp cobwebs.

Dave Parker seems fascinated by woodcutter Puttock

 However the reality of another wet and windy Dartmoor soon kicked in and of the major activity of the day, designed to work off the calories of another hearty Sunday Soarers breakfast, was to attack the large pile of wood that has littered the parking area for several months and to convert this into suitable sized fuel for the wood burner.  Health and safety seemed to go out of the window once Don had adopted his role of Chief Cutter on the circular saw; thankfully the only item that was cut in addition to the wood was a small piece of Don's glove and he was soon able to retire to the clubhouse to begin his usual role of lecturer.

But Jerry just couldn't watch

I was 'persuaded' to have a go at the next part of my own exams and went through NOTAM's as well as weather forecasting (mind you, the forecasting was a waste of time as I only needed to put my head out of the window and could have told him that the weather was awful!!!)  A cloud flying lecture was then lined up for the benefit of our safety officer, Dave Jesty, whilst the rest of the Soarers adopted their usual Sunday pastime of listening in whilst drinking tea and eating biscuits.

Roger and Dave were at least able to give Roger's trailer a good clean ready for his forthcoming expedition to Talgarth to experience the delights of ridge soaring.

We are looking forward to some sun.

Jerry Wellington

Jerry Wellington