Tumors or growths

I was out with the camera shooting some deer and I got these pics of a deer with Fibroma or Paploma, a viral skin infection. I asked a friend who is a wildlife biologist for the DEC and he said unless they are in a spot that keeps it from eating or inhibits daily life they do no harm to the deer and they eventually truncate and fall off.

Cody, Eammon and I met my parents and niece Mara in Syracuse at the zoo and for lunch and the boys went back with them for the week to go to Salem Mass. Here are a few pictures from the zoo. I am sure Pops' favorites are the ones of the Flamingos, his favorite bird.;o) The ones of the kids snuggling with the lioness are safer than they appear, there was glass between them.

Harris Hill

With a large contingent from the RAF and a good turn out from Free Spirit had 15-20 pilots on the hill and setting up. Ryan was the first off and spent the next hour scratching in turbulent air a few hundred over so not being in a hurry to join him spent the time changing the hang strap on the Eagle so I didn't need any extensions any more. I finished up and looked up to see Ryan and a couple others finally getting high and pilots piling off the hill. The highlights were a fly by from a sail plane at Mach 2 right at ridge height and Jack pulling in, setting up, calmly walking of launch, catching a thermal and going XC all in the space of about 10min.
I had a nice launch and was quickly to a few hundred over and spent the rest of the flight between launch height and 800' over in turbulent air. A couple times I went negative and I got turned a couple times but never had a any wire twangers and after I told myself to quit fighting it and fly the glider all went well. I could never find a coherent thermal that I felt comfortable turning 360's in and not getting drifted to far back and finally got flushed in a lull with a few other pilots and came in for a no step landing down below.
It was nice to see Dave Stookey, Joe and Marlin out and flying and when I left the wonder was kicking in, Marlin was setting up for another flight and Jeff was still in the air after a couple hours. A short flight but I needed it and was able to get home and get groceries and other chores done before dark.

Flights: 1
Airtime: 36 min
Fun Factor: 6

Bristol on Sunday

Brian called and asked if I was available to run a few people off the mountain in the evening. We agreed to meet and arrangements were made to meet with Ron, Carl, Katrin and Lon. I got there as they were already up top and setting up and Andrew went up to join Brian, Mike and Jim. I stayed down with Lon and watches as they all flew with good flights and mostly very good landings. There was a little pilot induced osculation going on and some good decision making on approaches and everyone left with BIG smiles. Congrats to all nicely done.