The wonders of nature

On Monday I got home from work early enough to load the kayaks, grab Cody and head to Hemlock for a quick paddle. We paddled the inlet and made it a mile and a half until we hit a fallen tree that we could not cross. We saw two Blue Herons, a Beaver and an Eagle. I will have to get the Cannon out once I am sure I am not going to roll it into the drink and try and get some quality pictures.
Ron and I paddled about 12 miles on Sunday and we found a willow that has dropped roots down to "drink" out of the lake. The roots extend down into the water about six inches and get very red below the surface. They do not go to the bottom so they sway back and forth in the waves. Way cool, nature making things happen. Here are a few pics of the roots. We saw an Eagle and I did get a picture but it was to far away to be worth much.

Hemlock heaven

I found a good used kayak on Craig's list this morning and went to look at it and bought it on the spot. A Dagger Blackwater 12.5. When everyone bailed on flying I took it out to Hemlock to give it a test paddle. Cody says Hemlock is the better of the two little fingers and now I agree. There was very little boat traffic, I saw two power boats and five kayaks. I had a great paddle up the west side in the shade and the highlight was a Bald Eagle flew off a cliff and passed over me by no more than 50'. The boat performed flawlessly and I am real pleased with the deal I got. Here are a few pictures from the trip, wish I could have gotten a pic of the Eagle but I had the camera stowed and could not get it out in time. Oh well, I now have an excuse to go back soon.

Canadice cruisin'

Cody and I went to Canadice Lake on Sunday and paddled the length and back, stopped and climbed a 400' elevation change to get a cache and built a couple stone cairns. We stayed on the west side for the most part in the shade and comfortably cruisin' in a nice breeze.

Hanging at Hemlock

I got Cody a kayak for graduation so I rented one for me and we went to Hemlock Lake for a paddle and a little geocaching. We found two caches and saw a variety of wildlife. Water snakes, lots of fish jumping and a Blue Heron that was totally unafraid of us.

Fourth of July Festivities!!!

I spoke to Joel and we decided to head for Hammondsport. After speaking to Jorge, we decided to head for Harris Hill instead due to the West cross at HP. We stopped at the LZ and Dan Walters and Ron K. had just landed after long flights and said the air was fairly smooth after you got up off the ridge but it was blowing in good at launch. There were still two gliders in the air, Bill V. and Daniel.
We headed up and there was a crowd on launch, Chuck and Doug Stoner, Karl and Katrin, Oded, Linda, Mary Spears and Mr. and Mrs. Keith. Mr. Keith had flown hang gliders many years ago and was easily in his eighties. I invited him to go for a tandem next summer after the club has the tow operation all organized.
Scott and Moritz arrived as we were setting up and Scott was the first to run off of the second round, then we all followed. The air was fairly smooth with strong ridge lift and thermals mixing in. When it was working thing were spread out, but during sink cycles the ridge got pretty crowded fast. There were times you could fly straight out into the valley and follow lift lines and keep climbing. When that happened things got spread out and comfortable, but a long sink cycle finally made me decide to bail off the ridge and get away from the crowd and go land.
The pictures are: what PG pilots do when it is blowing hard, Bill V. on the ridge, a sail plan over head, and a couple of Scott getting ready to launch.
We finished the day with dinner at Tags, good conversation and good food.

Flights: 1
Flight time: 1:05:00
Fun Factor: 8

Hammondsport 7-3-11

I met Todd at the church LZ and we loaded my glider on his truck and off we went for the top. Louis, Peter and Klause were already at launch parawaiting and said the wind had just picked up and gone WNW from W. Klause started setting up his HG as Todd and I checked conditions and decided it was indeed flyable and started rigging.
Klause launched from the lower launch first and gained a couple hundred quickly. As we finished rigging he found lift and gained 1000'.
I stepped up to launch next and waited for a cycle as it crossed more W and Klause lost most of his altitude and was back a couple hundred over the ridge. After a few minutes there was a decent cycle and I ran off. There was a lot of west to it and the air was textured to say the least, Klause and Todd both had wire twangers, I went over the falls a couple times but never went slack. I found a thermal in the west bowl and climbed out and watched Todd have a nice launch.
The bowls were working and we could find thermals pretty reliably, especially with three gliders searching and everyone working comfortably in close proximity.
After the clock ticked to an hour I decided I had had enough and bailed for the church LZ where my truck was parked. I had a mediocre landing and was fatigued, mostly in my shoulders, from the rough air but had a very satisfying flight. Klause landed shortly after me and said he was glad when someone went in to land as he didn't want to be the first one down.
When we got back to the top Jorge and his girlfriend were waiting for the wind to die enough for him to get his PG out and we watched him climb the oak by the cabin and trim it so he could set up his hanging tent up in the tree as that is where they were planning to spend the night. while we watched we were treated to a flock of Turkey Vultures playing on the ridge.
I am light on the flying shots but here are some picks of Jorge climbing and the vultures vulturing.

Flights: 1
flight time: 1:04:00
Fun factor: 7

Chris's first high flight

Chris Turner is the first student from the RAF class of 2011 to get off the mountain. It is a big step going from the 120' training hill to 900' Stid hill, but he was unaffected and after a text book launch had a great flight and good landing to complete his first high flight. Congratulations Chris.
Here are a couple pictures from the flight. Chris setting up, Jorge walking up launch with Chris in the back ground flying out into the valley and the final one of Chris and his dad Tim after the flight basking in the glow.
The hours spent on the training hill really come to fruition when you get to watch this happen!!!