Sep 9 Kissin the Gravel

The launch on Sunday.

Well, there was an unofficial task to the Boonah T. I ridgesoared Beechmont for nearly an hour before finally getting up to 4,000ft with Derek and Neil. We all got to Hinchcliffs ok, and Neil got up easily and went on West. Derek and myself spent nearly another hour on Hinchcliffs. Derek landed at Hinchies bombout field and I was about to follow as the wind had died off. I managed to find a thermal half way to the bombout and eventually get back up to 4,000ft.

I headed West again and found a huge rain band in the Kerry. It looked really heavy. I decided to try and get infront of it. I found only light lift and started loosing height. I made the mistake on not really deciding on a good landing field. Then I made the mistake of thinking I could clear a fence and road. Soon, as I heard my harness just clip the top of a fence I was crashing onto a gravel road. I was soon greeted by the owner who couln't believe where I had landed with out hitting a fence. We were both glad that I didn't do any damage to fences and also the fact that I was 3 feet short of running into the electric fence.

The fence I only just cleared in foreground and electric fence in background.

Scrape marks left by my knee and base bar.

And finally for you bloodthirstys, what you get when you don't set up your approach right.

I was very upset with myself and more worried about the 2 weeks of pain that a scraped knee can give (inglewood) than any immediate pain. At least Joel was kind enough to drive out and pick me up. Glider seemed to survive relatively unscathed.