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Flight Of The Sensis

The RASP for the day was a bit of a mish-mash. Cloudy with a Southerly, yet by the time we got to launch we were looking at a certainly cloudy day, some of them quite black and a reasonably strong steady Sou-wester.

By the time I was ready to launch, everyone that had, was gone over the back. This was my first flight at Moirs with my new Swing Sensis. Although the wind was gusting strong there were lulls, and I launched during one. The glider was easy to launch and I began my flight looking for the thermal out.

It wasn't to be, what thermals still of substance I apparently missed , and my time was spent flying around in broken thermals, only managing to get to 2700ft. Occasionally flying in light rain, I turned and ran when an approaching cloud appeared to be bringing a shower my way.

I felt really comfortable under the Sensis and had a pleasant glide to Old Kaipara Road, landing in the fully mown paddock I had used on a previous flight.

After packing up I had a short talk with the paddock owner who was building what he called a netting skiff. It took a bit of explaining where I had come from, as he thought I had tramped over his property. He wasn't anymore impressed when he understood that I had flown and landed there.

My first "hitch" was only for a couple of k's to Carran Road and I walked the 2 kilometers to Warkworth. I thought I would cross SHW 1 and walk up the road a short distance, sit on the side of the road and have lunch and then "hitch' to Moir Hill Road.

Only 50 metres up the road a van pulls over and I am offered a lift back to Auckland, the big pack must generate sympathy. Accepting a ride to Moir Hill Road, I ended up having lunch back at the car.

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