101 hours in Oz

Heading for the Boggabri Gap 27 K in the distance

March 20, 2013

I just completed the last flight in Australia this year.  I flew west to the Boggabri gap but ran out of altitude, thermals,  and ideas to go further after just 27k. 

At the gap and struggling  to find a thermal

I’m very happy with this trip. 

• 81 days in Australia. 
• Only 12 “no fly” days due to weather. 
• 101.28 hours total flying for this trip in the log book. 
• 69 flights total. 
• Two flying competitions flown in Bright and Corryong. 
• Made goal once in Bright and once in Corryong (first time in class A comp) 
• Second place finish in my class wing at Bright. 
• One XC fun competition flown in Manilla.  
• Two new personal best for distance with flights over 100K in Manilla and  then Bright. 
• A new personal endurance record of Six hours and 48 minutes set at Bright.  
• New friendships made and  existing friendships renewed.

All of that aside, I’m a lot more confident flying in rough air.  I can core thermals better. I am much more aware of clouds and thermal triggers for finding lift.  I feel much more “as one with the wing” when flying in a Zen sort of way.

Can’t wait to come back next year… Mary Beth is going to have to drive a lot further on retrieves to earn her Opals!