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Hangola February 19-20, 2000

Well, we went up to HR and it was beautiful. soared for hours, rode the waves, i crossed the gap and landed at route 70.

(interject reality check:)

it was pretty strong, getting stronger, light west cross, no wire crew. lenticular clouds overhead. waited around for a bit. Rob Millman showed up. that made three of us. no wire crew. got cold. left.

how was it at woodstock?

You don't know, you just don't know.

Most of you just don't know how good you have it.

Remember the article about the first flight from High Rock? They had to carry their gliders from the gate. (now granted the gliders only weighed 40 pounds, and their harnesses only weighed 5 pounds, and they didn't have all the paraphernalia that we do, but still!)

And remember flying over the old launch at Woodstock? Do you know why they call it the old launch? It's because people actually carried their gliders all the way into it, and launched their gliders from it!

Now we just drive up and unload at High Rock, and Drive up just a short distance from the new Woodstock launch. We have it SO EASY!

I know! I just completed my third trip up the back of Woodstock this year! 40 pound glider? No way! Try 70 Pounds! 5 pound harness? Try 40 pounds including all my equipment! A long walk across the top of the Woodstock ridge? No way! A grueling 1 mile hike uphill! I know how good we have it!

I want more people to TRULY know just how good they have it. Come hike up the back of Woodstock!

Oh, finally had more than a sled ride (it was touch and go there for a while though) after climbing up! 1.5 hours, +1500 over. Landed in Fort Valley to make my retrieve much easier (more hiking back to the car!).

Greg DeWolf and Billy Vaughn were also there, they launched before me and were able to get up to +3000 or so, and stayed above me the whole time!

-Mike Balk

Yes indeed. We had it good at HR on Sunday. None of that hiking-in crap. Despite the gloom of the doubting Thomases who hadn't even taken their gliders off their cars when I arrived, it backed off at the Rock yesterday and eventually went magic. Brian Hardwick, Mike C. and I launched between 2:00 and 2:30 and encounterd some strong and sporty air for the first hour. I got 1:40, 2300 over. Winds had picked back up at lauch and grounded the rest of the gang. At close to 4:00, Ellis launched just as I was heading out to land. BRIAN, MIKE AND I ALL LANDED SO WE COULD COME BACK UP AND HELP THE SECOND WAVE LAUNCH! The rest of second wave included: Sheila, Dan, Craig, BVH and Gardinator. All enjoyed boo-wa magic with Dan topping out at 2336 over just to spite me and Ellis (aka the Dairy Queen) hitting 2800 over and once again MILKING every last possible second of daylight. Marc just didn't feel like flying and Cavanaugh missed the first window and had to leave early since he had invited friends over for pizza at his house. Hence, he had to break down on top to rush home. Serves him right for not inviting any of us over for pizza!

Matthew (Karen has the tum-tum flu, of Karen and Matthew)

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This page last updated February 21, 2000