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Hangola June 16-17, 2001

Gang;

I'm reporting on the fates of we few, we blessed hardy few, who set out despite the gathering storm to pay our respects to the tow park.

Several people flew yesterday, but other than reports that the sun was indeed still shining above the clouds, I have no stories to report. Dinner and the campfire were good, (great ribs, actually), but of only passing interest. Then we went to bed and the rains came.

Woke up the next morning to find the campfire was host to center of a lake. Steve and Leslie's tent was just inside the border. I was commenting to Fred (who's pop-up was on a peninsula) how much Leslie and Steve's predicament sucked raw eggs when he saw fit to disagree, "That's nothing," he pointed to an empty spot in the center of the lake: "That's Scott and Ayesha's tent". They left a note in the office which I will quote verbatim:

'Guys,
Our tent became surrounded by frogs, then suddenly all the stakes pulled out, flipped us over. We were in a foot of standing water. We in through the back window to get our keys and a pair of dry T shirts. We'll be back Sunday for more fun (and the rest of our stuff). Wish you guys could have witnessed our wrath of god night. Scott + Eash'

How much more can I add, except the frogs did sound annoyingly smug this morning. The wind is still blowing, then C comes out with a plate of pancakes, nails them to the picnic table, and announces "Breakfast is served!"

Brian, for the gang.

Ridgely was not a flying event as much as a social event in support of a welcome addition to the flying opportunities in this area.

I would like to thank Sunny and Chad for putting on a great happening despite the conditions, Rob Kells for providing demo's on Wills Wing's newest equipment, and the Ladies of Highland Aero Sports for a fantastic dinner and breakfast.

Believe me when I say the stories of the Second Annual Fly-in will be retold all summer.

I was happy to be there........ Thanks

Well spoken Kurt. Natalie and I also had a great time. Our many Thanks to Sunny, Chad, Adam, Erika, C, Christian, Bruce, Barb, Rob Kells, and all the other folks who made us feel so welcome and put out a wonderful meal. We are very fortunate to have such dedicated folks right in our back yard. As for the demos, Rob has the two size talon's with him, (150 and 140) I flew them both as did many other pilots and I didn't hear one negative comment from anyone, I think Wills Wing has a real winner!! Aero's also had the new Combat and Rigid Stalker up for flights, as well as the litespeed 4 all very.. very.. nice gliders!

Thanks everyone see ya soon.
Doug and Natalie.

What a birthday! Didn't really know which direction to go this morning and finally, after hearing from Dan direct from the Woodstock launch ('I'm on launch. It's beautiful. Come.'), ended up heading that direction. He was right, except that upon setting up, it got stronger and stronger. Some people launched anyway, but Karen, Gary and I decided to wait until closer to glass-off. Which it did a little after 5 pm. Karen went off first and Gary last. I'd actually tried launching around earlier, but busted the mount for the Tangent (again) while making my way to launch and ended up backing off. Matthew loaned me his old vario so I was back in business, but then the reports from those in the air weren't promising, so a few of us waited. When I did get in the air, it was of the most fun type of air. Still some good thermals around (got to over 4000 over) and smooth ridge lift down low. I flew almost to the gap, then back to launch, then headed out to Rt. 11, then once again turned left at Water Street. Lots of lift everywhere. Flew over the Tandem facility where Mr. Fishburn is, burned off 1500-2K over the field I'd landed in before, had a perfect, light, no step landing with the guy across the street watching. He said I could break down my glider on his lawn, so while waiting to cross the street, a man drove up in a car and got out and asked if I was ok and did I need help. Lo and behold, it was the guy who had held my right wing on launch! He lives on Water Street and said he was looking out the window and saw me setting up my approach for landing. He came a-running, thinking I was landing because I was in trouble.

After bagging my glider on the lawn, in the shade of a tree and drinking a cold glass of water the owner had brought me (I was telling everyone it was my birthday), I started out on hoof to the Tandem. Greg Dewolf and friend Chris then cruised by on Water Street and gave me a ride to the front door off Rt 11. No sooner had I walked into Mr. Fishburn's then his daughter Lynn called and she got a charge out of me flying in to visit Mr. Fishburn on Father's Day/my birthday. Then the rest of the gang came by (Dave Proctor's truck can easily hold 6 gliders and respective pilots and harnesses) and we all had a nice visit before heading out for dinner and home. Tomorrow I head for Ridgely on the motorcycle. Having a harness to lean back on should make it a comfortable ride.

What a birthday!

Christy

We started out at the Sac. watched it turn more NW than N with a very W cloud track. Shawn, Kramer, Christian, Rich G, And myself headed to Ringtown. Almost straight in at 15-18. I launched first went right up to 1500. On the way up thermalled with 2 mature Bald Eagles. One no more than a span away. EXTREMELY exciting for me. What supreme grace and beauty. Any way, a good time for all.

Tops to 3200 soarable till dark.....Cheers, Bob.

It was a great day even for those of us who weren't celebrating a birthday.

We arrived at 1:30 (late, as usual) to find Mark Cavanaugh in the air having a good time. By the time the next few people launched, winds had picked up and we were getting reports of rowdy air, flying backwards at 35 mph and all of that other big air stuff.

The frieght trains started to back off around 3:00 and I launched in a mellow cylce only to find it still pretty nasty down low. But once up to 800 over, it wasn't too bad. Still, there'd be the occasional wire slap and sink hole. I flew up to the North point and then landed out in a field to the South with Mike C., Dan T. and Dave P. Karen tried to land there too but couldn't make it that far out in front of the ridge. She landed about a mile closer to the ridge after an 1:10 flight. I ended up with something over 3 hours and 3700 over. Dan reminded me to say that he got 3800 over and 3:15. Greg DeWolf was able to fly upwind almost up to the next ridge. Mark C. flew for over 4 hours and flew out past Rte 11. Terry, Bob Radcliffe and Gary Smith also had nice long flights.

Matthew (how'd it go at the Pulpit and Ridgely, of Karen and Matthew)

Arrived at Pulpit ~1pm, Bob G, Sparky, Ed, Joe Braunch all set up and rearing to go. Bob launched and flew south. Couldn't make it back up to launch (north cross) and decided to land. The consensus was to break down and go to HR.

(Side note: the word from those who walked the primary is that it as all either 6" corn or tall grass.)

At High Rock Ed, Bruce Engen and I flew late afternoon for 1 and a half to 2 hours, winds aloft 20-25 mph. The boys got up to ~2500 over; the drift back was more than I cared to take on - I topped out at 1500' but mostly stayed between 500-1K' out in front of the ridge. Squirrelly launches. Hiked back up. Up top Kelvin had launched his new recreational Falcon on its maiden flight and flew til sunset.

Also appearing at HR (that I know of) were Rob and Chi Chi, Ralph, Bob, Sparky.

Judy

Ridgely was great fun--lots of canoeing, surfing, swimming etc.--I'm not kidding! Towards the end of the day a few of us even got the crazy idea of hooking a hang glider up to a towplane!

Marc

PS Best ribs I've ever had--lots of new neat toys too. BVH I'm sure will have a much more creative way of describing the weekend there.

About 3hrs. to the North Point with Terry Spencer went back South and after going out into the Valley near launch continued South got a nice one to 2400+ over at the gap and crossed. Down Short Mt. 1800+ to the end then to 3000+ dove back and dropped to 1200+ - by the time I got to the New Market gap. Bummer so I headed out to land about 1.5 mile North of 211 had a great day! Thanks to Terry Spencer for my pick up and to Dave Proctor for the ride up to launch. Pete Schumann

I only flew for 2:50 Matthew. The 3800 is correct though, it's just about the most gratifying last hundred feet in recent memory. (;-)

Dan T.

For those of you who chose to fly rather than support our local towpark in the rain, all I can say is: you missed some of the best fun I've ever had. AND there were mint juleps. They were damn good.

To flesh out the mysterious details of Marc's post, we begin where we last left off, staring in amazement at lake Ridgely, 50 yards or more across; swallowing in it's immense maw a bonfire ring, two tentsites, and a volley ball court.

The flooded tenters had retreated to a nearby hotel, or, in the case of Scott and Ayesha, all the way back to Philadelphia and civilization. We began by hauling their belongings up on dry land and sorting them out against the return of the owners. A twenty mile wind was kicking, and we found to our immense pleasure that if you staked downt he front corners and opened the front door, a family sized tent would inflate like a carnival moonwalk. "It's a looks like a giant Loogie!" Danny exclaimed when it first mushroomed up.

Things began to turn seriously weird and wonderful. Let me state from the outset that, my previous posts in this listserver notwithstanding, I am making none of this up.

Somebody pulled out a canoe, and soon enough little Dillion (kid steve vogel and leslie bonnano) was getting chauffered across the lake, squealing with delight as they were pursued by Swamp Monster Turkey Fred doing his best Calvin and Hobbes monster walk through the muck. I picked up a children's swimming pool and used it as a sail to scud across the lake, raising a wake.

Then Scott and Ayesha reappeared, and things got seriously wacked. They rigged their tent rainfly to the canoe, so you grab two corners, raise your two arms as though being crucified, and zip across the lake raising an absolute FROTH at your prow. Scott had a sort of parasail kite: 8 feet across and 3 feet high. Take the sucker out in a 20 to 30 mph wind, and you get to watch little Ayesha go skipping across the lake on her belly like a dolphin, or big bruiser Scott get hauled clear across the lake and then dragged 10 feet up on the wet grass before coming to a stop. I have rarely seen a funnier sight in all my life.

Then again, maybe I have. C ran and grabbed his surfboard. 'Nuff said.

We ended up the lake festivies with a long game of muddy ball. It bears a suspicious resemblence to volleyball, except you play it in a foot of muddy water, and diving for the ball is the most important part of any play.

And the flying? Who the hell cares? That happens everyday. So if some of you guys had great flights at Woodstock, I promise you, not a person who played in Lake Ridgely feels they missed out in the least. It was the better call by far.

And don't forget, they spent an awful lot of money on food and T-shirts. The food can saved and consumed, but everyone who wasn't there should seriously consider buying a T-shirt at the very least. We owe them that.

Brian.

p.s.: If we want mint juleps at the High Rock party, someone in Virginia should pick up a half gallon of I.W. Harper Bourbon for me; it's not distributed in Maryland. Nothing else will do, I'm afraid.

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This page last updated June 25, 2001