Eye in the Sky - June 2004
Your Flying News Notice Board. Send me your news .... and photos.
Tues 15th June 2004
Report by Pete Chalmers
We learnt our lesson and were on the hill at 1030 this morning, John having got his act together. Harry D and Derek S had beaten us by some time but conditions were pleasant. John B and I had an hour+ before the wind got up again grounding the team. Thermals were wind torn and some inversion made 1000' the ceiling. My last climbout looked better, still going strongly through 1100' so I carried on over the back but the inevitable happened and I landed at Winterborne Houghton for a paltry 3.6Kms!
Roger E managed to arrive before the blow out today, well done! Dave F, Phil V, ?? in attendance.
Mon 14th June 2004
Report by Pete Chalmers
John B and I eventually arrived at Bell at 1130 after two false starts, one to go back for John's sunnies and one to intercept the DHL van with his new camera on board!
Found Derek S and Markus W on the ground having had a very pleasant hour or so in the air. It was already fairly breezy so we didn't delay getting airborne and had about half an hour before it started getting too strong, my flight terminating at Okeford Hill (it's amazing how adventurous you get when there are plenty of retrieve drivers! Thanks again Roger). We then sat there measuring the windspeed with Roger E who managed to time his arrival to perfection just as it was blown out (you must get up earlier), Peter S, Dave F,James ? Martin F who bravely had a brief flight while we watched. Ron S flew his HG.
Eventually there was a sufficient lull to tempt John,ZZ,? and myself into the air but it wasn't long before it was just as strong as earlier and we were soon landing after some big ears/speed bar action. It was still howling when we left at 1930.
Sun 13 Jun 2004
Report by Don Shipton ("Shippo")
Having returned from a week in Dorset I have caught up with my mail and it seems that many pilots have been caught out in the recent conditions. I also experienced a dramatic change at Ringstead Sunday 13th June. I arrived on the hill to find the wind smack on and blowing around a constant 14. no other pilots on site. I waited for 1/4 hr and all seemed ok. I launched and was able to fly straight to the cliffs passing behind the house we have to avoid if possible. I flew for an hour in 'hands off' conditions, I decided to return to the T/O and spotted three wings at T/O, one in the air getting nowhere. At the end of the cliffs I was hit unexpectedly by a gust which threw me about followed immediately by another. I struggled to control the wing which was now flying but sinking at an alarming rate to the rough stuff below. I thought," I'm in deep trouble here' and was desperate to make the beach and was rocking and rolling like a good 'un. I didn't think I was going to make the beach but I just made it over the edge and was thankful to see the beach and the naked bodies but it wasn't over. I was thrown about violently in rotar all the way to touch down. I was surprised to land on my feet as I was trying to get into a PLF position but couldnt maintain this. All this being watched by the nudists who ran up to me with bits wobbling everywhere exclaiming, That was great!! It looks so graceful flying like that.!! I couldn't think of anything appropiate to say so just laughed. NERVOUSLY!!! I would be interested if any other pilot has experienced this at Ringstead. By the time I had packed and walked back to T/O the other pilots had gone. I guess the wind had switched to the West as my beach landing although rough wasn't fast. Thank you God!!
Report by Simon Hopkins
Jim Hay conducted his final intro to XC last weekend in Wales before
retiring to Spain. I didn't get to XC but very glad I went. Matt Redman
and I (6 hours still) had a great time. Saturday was blown out till late
and by then we had decided (independently) not to fly so we had a curry!.
Sunday turned out better for paragliders than hangies and whilst all 30
of us were parked up with a view of four sites one wing climbed up and
got away - so half the paras went over there (to Merthyr), and we six
went to Blorenge. It turns out there was a comp at Merthyr so the one
experineced pilot that got away had 30 watching him jealously from take
off unable to catch up. The Blorenge was fun and one got away, a mad-local-fireman-beginner
who got the one thermal-fall-out-4km trip I expect to get for my first
getaway one day!! I took a couple of soaring flights in the NW then we
all decided the next course of action was to land and drink beer. Matt's
very good idea of setting a task sharpened things up too - land at the
cross of two (grass) footpaths in the offical landing site. So after a
little soar at the top I headed out - I love this, 1400ft above landing
and only a road, river, houses and 275kV lines before I get to the pub
- just like Monaco but in Wales!!. Everyone reports that offical field
is a 5:1 glide from 50 ft below the top so no mucking about in sink Simon
- 700 ft above the power lines and I still lifted my feet just in case.
Briefings told me to avoid losing height by 'S' turns upwind over the
town, so i followed instructions and turned 90 degree rights to lose it
and then an 'S' at tree height - and what happens? I won the accuracy
contest, won by the red ribbon pilot by yards, I didn't land nearest the
target I landed on the target and the whole pub heard how pleased I was
with myself. We all agreed it was a good weekend and I really enjoyed
the flying community spirt, including after hours drinking with the landlord
in Crickhowell who I swear is Roy Orbison.
Report by Mark Pryce
Went to Bell Hill. It looked as though it was going to be a glorious day.
loads of smiling faces all waiting in anticipation. Wings laid out (It
would of made a brilliant Persil ad). You could almost imagine what it
was like during the WW2.
Then all at once Scramble!!!!!!!!!!.
There were near misses, crashes, body's bouncing up and down the hill
and helicopters. It was like watching the battle of britain (but EVERYBODY
IS THE ENEMY). I don't want to sound out of turn here BUT could anyone
tell me if site rules were being applied. I saw one wing doing wingovers
above take off in thermic conditions. Three near misses,
When the helicopter was almost upon us, shouts, screams, waving and jumping
eventually got some of the pilots attention. Is there not a standard procedure
for such an event? Three blast on a whistle / klaxon. And this is only
a suggestion, would it not be wise to have a site co-ordinator / s to
liaise with all pilots as they arrive, and maybe warn them of unforeseen
conditions (even the best get caught out) and given the authority to stop
dangerous pilots doing themselves and others an injury. I met a pilot
that had not flown this site before, so I (12 hrs + Flying hours 42 years
ground handling) briefed him then pointed him in the direction of a more
experienced pilot.
Please don't read this the wrong way i enjoyed myself and i imagine a
lot of other pilots did. But i can see a serious accident waiting to happen,
and that would ruin your day
Report by Sean Staines
Arrived early at Bell before the crowds gathered and managed a delightful little XC to Winterbourne Clenston. When I got back to the hill the winds had dropped, the heat had risen and I was beginning to feel like a boil in the bag pilot, so decided to go to Kimmeridge. The conditions were very thermic but it was quite possible to fly to the Tumulus and back. Saw 5 instances of gliders draped over the wall and barbed wire including at least one damaged glider. We had a very exciting Helicopter rescue with winches and stretchers for a pilot who I understand dislocated their shoulder in a ground handling incident. Having looked at the pictures I’m sure our helicopter was much bigger and better than the one at Bell, so I was definitely at the right site. I gave the helicopter a cheer and round of applause as it departed but no one else joined in. Low level flying when its strongly thermic involves patches of very strong sink and very strong lift. I usually fly near to trim speed (brakes up) in these conditions as it’s invaluable to be able to convert speed to lift to avoid being dumped and to hop over obstacles. It also allows me to put in big turns for avoiding things and rapidly turn out from the hill if necessary without being close to spinning the glider.
Report by Nicole Barnard
Kiwi Kris (Bamfield) asked me to submit something on his behalf to say thank you to all the people who were involved in helping him out on the hill, especially Adrian Coombe who took control of the situation and dispatched the helicopter and the two GPs (sorry didn't catch your names) who looked after him before the paramedics arrived. Kris is in Dorset County Hospital with a minor fracture to L1, but he should be up and about again by the end of the week, albeit with a brace. BTW he says XCs in helicopters are boring and he will stick with paragliding from now on! Just to add to Steve Bamblett's EITS it wasn't about getting the landing gear down - there wasn't time for such a reaction, although there are lessons to be learnt out of this accident. I shall leave that to Kris to explain when/if he's happy and ready to do so.
Report by Peter Robinson
... I thought it might be interesting to look back at the reports for
last Sunday. What do I see there but a picture of myself about to help
Martin F get his wing out of the Bell bushes, with the implication that
it was MY wing. The scum! It's not the first time he's had a close encounter
with the shrubbery but it's the last time I'll help him get out.
Picture by Martin Foley
Never mind Peter it happens to everyone eventually.
Report by Andy Dawson
Arrived on Bell at 11 and there was little wind. After about half an hour a small punch thermal came through and within half an hour I was at 3000 ft with no drift above the hill. For a while a went through cycles of losing it and crawling back up to about 3000ft and could go no further. In the end I saw a sailplane over Bullbarrow and thought he was doing well so off I trotted only to lose lots of height and to find that even at 1000 ft it was very rough over Bullbarrow (If Dave M ever tells you it's a good ridge run, walk away!). I didn't make it back to the hill as I could get over the power lines. (some kind person came and gave me a lift).
It all got a bit quiet on the hill but then a thermal came through and off I went again. Again I spent a long time flying around at height above the hill in zero drift (seeing all the wings laid out on the hill below was almost fun!). After a while I thought lets go for it and went down wind with the speed bar. After a while I was below 500 ft getting ready to land at Bere Regis when a rough thermal (average 8mls for a sustained time) took me back up to 5000 and cloud base. Here it was very rough with a lot of forward and backwards surges and so I big eared out of it, went through into the seabreeze and stopped, landing at Wareham. This one of the longest time and most taxing thermal flights I have done. I didn't see anyone else in the whole flight but Gary overflew me and went to near Corfe, Hutch did at out and almost return to Wool, and Pete R went near Wareham . As we came back in a Taxi (£30 - lesson always take a membership list with you) we saw two others high and heading southward.
Report by Gary Pocock
Decided after speaking with Roger E that Bell was the place to be. Arrived
at about 12:00. Spoke also to Dave D who was at work but suggested it
was a day to be cautious. As I arrived I could see the hill was packed
and the wind had just turned light (typical). Thermals were cycling through
and some managed to get away each time. I only managed a short flight
and a walk back up. During a following cycle an accident occurred in which
a pilot was injured. Not sure of the circumstances. After the air ambulance
left the wind seemed to pick up and many pilots took to the air. I did
notice one or two minor collapses but as so many pilots were flying I
considered the conditions to be good. After about twenty seconds of ground
handling to try the air again myself I was unexpectedly lifted off and
went straight up about two 200 feet. All seemed ok, I had about fifteen
minutes soaring and feeling the thermals with about 12-15 other wings.
After getting low I decided not to side land as the wind seemed less predictable
lower down and with other pilots at about the same height trying to stay
up I headed for the bottom landing. As I reached level with the road at
a height of about 80 to 100 feet I seemed to stop as the wind picked up.
This I thought was strange as the only thing I’ve really experienced
with bottom landing is wind gradient. After finally getting over the field
I had three collapses one of which I am told was about 60%. I was being
thrown around at a height now of about 40-50 feet and was worried about
more collapses. I finally managed to get down safely but not on my feet.
This was not what I was expecting from the bottom landing field. How wrong
can you be? Thanks to Lester (sorry if the names wrong) for making sure
I was down ok. I hope the pilot who was air lifted to hospital is ok.
Report by David Winn
Bell Hill was busy today with lots of visitors. I hope the guy that went off to hospital is ok. The day seemed to drag as we all watched the people who had gotten away earlier float around at about 3000ft while we all waited for a whisper of wind to help us take off. We all took each opportunity as the thermals surged up the hill with everyone having the same idea at the same time to take off. It was a bit busy and at times seemed disorganised as I found myself being pushed out of the lift ( you know who you are because I swore at each of you as loudly as I could) several times and had a near miss as some old fart wasnt looking where he was going ( you know who you are too).The wind did pick up just as the helicopter left and a few of us went off xc which seemed to make up for all the hanging around today.
Report by Neil Harris
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A good Afternoon at Coombe Gibbet. Got to 4500' and with the wind off
to the west I had a straight run to the A34 and down to Micheldever before
coming up against Southampton Airspace.
A bit of a trek back to the hill but well worth it.
Good views of the Isle of Wight, but couldn't make out Bell Hill !!!!
- were there many there?
Report by Steve Bamlett
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Arrived early to find others had the same idea!!
Anyway as soon as you could say "who's that up there" the whole
world turned up it was going to be a very busy day. Most people got a
good flight in and all was going well. I managed my first tree landing
with many others finding the magic bush of thorns! So as I was conducting
a full wing check lines etc. and thankfully all was well.
There was a shout and as I looked up to see a pilot spiral into the ground closely missing Nicole. He did not manage to get his undercarrage down in time as he was still sat in his harness!!!(PLF<PLF<PLF) Remember G= 9.81m per sec squared. add to that Acceleration and mass and that spells OUCH!!! So get you undercarrage down early!! nuf said. Well you can guess the rest. Landing on the base of the spine is not to be recomended. It was lucky there was someone who is a paramedic and the helicopter was called.(Again)!
The chap I think will be ok as he had feelings in his feet etc., however it was very upsetting to see this. Not sure of all the details but I am sure that will come out in the report. The pics here are not a good way to leave the site Lets hope all is well.
The rest of the day went on and many stayed for the late afternoon fly which turned out to very bumpy lots of bigs to get into the back field but all landed safely.
Tue 8 June 2004
Report by Steve Bamlett
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The weather report gave such a pretty picture SSW 9-12mph sunny. Great! So I downed tools at work sneeked away and I was off.
When I arrived at Kimmeridge (needed to give the new Landrover ((1978)) a trial run up the hill anyway)you could just see the top the sea mist was bad! Sat there and watched the birds with there wing tips pulled very close and thought right then Ringstead. Met John on the way down only to find out that John W was at White horse and that was out as well.
Another phone call and John W went to Ringstead, so back on the road we went, constantly reminding ourselves that the weather God was a nice fluffy person who would let us fly if we promised to be good to our wifes/girlfriends etc. and do the DIY jobs!!!!( yeah really).
So, arrived at Ringstead and if it was not for the wind gusting 20+, the very low cloud,the inversion layer, and the sea mist which completely obscured Portland and the breakwater it was a great day.!( see photo)
However that did not stop John W and another chap whose name escapes
me having a go. I think it was John who made a less than elegant landing
in the back field, I do not think he hit a car, just bunny hopped it so
to speak any way no injuries. Still sat on the ground I learnt a very
good lesson because another chap turned up - seen him before! has a beard
I think he is a GP any way he had a go, landed and said "thats enough
for me". I took that as good advice, loaded the gear in the Lanny
and went home to the thought that every take off Is optional and today
I opted not to. As a newbee this is a good thing to learn (still managed
to get cow dung on my wing though). The weather God was indeed NOT very
fluffy. Here are the pictures of John W battling with the weather if you
look hard you can see Portland and a tiny bit of the cliffs we all so
enjoy to fly to but not today.
Report by Mike Bretherton
Went to West Bay with Adrain Bishop, Simon Herbert and Dom Schettini. There was almost nil wind at the foot of the cliffs but blowing 10 mph slightly off to the west at the top. We all took off and flew down the cliff run for about half an hour but could not proceed around the corner towards Golden Cap because of the wind direction. Because the wind was off to the west it was not as smooth and lifty as a previous visit. We got up to around 450 ft but the wind picked up and we ended up having to fly with various amounts of speed bar to keep away from the cliffs. We all decided to do the right thing and all of us came down safely after pushing out away from the cliffs before landing down on the beach. We visited Ringstead on the return trip where the wind was very strong and gusty. Apparently someone had flown but ended up bouncing off a car (sorry don’t know the details) and landing in the back field. We decided to call it a day and go down the pub.
Sun 6 June 2004
Report by Jeremy Mortimer
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Pleasant afternoon at White Horse with 15 others in variable conditions.
We had the same type of clouds at White Horse - as can just been see from the photos. I assumed that it was a local effect from Portland; however I gather from a sailing friend that the dangley clouds started 30 miles off the coast.
Update on Kimmeridge Accident: Alan Aldridge had an accident paragliding
at Kimmeridge on Sunday. He has broken an ankle and is now recovering
in Poole Hospital. He would like to thank everyone on the hill who assisted
in any way including Shaun Lovett, John Welch, the GP who attended &
everyone who helped carrying him to the helecopter.
Kimmeridge Accident - Report by Roger Edwards
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There was an incident at Kimmeridge that required the calling out of the Air Ambulance. I won't name the pilot but before we go any further and to allay worries it was a rotated ankle and other than that the pilot is expected to be OK.
A low air-time red-ribbon pilot proceeded to launch from the less used take-off to the right (facing into the hill) of the gorse above the usual take-off bowl (evident from photo). The wing came up fast and slightly overshot. Pilot turned and proceeded to run with poor tension in the lines. Wing went to pilot's right and he proceeded to track with it, lost control then either tripped or was pulled off his feet by the wing. He then bounced over a steep step and halted. He was conscious and waved for help.
I guess if you are going to have an accident doing it when there are three medical doctors on the hill is a good move, one of whom was equipped with day-glo "Doctor" jacket and serious first aid kit. (Apologies for not knowing the names of all involved today.) The school were there as well and Sean L quickly took control of the situation, getting someone to call the emergency services and organising us to pack wings at the double to avoid them being blown about by the imminent helicopter.
This raises a thought - had there not been more experienced people around I am not sure I would have known the best procedure in case of an accident. OK, there's quite a lot of common sense but then some that's not so obvious. Might it be worth a checklist being put together of appropriate actions and putting it in the ever imminent new site guide? What do you think Gary P? Also, perhaps the site guide could have information about what names the emergency services know the sites as - when they were called there was some discussion to decide upon telling them we were on Smedmore Hill.
All on the hill rallied together and it was a great team effort getting the pilot comfortable and then carried up the hill. And our thanks should go to the crew of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and supporting services who responded very promptly and lived up to their reputation for professionalism. Very reassuring if, forbid it happens, we ever need them ourselves.
I felt bit of a paparazzi fiend taking some photos but then the helicopter guys were taking some as well. Whether these were to be given to the injured party as souvenirs or kept for their records is not known. Then again they could be for some ghoulish Top Trumps card deck of paragliding accidents they are collating to amuse themselves during those long waits for punters.
One photo shows the accident site, the launch area being directly above, and I hope the second puts a smile on the pilot's face when he reads this. We all wish him well.
Clouds - by Roger Edwards (see here for explanation of this cloud type)
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These photos show the clouds witnessed on the Purbecks by Ali and those of us on Kimmeridge. Did the folks on White Horse see them? I know they couldn't be seen from Poole because I phoned a friend there and she couldn't see them, suggesting they were either localised or just well forward of Poole so the viewing angle was wrong to see them in their glory. I suspect that they weren't that local because the impression from Kimmeridge was that we were surrounded by them, they certainly went off well along the coast not to mention overhead.
Now, I am convinced I read an explanation for them in one of the rags recently but damned if I can find it. Perhaps it's out there on a website somewhere. All I really remember is that the wind direction is counter-intuitive, i.e. the tails point INTO wind, the tops being pushed away from them rather than the tails being teased out. Could it be the dew point being somewhere near the boundary between the sea-breeze coming in and the prevailing wind going out, hence the tops going out in a seaward direction? That then raises the question, does this formation only happen in a sea breeze? Be aware that my meteo knowledge is not great yet so this could be completely wrong, other than the direction of wind in relation to the tails.
Anyway, the long and the short of it was that despite not much flying at Kimmeridge we were all given a rare treat by Mother Nature, or Gaia for any hippy types in the club.
Report by Alistair Florence
XC tips for predicting a classic day
- See if forecast has any hint of NW in it.
- Ring me, if I’m tied to doing something with the family its all most certainly going to be a good day.
- Just to make sure ring Dave D if he’s away as well then the day cant fail. Just like yesterday!!
Went to Kimmeridge first this morning and found it a lot nicer than yesterday although not particularly buoyant outside of the thermals. After lunchtime it seemed to be quietening down and fairly South so headed off to Knitson.
There was just about enough breeze to stay up between cycles but with
a fairly constant supply of small ass kicking thermals popping up from
the fields at the foot of the hill it was possible to achieve climbs from
100 – 400 + ft. Smoke from a bonfire between the two most prolific
sources acted like a finger pointing at the next thermal. Feisty enough
to give several noticeable collapses.
Can any cloud anoraks out there tell me what was causing the cloud formations
today that looked like a Jellyfish (tell me and I will put it on the
web - anyone got a picture? - John
B). A small Cu with long wispy trails sweeping down from the cloud
and arranged in a line like a curtain. Looked like possibly a North –
south C breeze sort of convergence perhaps as it was SE in Swanage Bay
and SSW ish at Kimmeridge. Would be interested to know if anyone can tell
me as I’ve not really noticed this formation before (bongo@fredflorence.freeserve.co.uk)
Sat 5th June 2004
Report by Mike Drew, photos by Luigi Degli-Esposti
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Arrived home after work at 12.30pm and straight away spotted a paraglider flying directly over my house. Ok, off to Bell then!! Text's from Roger E confirmed this and he was already on his way. Arrived to see more cars on the hill than people which suggested this WAS a good day!! Conditions were on and off most of the day, allowing me quite a few flights up to around 500ft in the thermals. People were gradually disappearing over the back and all I could think was "that will be me one day!".
Around 6pm I decided to wait for one more flight before heading home. At around 6.30pm I took off in nice lifty conditions. Pretty soon I had found a decent thermal and was soon going over the back. Now, I had done this before but this time I was going up and up and up.......A small gaggle had left including Pete C, Nicole B and Stuart M on the tandem. I was thermalling by myself at this stage and was soon just below cloudbase. I then heard a plane approaching and had to laugh when it passed underneath me! Pete C had left the thermal earlier and was going fast downwind, which is what I decided to do also. I went for a small forest thinking this might trigger something and it did. Wow, a second thermal!! Pete and I thermalled together for quite a while and even managed to exchange a few words. The sky downwind from Bere Regis was pretty dead due to the sea breeze so progress was going to be hard from here on. Pete just went for it over Wareham Forest but I bottled out due to my big mistake. I assumed my vario was giving me height above ground and not Bell Hill Take Off! I therefore was a lot higher than I thought so should have followed Pete. Never mind, I landed in a field in Wareham Forest for 17km and Pete landed in the caravan park for 20km, his best from Bell.
I have often thought about what my first XC would be like but one thing I NEVER considered is that it would after taking off so late. Just shows you should never give up.
I would also like to express my extreme gratitude to Roger E, who came and picked Pete and I up.
Thurs 3 June 2004
Report by Roger Edwards
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A poor, windless start to the day led to cursing of the forecasts but the concommitant sun gave hope of possible sea breezes later. They duly seemed to be starting at 12:30ish so after a conflab with Mike D and being unable to get hold of Russell W we headed out towards White Horse. Mike beat me there and reported 'no good, going to Ringstead', so target was changed.
Arrived to find the wind light and Russell W just returning from a foray to the cliffs, unfortunately on foot and declaring the cliffs to be lift free. Conditions were ideal for more ground handling practice so I commenced kiting whilst others there (two I don't know, apologies) tested the lift with varying success, none of it inspiring. Wind improved and started to provide some useful lift in the slight bowl to the left of take-off and over the gorse there. Not much room for more than a couple at a time but as things improved Russell E made a break for the cliffs and successfully rode the elevator all the way to the top.
A Condor's Graham (who turned out to be an old mate from Uni whom I hadn't seen in seven years!) and a Wessex guy (whose face I know but not name, apologies) made a break as well and got to the cliffs. Unfortunately they couldn't maintain it, the wind being slightly off to the west there and bottom landed. Mike D and myself played the lift around the ridge, at times getting some good height. I found myself playing chicken with the lifty gorse - repeat three times, "I won't bomb into the gorse, I will go up". Mike was in a position to make a break for the cliffs but seeing the lack of success of the other wings decided against it.
Not loads of air time but certainly valuable in terms of learning for myself, not to mention my first flights at Ringstead. And the first time I managed to kite my wing back up the hill without putting it down every ten feet - practice makes perfect, well, OK, makes adequate, but I'm getting there.
Play spot-the-wing in two of the photos.
Wed 2 June 2004
Report by Dave Winn, photos by Luigi Degli-Esposti
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Bell hill once again provided myself & a few others with great soaring & even a chance to clock up some more xc kms.
The day started with a fairly strong wind from the NW which gave myself and Mark P the chance to do some soaring before anyone else arrived. That wasn't long and the cars started to fill the spaces at the top of t/o.
Gary told me about the two tornadoes arriving at 10.30 and on cue they did, flying past at low level ( i was glad to have landed ) and spending about half an hour coming & going.
The clouds started to develop under the hazyness and it took a couple of hours before any chance of xc flying could begin. Peter R arrived as usual just before xc flying became possible & took his chance to fly to Swanage.
I followed in my own thermal only to be dumped a few km behind t/o and I was pleasantly surprised to see my mate Russell (I can be a sky God too) W. come past in a car and he pointed out he had gone further than me ( a couple of fields with Sean L ). A kind pick up from John W took me straight back to t/o where I launched and managed a further 9km to Lower Whatcombe.
A very pleasing day that put to bed some thoughts of being lucky on my
previous xc.
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