It's been a tough stressful week in work with still more to do by Monday, but the temptation of the forecast was too much.
Got to the field early and set up ready, drew cards for winch duties only two operators, I drew the low card and therefore got to fly first. But two unsuccessful flights seen me on the winch for the next 8 lines, just finished the first 4 when another winch operator Bill arrived and insisted to take over the next 4. Not one to argue I rushed back to launch to get ready. Big queue saw me take the 1st line of the 2nd set, so one opportunity before my turn on the winch again.
Now on to the flight, really poor tow as the bridal caught my phone case, knocked my phone out off the case and I some how managed to catch it as it fell off my flight deck. Letting go of the controls, made me go off line. Trying to reattach it somewhere safe, the winch operator must of thought I was having an epileptic fit going up the line.
Off tow low I didn't expect much but managed to scrape up out of the field it was generally rough and broken not what I was expecting. Took me a while to get really established and even then wasn't too convinced it would work that well. I had set my plan to meet the sea breeze and surf it as far as I can. It almost worked perfectly, I soared along the sea Breeze with clouds forming below me and around me it was just amazing. Eventual just before Colchester I hit head wind and seeing a lovely spot to land by the river and boat yard and needing a pee the temptation was too strong to try and fight on for a few more Km's. As nice as it would be to make a 100km flight, its going to have to wait.
On landing, I was mobbed by a young lad asking loads of questions and trying to help, eventually got packed up, got offered a lift from a lovely lady with a child, husband didn't seem too impressed though got me to the nearest train station just in time, train arrived very shortly, toilets out of order, arrived in Norwich an had to run from Train station to bus station, they are not near each other, just made it, then realised I still hadn't had a pee.
All in all a great day, massive thanks to Bill for taking over on the winch when he did.