Back in the game!
Ahhhh it's nice to have that one in the bag. My second flight since September due to a new job and missing a couple of days, and let's not forget the terrible start to the season.
We liaised in our small group last night and became clear that only myself and Joe D would be out. Initially I had though Lecky but as the night went on and finally waking to the morning forecast, Selsley to the coast seemed doable to me.
After a 7.30am phone brief while still tucked up in bed, Joe and I agreed to meet at Selsley for 10.30am. Pulling into the carpark we were greeted by Mike B and Rich M and later joined by Max B, I was actually a little surprised that there was only 5 of us, even with the wind blowing 25kmh, the day looked ok.
Ot wasn't long after launching (20 min) and myself and Rich were taking an unconvincing climb over the common, Joe and Mike were not long behind us and we now had a decent gaggle and the sky downwind was looking good.
The second climb was just myself and Joe but we regrouped and were at base together ready to push on.
Approaching Westbury and having tricky airspace ahead it was perfect that our radios were not working very and Joe couldn't hear me at all, I tried my best to relay the shape of the Keevil airspace but it busy just cross winding and topping up myself and I was on my own for a few climbs before we met back up over warminster and climbed to base.
It was short lived excitement as, as we got to Blandford forum we both got low, Joe unfortunately a lot lower than myself and I pushed on alone thinking that Joe's last message "Ah Wez, I've fucked it" meant he was done for.
With the best base we had had all day about 3800 feet it was nice to be 21km from Goal and climb up to the clouds at 4600, thinking I probably had it in the bag with just a top up from here I pushed on and glided toward goal.
"Bloody hell, that was low" I heard over the radio, "I'm a climb or so behind you bud" Joe informed me and I replied with a big Whoop and took a couple of turns to gain my last bit of necessary height before gliding into goal at Corfe Castle. Having arrived at around 2000 feet I pushed on and landed in Swanage for a short walk to the train station (which was subsequently closed and a 6.5 hour journey home started) Joe met me at the train station after landing at the beach and as we boarded the bus Brian text to say he would take us to Wareham station. Joe cheered his beer against my Orange juice and we agreed that today was a successful flight, in way of task but also in having a brilliant day.