Newcastle Hang Gliding Club

Manilla Long Weekend 08 I suppose I should give an update on the long weekend in Manilla. For those of you that are secretly hoping that the flying was crap so that you won't have to read through another post about other pilots getting air while you were mowing the lawn or painting the house your prayers have been answered. The weather was less than epic. In fact, driving home, Ebbs, Jim and myself agreed that if we'd really looked at the weather maps we would have realised that a wager on the outcome of the weather being dominated by a strong northerly flow all weekend was a fairly safe bet. But the lure of a possible SW change was too much and the thought of rowdy nights in the pub after a long days flying (or not) with your mates is always enough to tip the scales. We weren't the only ones either. It's been a long time between flights for a lot of pilots so optimism was high. The drive up from Newcastle was uneventful . . .  until we got to Murrurundi. Usually at this point I drive and Ebbs relaxes in the passengers seat with his medicine. But with Jim on board I saw a chance to have a beer too so I quickly dobbed Jim in as the "Designated Driver", after we had stopped for something to eat. We ordered our hamburgers from the new cafe in town but they were going to take a while so we went back to the Office and dropped the tailgate. While Ebbs opened the bar Jim opened a veritable chemist shop within a tightly packed Tupperware container full of coloured pills in wrappers and bottles. Ebbs was busy fishing for a four X and missed the pharmaceutical display. Eventually our food arrived and was quickly devoured. Then it was time to set off again and so it was with a belly full of burger and beer that Ebbs was blissfully unaware of any ramifications that may result from Jim's prescriptions. Besides he had watched Jim abstain from drinking on the tailgate, opting for a cappuccino instead. Right away Jim was ill at ease with the size of the truck and the manual transmission but Ebbs was patient while Jim executed a 6 point U turn in the side street and eased his way back onto the highway. We left the built up area and Ebbs suggested that Jim use the cruise control. There was a quick reply from Jim, who was now hunched over the wheel; "No, those things will kill you!" and he continued to drive a 60k in a 100k zone. When I say quick I mean that Jim was both quick to respond and he was talking quickly. I have noticed that Jim normally does talk quickly but now his words were almost joining together. Ebbs deliberately turned in his seat enough so that I would see his raised eyebrow as he nervously sucked from a raised bottle. A clever tactical move I thought. The bottle was serving the dual purpose shielding his growing concern from Jim and delivering the sedative that he needed to stay calm. Jim was not comfortable. Litterally. He had pushed the seat so far back that I had to sit in the middle of that back seat since the seat behind Ebbs was full of gear. In his nervousness, Jim had fumbled with the tilt setting so that he had no back support. I thought this might account for why he was hunched over the wheel and his knuckles were white but Ebbs and I soon found out that there was another reason . . . trucks. Jim has Truckochohodophobia. Jim started talking to himself and then, when Jim answered (himself), Ebbs nearly lost that control of which he is so proud, his continence. I tell you I was reaching for the pads myself. I know this is not going to translate well, and you had to be there, but here's how it sounded; Jim1: "Don'tlikedriving atnight" Jim2: "Niether do I" Ebbs: "Jim, put your foot down!" Jim1: "I'mdoingsixtyforgodsake!" Jim1: "Twolights!" Jim2: "It is a truck!" Ebbs: "Jim, don't you think you're being a little paranoid?" Jim1: "I'm not paranoid!" Jim2: "But he is!" Jim1: "Shithead!" Jim2: "Don't you dare talk to me like that!" Jim1: "I was talkingto thetruck!" Jim1: "Fourlights, shit therestwo ofthem!" Jim1: "Road goinginto threelanes!" Jim1: "No fair twoagainstone!" Jim2: "I did tell you not to take that last pill." Jim1: "The redpillsare OK!" Jim2: "No, you only take the red pills if you take too many of the blue pills." Jim1: "What wouldyouknow?" Ebbs: "Spllliiinnnntttt!" . . . stop drinking that beer. I think Jim was kidding but I'll never be sure. Anyway he settled down once we got to Tamworth and we made our way toward Manilla. We arrived at the Royal to be greeted by a new barman, Seibsy. It was my shout so I got Ebbs a beer and asked Jim if he wanted one beer or two? Friday day started with a casual breakfast spent watching the wind rip through the trees from the north. Tom gave us reason for optimism as he said it was the same yesterday and then it dropped off. It was good to be back at the royal and nothing had changed since the state titles. Tom ribbed Ebbs and said he was glad he'd come because the town needed some rain and Ebbs gave as good as he got but there was hugs and kissed for Vic. Jason and Linda McKenzie arrived and then Matt Clarke. Now that we had a full car we headed up the mountain while Linda wisely chose to stay back and read. To our surprise the wind on the west launch was squaring up nicely. Tony Barton was already there with a bunch of keen students. Jason was one of the first off and Tony was right behind him. We watched Jason turn into the true wind direction, north, and start to go up in a straight line. Most of the students were in FUNs and they all bailed off in quick succession and we watched them go up and down as Tony flew in and out of their gaggle giving them guidance. I launched into good lift and started to climb out but I could not catch Jason. He was at 6500ft and I was at 5500ft when the lift slowed. The "window" was closing. Matt, Jim and Ebbs got off the hill but had extended glides. Matt and Jim to the east side and Ebbs to the west. Matt was in his new C4 and enjoyed it's landing characteristics of a more defined flare window. I started trucking out on course from above the saddle and Jason did the same from further south along the range. We had chosen a cross wind course to Carrol Towers but it was blue sky and a lot of green paddocks so I chickened out and headed back. I called it over the radio but Jason was a man on a mission and he pushed on. There was nothing back over launch and I watched Ebbs go into search mode over the spur that runs down to the western bomb-out. He was low when he found something and I was at hill hight above him by now. We both dribbled along the ridge. Eventually Ebbs put his landing gear down. I chased what was left of his thermal as the echo of "I hate this f@#%ing hill!" filtered up through the trees. I tucked in closer to the hill and each time I found something it got blown apart when it reach hill top height. I landed about 12km out of Manilla along the Boggabri road and Jason was on the other side of the river on the road to Lake Keepit. Glenn was also in a C4, a brand newie, and he flew up to Split Rock dam and then back to the camping ground in town. Not bad. In hindsight that's what we should have done as CUs remained on the east side of the range for most of the afternoon. Rob Larkin also flew his Sting back to the camping ground. It took us a while to get to Jason and when we did we put him straight into the dog-box and turned up the music really loud so that he couldn't tell us about his flight. I am sure it did not matter to him, he'd won they day and he was chuffed. And to top it off Linda had won $70 on the pokies. Sadly this was to be the best day of the weekend. Saturday and Sunday were pretty much dead north and gusty. On the Saturday Camo won a glide contest by making it to the end of Aranmore lane. Matt was next furthest and Ebbs and I before that in the same paddock. Our launch skills were tested as we launched into rotor on the western side. On Sunday Shane scored top points for launching twice from the NE take off and once from the W. Always working I guess. Les and Camo also launched from both sides but the Camo won the day but repeating his glide to the end of Aranmore lane and then chasing a thermal with a lot of drift along Baggabri road toward Manilla. In the early hours of Monday there was a big thunderstorm and we awoke to heavy rain and headed home.