After a week of wildly changing weather not unusual for the UK at this time of year, Saturday the 17th was forecast to be mostly sunny in North Dorset. However, having made plans to hit the slopes at WinGreen, it looked like it was going to be a no go as dawn broke with no wind at all.
Posting my plans on the forum as early as the Thursday before there wasn't that much response. Most of the usual zagi fanatics bottled out due to the possiblility of minimal wind, too cold or being dragged out to Christmas shopping. The latter I am fully aware of as it happened to me last week when I missed out on a reasonably nice day at Cashmoor. Bah!
Monitoring the live weather station at Compton Abbas which by mid-morning was starting to swingNorWesterly and picking up nicely, hovering around 14mph - that'll do for me.
James was doing the same and decided that he would go up and try the slope himself, hoping that he was not on a "fools errand". Then I thought well I'm going too, "fools errand" or not. A number of text messages from James confirmed that it was lovely. Also in the meantime Colin had joined James at WinGreen. Is that it then? Only the three of us?
By now the wind was really blowing up around 20mph and steady (95% of the time). With a lovely blue background to fly against we had some really good flights and the "Millenium Fighter" flew far far better than I expected. (pictured)
Now I have to admit that although it was mostly sunny, albiet low sun and deep shadows, it was excruiatingly flippin' cold. Any gaps in your attire was penetrated by the icy blast. I had to resort to wearing my balaclava aslo as the wind was searing the top surface of my face off. Wind chill factor probably 0 degrees.
Some photos by James can be viewed in the Gallery under the title "Wingreen Slopes"
Other than these minor problems we, the three of us had an enjoyable few hours. Possibly one more hour of fun but by 3pm a grey curtain had appeared some miles away to the north and I suggested that it may be time to call it a day before it hit us. "Okay, okay" said James , just one more quicky flight. Then a brisk walk turning into a fast trot/stumble uphill as the grey curtain gained on us. Just as we got to our parked cars w ewere hit by sleet come hail. Ouch! Just for a few minutes then it was gone.
Oh, well, time to call it a day then?
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|