Stuck for ideas on how to impress the other half in the lead up to the big season ahead? Steve gives us the hot tips on how to really wrack up those brownie points…
High Flyer’s,
A couple of weeks ago my wife, Anet, asked, as we have never celebrated in any way our wedding anniversary over the last 21 years, if this year we could do something memorable – maybe go away somewhere ? At once my romantic side got carried away as I told her it was already planned. I was already going away and she would be more than welcome to join me for a romantic 3 days in Forbes. Anet could not wait and promptly organised time off work.
Friday was a warm day with a North West wind when we arrived at the airfield at 10am.
As we were staying in Grenfell and Pete would be going home to Canberra the boys decided that a zig zag down wind run to Woodstock would be the go as this would give plenty of cross wind practise and keep them close to home.
Dave, Trent, Barnesy and Pete all headed off together after leaving me a list of turn points and goal co-ords. Anet hooked them up, did the ground marshaling and then drove Pete’s Land Rover whilst I drove Dave’s Nissan. Pete made Woodstock in the Atos then flew head wind back to Cowra. The retrieve could not have worked out better. With good radio contact we were able to track him down and then check out the landing paddock just ahead of Pete’s landing. The owner was very excited to have a practising Forbes competitor land in his paddock. Anet then got to ride shotgun with me in the Nissan for the next part of the adventure.
Meanwhile the other boys had also made Woodstock then decided to float around and check out the local farm land to look for a good hiding spot eventually landing in a paddock of very solid stalky Canola stubble next door to Fred Fayes massive Ag strip, just out of Cowra. This was great. When combined with directions from Trent, Anet and I finally got a bit of time together as we played hide and seek retrieves.
Saturday saw Nathan, Noma, Evgeniya, Michael, Len, Guy, Roger and Dave with the Millennium join us. As I did not know the little Russian girl, Evgeniya, I made her wait until late in the day for the air to settle down before I towed her in her new Litespeed 3.5. She towed and flew exceptionally well and was keen to join the boys for Sunday. It was great to see Michael has his Aeros all sorted and after a small adjustment to remove a left turn he was flying very well. Thanks also to Michael and Deb for helping out Noma after his car broke down on the way out to Forbes on Saturday.
With Saturday’s South West wind a task was set for Mullaley near Gunnedah. Anet was again Ground Marshall and Retrieve driver for Dave, Len, Guy and Barnesy who flew a new PB. What better or more memorable way to celebrate your 21st wedding anniversary than driving for this great bunch of hangies, on a romantic outback all day, all night adventure.
Nathan flew over to Parkes to visit his rellos and the rest stayed local, landing back at the field.
Sunday saw very pleasant temps, light winds and the boys even returned my wife so she could enjoy more time at the field. Dave May had to go home, sacrificing the best day to be with his family. See I’m not the only romantic, considerate partner.
A rather challenging triangle task was set and completed by Len, Guy, Trent and Barnesy with Trent pulling off a tree top height save at the first turn point. Meanwhile, Nathan having had a very pleasant visit the previous day decided to fly to the rellos again on Sunday. The rest of the flyers set their own tasks and most landed back at the airfield. Michael and I did the retrieves giving Anet a bit of time to just hang out and enjoy the relaxing surrounds and great company that was to be found in the Dragon Fly hanger at Forbes air field. Although the thief was unable to be there and was sorely missed the other Dusties tried hard to make up for him with many great vanishing tricks of their own. Sending co-ords then hitching a ride to town or landing in difficult retrieve sites then moving. This was extra exciting for the retrieve driver who didn’t have a phone with him. On Sunday the disappearing trick almost backfired on Nathan as when we got back out to his glider, a local was just about to load it onto his vehicle, thus making a glider disappear.
Thanks to Bill for the Dragon Fly, Anet, Dave Phillips, Michael and Roger for the retrieves and to all the guys that helped to make such a memorable 21st anniversary. A special thanks to Anet for the marshaling and keeping all the paper work records in order. Finally a big thankyou to Terry and Trish for having us at your house yet again.
I hope to do it all again soon and may even let Anet come with me, even if it’s not an anniversary as every trip out with you guys is a very special time to remember.
Steve
A few pics from Nath to set the mood…
