I was out opening the brooder door for the day when I saw two small birds stuck underneath it. The bottom is fenced in so no pests could get in but apparently the two Grosbeak fledglings didn't know any better. I opened one side of the fence but they refused to go out it so I used the net to chase them around. One got out and this one I caught. It squeaked and wrestled around a bit but calmed enough I let it go. It flew right to and around the Tardis towards the hill and likely where it was raised.

Small harvest for the day.

I had the printer going earlier and got the berry sifter finished.

We got the okay to fly Parker's so north I went with my gear and was first to the lz.

It took everyone a while to arrive and I spent my time getting my wing and harness ready until they started arriving.

We finally headed up the hill and got to launch where the cycles were perfect but we were watching the clouds closely.

We had a few bigger cumis that had built up pretty tall but ended up staying just south of us.

I kept my eye on the clouds and could tell they were moving around us but everyone else was taking their time.

Levi was setting up to go first but he was taking too long and the cycles were right so off I went to test the waters.

I had a stellar launch. Wing came up PERFECT and within a few steps I was in the air and in lift.

The lift petered out so to the right I flew.

After a bit I managed to hook into the house thermal and got ACTUAL TURNS IN THE THERMAL!

I had made a number of circles and gained about 600 feet over launch. I was looking at launch and kept thinking about a top landing but then I made the WRONG CHOICE...

Instead of staying in the thermal I had hopes of the ridge providing. So north along it I flew towards Quartzite.

I hit the north end of the Parker ridge with little sink but then I turned back and went into nothing but sink.

It was a bit frustrating finding myself low but I managed to hook into another small thermal that was giving me .5 - 1 m/s up.

As I was circling my wing took a hard slap and I had to catch the surge.

It didn't bother me that much, more a "WTF was that!?" exclamation.

In the end the thermal kicked me out and I gave up and flew towards the lz. I was able soar the tree line all the way and had a few bubbles of lift.

I ended up flying right over the lz and my car so turned back to land this side of it.

Made a few S turns and setup for landing.

You can see the cars about 100 feet from where I touched down.

One thing I am seeing very clearly now is my heart rate has REALLY changed in flight now after my SIV. It starts high but very quickly moderates.

I was the first to land so I hauled all my gear to the car and drove back up the hill to maybe get another flight. I got to launch and Chris and Isaac were still there and Josh had landed below. I ended up in Levi's truck, picked Josh up and then headed to the lz where everyone else was at. Isaac landed and Chris ended up landing right next to where Josh did. So Levi took Isaac and I up, picked Chris up and took us back to launch.

We got there and the wind was NUKING! Gusts well over 20 meant HELL NO I wasn't going for another flight.

So it was straight for home then.

My second print finished nicely which is supposed to be a instapot dryer but I think it will work nice for the tray for the berry sieve.

The first marigold to bloom in the potato patch.

Short soak before a much needed sleep.

Today the boys have an appointment early, I have to work on my shoulder a ton to break the knots up, the mower needs pushing around the farm, maybe kite a bit, then try to have dinner ready early.

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