I was all tuned up and on the flight line to fly solo today. George comes up, "Dun, whut you fly". (George grew up in a Slavic country and started flying for their military at 14, I can't accent type.) He's a glider and power Instructor with an unholy alliance with the wind Gods; he just won the Regional competition.
OK, flying the Duo Discus with George. The Duo has a 49:1 glide ratio and can honk along nicely.
Took off at about 12:30 and headed north. Puffy white cumulus clouds as far as the eye could see. Poifect !!
As we moved along George gave me some tips on cross country flying and pointed out some "out landing" sites. If you can't make it back to the airport, you land out. We can't do touch and goes or make other arrangements like those with engines.
We went up to Lake George, hit it at about 3500 ft., hooked a cloud and went back up tp 6,000 ft. Three other club members showed up, they were within two miles of us. They thought it would be a good idea to head out over the vally east and look for lift. but at 6,000 feet I could see a big blue hole over the valley. (heard them on the radio give it up and head south). I spun two more circles and followed them.
They were at 4,000 feet and full tilt, I was at 6k with nose down and honking at 80 mph! It's hard to describe the feeling of going over the top of three single seat high performace gliders flying in formation 1,000 feet below you and with 20 mph more groundspeed.
Headed back to Saratoga (5B2), not tired, bored or gotta pee, headed west toward Sacanda Lake.
There's an island where young people tie up boats and do things involving alcohol and bikinis and I REALLY wanted to make a low pass (I know some of them). Ripping in at 130 mph and heading back to the clouds?
I restrained..... 
Tootled around, headed 20 or so miles west and then back to the barn.
All in all it was a good day. 100 mile trip, saw some places to land, learned some cross country tips, flew the whole thing myself.
Dan
Sorry Honey, not tonight; I'm spent....
