Asked back due to popular demand reporter Gerald Nolan, By opening and viewing this document you have agreed to all the reserved rights of wingbeat commanders and associated crew.
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With the fly season in full swing it was a suggestion of our very own head of tech Jamie Glendining to fly friday evening IREEGAUN- ARE YOU ATTENDING this was an early indication of weather systems but everyone seemed keen as mustard so 39 emails and 5 days later a plan was formed Bridge end, Great i thought one of my faves.
Its one full year since joining the club the site experiences of bridge end are all good soft springing velvet carpeted throughout and the views what more can you want, weather on the day plenty cloud cover overcast so not thermic with seabreeze expected later in the day. With various times of arrival at the hill and many pilots still doing there bit its a sare fake for a slice of loaf. Myself drove out about 1pm on driving into the valley the clouds looked lively with gaps of sunshine but there was some strange shadows covering the hillsides arrived to find one car parked so doned the boots and off i trecked after a short spell 1/4 way up the wood had a seat and a breather to access the weather situation and there was a tall like man silhouette of a shadow towering from the top down the valley has if there was some sort of man on top in communication with mother ship, No fear came to mind and nothing was going to deter the chance of a flight at bridgy but deep down kept wondering what is this dark shadow covering the landscape of ettricks middle earth, The shadow of mordor maybe ?.
At this point was feeling quite eerie at the halfway point on the hill the blinking flashes stopped the darkness gone the sun had come out to play and all was back as normal whatever it was if i was going to have any encounter with aliens no fear Take me to your leader would be the cry.
However a light blue wing appeared in the sky beating to and fro on the hillside and landed with some urgency and a other car pulled in so on i trecked got to about the top and rested once more and it all started to make some sense the silhouette figure must have been Tim Reader Alias Tall Tim fra Kelso with the x ray specs getting summoned, all was clear now.
Admiral Dudley arrived i said pull up a settee as he slowed down to a sprint near the top then Chris and Rob wee sat for a while the weather had changed for the worst hailstones packed the wings up a bit the clouds looked menacing Rob and Chris chated festival talk Dudley was cocooned horizontal awaiting change in the conditions, All looked lost and then the cars started to arrive and the arrival of Tommy with new jacket action man trousers new glider and boots creating a stir of excitement in amongst the usual suspects and with Neal + Chris McColgan and Jamie, Stephen + Dave Hutch on there way up a wingbeat full turn out was on the cards.
The (Usual Suspects) right enough ? Who is Keyser Soze. I will tell you this bridge end did not disappoint with in no time a tall the skies opened up NE wind straight onto the hill TEN assorted gliders airborne and having a ball fantastic site to see, The wind did get up at times and a few top landed i for one did just off the top and did try some of Mike kung kiting stuff the wind gust at this point and ended being drag up on ma belly lines crossed.
Rob came to the rescue and was up on my feet good man.
Those that got down were entertained with some death defying feats of Acro by well traveled pilot Neil Morley, Off and on for two hours of sheer delight after landing to the side well before the water to look up catch eight gliders soaring on the seabreeze as for the image in my mind the pilot of the moment was Rob Beattie with the Carrera just poised there hanging above the hill sucking every last bit of free energy nature could throw at him well done Rob great site.
All good things come to an end on the way back to the cars passing packing pilots Smiles all round the sun was going down in the west the moon come up on the east its the moondog show headed back to the cars at some distance it looked like there was some grand theft auto going on two persons one with camouflage the other in snoodies but has i drawed closer it appears chris was in to much of a rush to get back to sammy ling... 1st sign of dementia! Stephen Wisdom and Tommy used a mix of braun & brain and the issue was solved.
After all that cuffaffell it was suggested Tibbieshiels for a shandy so all down bar Chris and remote glider i waited to say where we will be heading but he declined.
ALL in all a fantastic days flying in great company (OORFAIRCHUFFED) WE ARE ALL DELIGHTED. So then never been at tibbies before and it was becoming dusk as i drove in to the gloom with a little light flickering i thought here we go again not knowing what to expect the sign swinging above the door saying welcome to the slaughtered man was a bit reluctant to enter has the door creaked and groaned open it was like the bar dwellers in star wars film when Alex Guinness Harrison Ford and luke skywalker where try to get a ship to Alldaron, apart from the girl behind the bar that said what would you like sir in a pleasant manner, So after a bit chit chat and then coerced into this report by Alias Tommy new bits Bryson and Alias Yoda tech master Jamie Glendining + Alias the Deadly Dangerous Dudley which was the bravest of the day checking the air 1st i thought at one stage (DUDLEYSHEDISCHIPS) Translated to Dudley is in trouble" He was ok indestructible, I escaped the slaughtered man with just this article in mind when i seen whispering between Alistar the owner and Tommy new wing Bryson and everyone shifting near the door music in the background playing Welcome to the hotel California it was time to go, Alias Safety Sean Figgitt was missed Please feel free to enter your pics, And if you feel offended by this article please please feel free to contact the commanders of Wingbeat or telephone Alias No Nonsense Logan.
Thank you all for my 1st year at wingbeat pics and assorted vid latter.
Gerald.
