I’d been to Singlie only once before, and didn’t fly it that time. So this is a brand new hill for me. Always good to experience new things.
An easy yomp up the face, and I set up near the cairn. The wind feels fine – lighter than the forecast suggested, and pretty constant. So off I lob, to discover broken, bitty, unpleasant thermals, and a strong wind gradient. Marvellous. While I’m in the air, I see Dudley arrive and set up. After about 20 minutes I decide to land, since I’m really not enjoying this, and rather than attempt to land back at the cairn, I go farther along the ridge. I land going slightly backwards, happy to be on the ground.
Dudley has launched by now and seems happy enough in the air, boating around and top landing a couple of times. He even has the time to sweep all that unkempt hair out of his eyes, and wander across the tops to make sure I haven’t killed or maimed myself.
Back at the cairn, it feels like the air has mellowed, so I have another go, only to discover that the closure on my speedbag has popped open. It’s not a safety issue, just draughty and annoying. Cheap Swiss rubbish.
So I attempt to top land. And fail. So now I have my legs out of the harness, and make the marvellous discovery that if you haven’t got the closure fastened on the Lightness 2 speedbag, it is impossible to get your legs back into it. Thus begins five minutes of flying away from the hill to land, whilst dangling by the gentleman’s plums.
So, all round, a memorable day out at Singlie. And that memory will mostly be of throbbing privates.
Dudley had a nice day. I’m happy for him.
Derek
