Saturday I arrived in Menstrie at around 10am under a totally overcast sky, not what I was expecting to find. Gerald had already arrived and was getting the low down from Tommy Mooney. Followed quickly by the arrival of Derek and Sean. Pierre, Jan, Robin and Roy from the Ochils club soon arrived and with a few others we started getting packed into Roys 4x4 and made our way up to the deer fence on the side of Myreton. From there it is a short but relatively steep walk up to Myreton takeoff.
There was a light SW breeze on the hill with cold air out in the valley with no indication of convection. I gave a bit of a site brief for those who had not flown there before. The task had already been decided and delivered by Pierre and was to be an out and return from Myreton along the ridge. With a spot landing in Alva. All the relevant map, and contact info neatly printed on a laminated A4 sheet for each pilot. There then followed lots of kiting and parawaiting for the conditions to improve. At about 2pm it was looking as if things would not improve and Jan flew down to the old Alva school playing fields to put down a spot landing marker.
Just as people were starting to launch off I noticed cumulus forming under the higher stratus, and the wind increased slightly to due south. I decided to get into the air to make use of what was available. I was surprised at being able to S climb out in front of Myreton. Looking back I saw the frantic activity on the hill as everyone got themselves ready to launch. I was joined by two gliders below me who were fast coming up to my level, so I decided to make for the shoulder of Craig Leith and work the house thermal up on to the top. I arrived at the base of the crags and worked above the summit in two beats, Waving to the pilots waiting to launch off Craig Leith (I later found out they were Alastair Tytler, Graham Saunders, Stephen Pegler and Bob Matthews). I was soon being joined by pilots from Myreton, following my lead onto Craig Leith. Once I had got to 1900ft I didn’t seem to be getting any more height so I headed further along the ridge past Wood hill and had a look into Tillicoutry Quarry. Since the ridge bends at this point and would have been more out of wind I decided on returning picking up some height again on Wood hill I then made for the spot landing in Alva as I had a bit of an issue with my harness. It would appear the settings on my harness had moved and I was having to hold on to the risers to get support which was making me tired. I could not get upright out of my harness to land. So I landed unceremoniously on my backside, thankfully out of sight of any cameras. (I must remember to check these things more regularly). Derek landed soon after followed by Gerald who made a very good attempt at the spot landing coming within a couple of meters. He was however pipped by Robin Williamson who actually hit dead centre. Sean had landed near the cemetery west of Dollar( is that an omen?).
Leaving my kit I walked back to Menstrie to get the van and start the retrieves. All in all a good day pulling out some good flying at the last minute. Bob Mattews gave everyone a masterclass in scratching from low down on Craig Leith to top out while waiting on transport.
Sunday arrived clear cold and sunny and was according to the forecast expected to be a better flying day. After much telephoning, site visiting and driving the rest of the wingbeat stalwarts Tommy, Chris, Robert, Dudley and Tim arrived. The gate keys arrived with Sean who had flown down to the Dumyat centre football field. Driving up the hill they were all soon on Myreton.
It took a long time for the cold air to be moved from the valley although we could smell the yeast factory on launch and hear the traffic from the village indicating the air was coming up from the valley floor when it did move the convection clouded out the sun, further inhibiting the already weak thermal activity. At that point it was past 2pm, there was a definite switch in wind direction to west. Generally this can mean a strong valley breeze. So a new spot landing field was chosen in the stubble field west of Alva as the initial one was surrounded by trees. Dave Lyle arrived and was discouraged from climbing the hill due to the conditions. I flew down to indicate where to go. Everyone then flew down making attempts at Craig Leith without any luck before landing. Dave lyal arrived and gave me a lift back to Menstrie to start the retrieves.
A disappointing day especially for those who had travelled so far, but great views from Myreton out over the forth valley.
A link to a hyperlapse of some of the flying on saturday
