The weather forecast was seen to be very light in most areas, but to be slightly stronger in SW of Scotland and having SE influence on the Day. It was too good a day to miss so I decided to give an old haunt being Carsphairn another shot as it’s only a one hour drive from where I am.

So I’m on site for about 12:15 parking the motor at Garryhorn’s Old Lead Mine (It’s handy if you have a 4 x 4, but my front wheel drive with a bit of ground clearance got up no trouble at all, it would have been a different issue if it had full snow cover) to make the 20 minute walk up onto Knockower hill. Reaching take off the wind strength was a little more than the expected 5/6 mph, but doable.

After a few phone calls and a head scratch over the wind strength, the decision was made to head for Ettrick Pen.

I picked up Dave who was all ready to go, apart from not being allowed out the house until he’d finished doing the washing up. 21^st Century Man at his finest. We collected Tommy (late 19^th Century Man at his finest) and headed into the hills.

Five fearless Wingbeat souls put on their michelin padding, braced up the balaclavas and put one leg in front of the other towards our first fly hike of the winter season. It all started innocently enough: First, an urge to get outdoors again; then, THE IDEA, followed swiftly by a plan and a call to action, duly answered by the infamous five: Barry, DaveH, Derek, Jamie, Tommy.

Another good afternoons flying at witchie. Wingbeat gargoyles turned up in there droves swapping brooms for para gliders 10 in total. With Rob and Dave being there 1st and myself they where just heading off to the SW bowl conditions where a lot lighter than the day before and you had a less likely chance of  having pellet perforation holes in your glider flying at the bowl end of witchie. Myself waited a bit to see if the wind would pick up and I was introduced to New Zealand IAN by Selkirk Chris which he decided to do a bit of ground handling, While chatting to Ian D2R2 and CP3O turned up from the Dumfries way.