Manilla, Australia, January 2011

I am now travelling home after a fantastic flying trip. We had 11 out of 12 flyable days and all pilots did personal bests several times over. In fact, on the last day, we were at the 60km mark, with 100km easily within our grasp, when all started to get a bit to easy and lift was everywhere. Seeing the over development to the north, we decided to play safe and return to the south and safety of the road.

The delta's were great and we had fun spiralling and wing-overing down to Chris and Queenie, who were waiting in the green fields below, ready to take us back to the lake for a final swim and picnic with some of Australia's finest local wines.

So we will definitely be returning to manilla in 2012, as it is such good flying from Mt Bora, a perfect and versatile little site. The whole place has very friendly locals and pilots which always helps make the trip that bit more special. Thanks to Godfrey & his team, Vic & Tom and all the staff at the Royal.

On the road home we just had to stop in Tamworth to have our pictures taken with the biggest guitar in the world! The next stop will be Brazil and then it's summer in the Northern hemisphere.

Well yesterday, the 22nd January, was a lovely day with stronger winds from the south and a high base of 8,300 ft. After a lumpy start at launch with a couple of ropey attempts to get off, by me, (photo's to be published later), we launched as a perfect squadron, into the perfect skies and shot up to base. We had travelled 2okm within 30 minutes and they day looked to be a goodie.

After Baraba, the 35km mark, we continued north when, with hindsight, we should have perhaps continued north west over high Horton and beyond. Anyway the scenery was beautiful and very green, the climbs were smooth and lazy, which settled us into cruise mode for the next 30km. We ended up landing around 60 km by the road and were retrieved back home by Queenie & Tina, then headed to the the lake for a swim and relax with a couple of bottles of crisp chardonnay with friends.

On the 20th of January we took off in really light windsand boomed to base at a cooling 7,000ft, then we headed north, down the ridge and over Baraba. The over development that was forecast was starting to the east and far to the west so we put a cap on our altitude and cruised below 5,000ft until we landed at about 40km.

We also had a great evenings soaring on the 19th, when the warm dry wind eased and we launched into the smooth air for a relaxing boat about. I didn't launch, because I didn't want to risk by knee, so I hassled the others on the radio and set off in pursuit of the wild life, which didn't take too long because the local kangaroo's were very chilled and curious.

Well we have arrived in manilla and it is wonderful and so green. With the red soil and greener grass, it looks so much like Brazil. The conditions are lovely and today we plan to do a triangle task, making use of the predicted light northerly winds. Who knows we may even fly down towards Tamworth and drop in on the Country Music festival, yeee harrrr! In the picture you can see the lovely Delta cruising off on our first XC.